iUniversity Manifesto

  iUniversity is a new university specializing in information and communications technology (ICT). I am creating a school that has no precedent anywhere in the world.

We have a number of actions that we have decided to take, and endeavors that we will be taking on. All of these are outlined in this manifesto.

1. Actions

The following are five measures that we will implement.

As I have already described these on my blog, I will omit the explanations of each measure here.

1) English-language education that incorporates ICT and business

2) The Pre-Career University: Internships and business projects for all students, in cooperation with ICT companies

3) A teaching staff made up of professionals who have played significant roles in the industry

4) Combining online education with active learning

5) Two Tokyo campuses (Sumida and Takeshiba) located in between the international airports

2. Endeavors

The following are five challenges that we will be taking on, and things we would like to implement.

1) Global intellectual hub

We will strive to be a “Hub University” that accumulates and disseminates knowledge from around the world. We will have 100 leading global figures, world-class experts, and businesspeople as visiting professors, and offer online courses.

2) Jobs for all students

We will establish i K.K., a company that all of our students will be able to join. Instructors and students will engage in business, in partnership with the industry at large.

3) Every student will launch their own business

For each student, launching a business will be a part of the curriculum. Each student will have a chance to start up a business, and we will provide funding. Even if the business fails, that will be OK. Of course, the goal will be to succeed, and/or to reach the exit strategy.

　

4) Special Educational Zone

We will create a Campus Special Educational Zone. The Takeshiba area has already been designated a National Strategic Special Zone, and we will expand this to encompass education.

We are considering measures including: making our educational content copyright-free; relaxing the requirements that overseas students face with regard to attending school and finding employment; and exempting companies that are started here from corporate taxes.

5) Global Campus Passport

We will strengthen our partnerships with the world’s leading universities, and introduce credit transferability, double degrees, and a passport that will enable access to foreign university campuses (including libraries, cafeterias, facilities, and equipment).