President Mr. Usubi Sako

 ■President Mr. Usubi Sako

The former president of Kyoto Seika University, originally from Mali. He studied architecture in China before coming to Kyoto University. He speaks French, English, Chinese, and the Kyoto dialect. Before I became president, I went to the senior president to ask for his advice. Then he asked me to attend M1 with him, and I am doing this as homework.

◆New facility: Kyoto Seika University Meisokan

It will open in February 2022. It is scheduled to be completed in July. It was created based on three keywords: global, liberal arts, and expression. Students will be able to feel these elements through these. For example, what is global? Global lounge. IC3, an exchange hub where you can interact with people from various countries. Writing center, which provides support, especially for international students who have trouble with Japanese, and English support. There are many exhibition spaces and open spaces where students can have discussions.

The name of the room is Discussion Space. Students usually receive information one-sidedly in classrooms, but here it is not the case. I think it would be good if the process of consuming and turning that information into knowledge could take place here. This building was planned with the concept of a place where people can express themselves, encounter the global world, and consume and turn information into knowledge. When I was the president, I launched the Facilities Improvement Association and served as its chairman.

◆Experience of the President

He is the first African-born university president. It was unfortunate that there was no successor until he finished his term. Fewer than 2% of people from other countries hold university president positions in Japan .

While teaching at Kyoto Seika University, I served as dean for two terms before being elected president. I didn't have many difficulties working with everyone. However, Japanese communication has a unique style, so I sometimes felt cultural differences while communicating with others.

◆Kyoto

I've been in Kyoto for 31 years (as of 2022). Kyoto is a very interesting city.

Human scale. A graspable scale. Many things are connected. It has a rich history. But Kyoto also has a unique culture. The way people communicate and relate to each other. It's also a very innovative city, and I love new things.

You would think that a place with such a long history would be good at accepting all kinds of people, but that's not the case. When you come to Kyoto, you have to adapt to the Kyoto way. There are difficult hurdles. I made many mistakes. In terms of language. There was a gap between what was said and what was done. On the other hand, there is also depth to it. The language, the town, the houses. It's a place where there is always something to discover. It's a town that curious people will never get bored of.

◆Schools and Education

The environment surrounding education is changing. Demands on schools are becoming stricter every year. The evaluation of schools is changing. Demands from not only the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, but also parents are changing. Schools have become targets for investment.

On the other hand, I believe that schools should be learner-centered. Kyoto Seika University has a philosophy of respecting people. Students do not receive education one-sidedly, but rather help build the school together. Students develop their character based on the school.

What is required in the field of education today is something like making standardized products. But a school should be like a field. We sow seeds, look forward to seeing what sprouts will emerge, and pour love and water into them. That's what we teachers do. As teachers, we learn a lot from our students. We stay close to our students and always make eye contact. We listen to their opinions while drawing on our own experiences.

Education exists for the benefit of those who receive it. However, today schools are acting as if they exist for the benefit of educators. I want to create an educational environment that eliminates this gap.

◆Message for you guys

There are many uncertainties about the future of this world. In school, we have been taught as if there are answers to everything, but that is not the case. What we must focus on teaching is the ability to question things. When you are stuck on something, ask questions properly. Return to the basics and reset. I want you to be people who are not afraid of change. You create your own future.

★Postscript

Mari's predecessor was the legendary manga artist Keiko Takemiya. It is a university of creative expression and liberal arts. I look up to them as a missing piece of iU and as an organization that produces amazing presidents. I'd love to work on a project together.