Shinichiro Maeshima

By Shinichiro Maeshima

In 2020, Japan had nearly three million students enrolled in 795 universities, representing 54.4% of the student population—the highest in the nation’s history. However, the number of private universities has grown dramatically, while the population of 18-year-olds has dropped due to Japan’s declining birthrate; as a result, one-third of private universities are now under-enrolled, making it difficult for many of them to operate. Universities have a long and storied history, and their function and mission have changed over time. Amid competing visions for what a university’s primary focus should be, the roles universities are expected to play are also changing. To meet the demands of local communities and society, as well as the diverse needs of students, universities should provide an education that draws on students’ individuality. Recently, universities’ contributions to the development of society have started being emphasized; together with research and education, social contribution needs to be perceived as the so-called third mission of the university, and analysts are calling for more industry-academia-government collaborations. This chapter focuses on universities’ social contribution, and describes the connection between local communities and the social contribution activities that universities have carried out for the past 20 years.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University

By Shinichiro Maeshima, Ryuji Nomura, Etsuko Nogami, Takuya Yamamoto and Junko Yamane

With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, many universities switched to online classes to promote social distancing and reduce the risk of infection. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, however, requested universities hold face-to-face classes whenever possible. Therefore, after the national emergency was lifted, our university, the Kinjo University in Hakusan, launched the “Kinjo Infection Control Team” to help prevent infection on campus. Our university was one of the first universities in the Hokuriku region to resume face-to-face classes. Infection control teams were originally organized at hospitals and other medical facilities by professionals specializing in infection prevention and control. Although our university did not have an affiliated hospital, we had medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, as well as virology researchers, who conducted environmental patrols, hand hygiene education and monitoring, and infection education for students and faculty. The most important countermeasures against the spread of infectious disease in universities are the maintenance of the campus environment and the behavioral changes of students. To maintain a safe learning environment during a pandemic, it is necessary to consider the best measures to prevent infection from various aspects so that we can avoid spreading infectious diseases, and also maintain maximum student activity and provide a safe learning environment at all times.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University

By Tsutomu Kibayashi, Keisuke Machino and Shinichiro Maeshima

Universities are the centers of society’s intellectual activities and are places where highly skilled professionals are trained. For managers and businesses, universities are a valuable resource for revitalizing and promoting communities and industries. Achieving this requires multifaceted cooperation and collaboration with universities. In 2017, our university concluded a “comprehensive cooperation agreement” with the city of Hakusan, where the university is located. Last year, the university signed an agreement with Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., and this year it signed one with Eon Mall Co., Ltd. A variety of projects are currently being planned to be carried out at Eon Mall Hakusan, a major supermarket in the community. The main purpose of these agreements is to help the community develop by solving local problems and fostering new professionals.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University