宣言

The Japan Association of Private Universities and Colleges was established on July 28, 1951, by a group of twenty-four private universities and now marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding. At its inception, the Association proclaimed the principles of “independence of scholarship, safeguarding of conscience, and respect for each institution’s founding philosophy.” These principles affirmed, both at home and abroad, the vital role private universities play as the unshakable foundation for the happiness of humankind and the building of peace. Since its founding, member schools, guided by their founding philosophies, have devoted themselves to academic research and cultural progress, contributing greatly to the broader advancement of higher education. In 2001, on the occasion of our fiftieth anniversary, we reaffirmed our resolve to fulfill our responsibilities to society through the provision of distinctive education and the cultivation of creative talent. To this day these aspirations remain an integral part of our unwavering founding spirit.

In the quarter century since, society has undergone a profound transformation. Globalization and rapid technological developments have brought fundamental changes to education, and society looks to higher education for solutions to global-scale challenges that include declining birthrates, aging populations, and climate change. In such times, the demands and expectations placed on higher education are higher than ever. Amid these developments, our Association has actively advanced proposals for higher education policy, setting forth a grand design for private universities, and played a committed role in national policymaking. Member schools, grounded in their own founding philosophies, have developed diverse, high-quality education and research from undergraduate through graduate levels, sustaining the foundations of higher education while nurturing independent citizens who can contribute to society. Furthermore, as centers of knowledge in our local communities, our member institutions have applied the fruits of research to addressing social issues, contributing to the betterment of society, and steadily broadened the scope of our activities beyond our borders to include the international community as well.

Today, private universities continue to face many profound challenges including a rapid decline in the eighteen-year-old population, widening economic disparities, as well as a need for rectification of institutional and financial gaps among national, public, and private universities. However, it is at such a time as this that the mission of private universities assumes even greater importance. To realize our founding principles of “independence of scholarship, safeguarding of conscience, and respect for each institution’s founding philosophy,” securing institutional autonomy for private universities remains imperative. Now, more than ever, through distinctive education and research grounded in each institution’s founding philosophy, we are being called upon to bring our public role, autonomy, and diversity into the fullest harmony, so as to enrich the intellectual foundations of society and cultivate individuals who embody diverse values. These objectives are indispensable to the sustainable development of Japan and the world. Our member institutions, diverse in character—from comprehensive universities and women’s universities to institutions specializing in science and engineering, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and the arts—must unite across differences in size and location to create value that only private universities can deliver.

On the occasion of our seventy-fifth anniversary, we renew this resolve and once again fundamentally reexamine the spirit of our founding declaration. At the same time, to ensure steady progress toward our centennial, we will further enhance the quality of our richly distinctive and multilayered education, and play our part in realizing a society in which people continue learning throughout their lives. Transcending the distinctions among national, public, and private higher education, and through cooperation and healthy competition, we will contribute to the development of higher education as a whole. Furthermore, we will continue to promote distinctive research grounded in each institution’s founding philosophy, further deepen our cooperation with local communities, work together to expand academic and cultural collaboration across national borders, and clearly articulate the value of private universities both at home and abroad. By cultivating individuals who can effectively guide social transformation and help drive society’s development, we will forge the future of Japan and the world.

The Japan Association of Private Universities and Colleges, together with its 115 members, and guided by our mission to nurture people who will contribute to the future of humanity, will continue to lead Japanese higher education and contribute to the advancement of scholarship and society. With this resolve, and with our sights set on the coming centennial and beyond, we hereby declare that we will continue to press forward.