A Kyoto University education symposium, "Considering the Present and Future of Education at Kyoto University," was held at the Funai Tetsuro Auditorium on the Katsura campus with the participation of 219 faculty staff members.
Since 1996, this series of symposia has been held in the form of a colloquium in which participants exchange their views and discuss the topic of education across faculty boundaries in order to deepen mutual understanding and contribute to the improvement and enhancement of education, while providing a forum for communication among staff members that goes beyond departmental barriers. Unlike previous symposia, which consisted of a general meeting and workshops, this year, instead of workshops, the fifteenth symposium had a panel of discussions on two subjects with panelists invited from outside the university.
During the morning session, President Hiroshi Matsumoto gave a keynote lecture titled "Education at Kyoto University: The Awareness Gap," which was followed by three presentations: "Circumstances surrounding University Education" by Executive Vice-President Toshiyuki Awaji, "The Future of University Education as Seen through Campus Meetings" by Vice-Director Shoko Suzuki from the Institute for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education, and "First Year Education" by Professor Shigeru Takami (assistant to the Executive Vice-President). During and after the lectures, participants shared issues and exchanged views about the present conditions regarding education at Kyoto University.
The program in the afternoon included two panel discussions on the themes of "High School-University Connection and University Education" and "Globalized Society and University Education." During the panel discussion on the "High School-University Connection and University Education," Vice Principal Tomoko Yamaguchi from Osaka Prefectural Tennoji High School and Director Kenichi Ishihara from the school information center of Sundai Preparatory School participated as external panelists, explaining to participants the changes in high school education and Kyoto University's admission systems viewed from outside the university. During the second panel discussion on the "Globalized Society and University Education," Mr. Gonichiro Hirata (director of the Personnel Department, Shimadzu Corporation) and Mr. Norihisa Hamada (executive director and general manager of the Recruiting Information Business Division of Mainichi Communications Inc.) participated as panelists and discussed changes in the skills required by industries in the age of globalization and the current situations surrounding employment. Along with panelists from within the university, participants engaged in a lively exchange of views on changes and circumstances regarding Kyoto University's education, and the symposium concluded with many productive results.
 Opening speech by Vice-Director Taga |  Keynote lecture by President Matsumoto |
 Panel discussion with Executive Vice-President Awaji and Vice-Director Tetsuya Aruga (Institute for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education) |  Panel discussion |