On Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, the "2025 Discussion Meeting between Students and the President" was held in the Regional and International Exchange Hall (Glocal Communication Hall).
The discussion meeting was held in a workshop format, with Specially Appointed Lecturer Tamaari Tomoko at the Research Center for Higher Education, as the facilitator, and focused on the theme of the "Shape of a University that Supports Self-Realization." The event was attended by nine graduate students, ten undergraduate students, three students from Tokushima University's i.school who served as table facilitator. From the university side, 16 people including President Kawamura, Executive Vice Presidents, faculty members from the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Research Center for Higher Education Research and administrative staff members.
After an opening address by Executive Vice President for Education Kawano Fumiaki, the workshop began with participants drawing their own life curves in response to the call to "draw your life curve!". President Kawamura Yasuhiko then spoke about his own experiences that connect to the present, including his research as a student, his experience studying abroad, and his life as a faculty member at Tokushima University.
The president also said, "It is most important for students to visualize the ideal person they want to be and strive for self-realization when they enter society. I would like to hear your opinions on what kind of role you think Tokushima University should play in contributing to the self-realization of its students."
At the Proaction Café, participants were invited to propose topics they wanted to discuss, and then split up to exchange opinions based on each topic. Students, faculty members, and staff members proposed nine themes: "I want to freely study what I want to study," "How can students enthusiastically engage in research?", "How can we create shared spaces on campus that allow students, faculty members, and staff members to achieve self-realization?", "How can we create 'encounters' on campus that lead to self-realization?", "What is necessary to discover future dreams and goals?", "How can we interact with people we don't get along with?", "How can the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences demonstrate its strengths?", "How can we turn knowledge into wisdom?", and "How can students enrich themselves in areas other than their academic studies?" Each group engaged in lively discussions, sharing their own thoughts, realizations, what they learned, and what they can do now, from the perspectives of students, faculty members and staff members.
Finally, the President said, "It was an extremely valuable opportunity to hear directly from the students. I strongly feel the need for a forum for the exchange of opinions that transcends the boundaries of age and field. I would like to see this not be a one-time initiative, but one that continues into the future. In today's society, where various challenges exist, such as a declining birthrate and aging population, and geopolitical issues, we must not close channels of communication. In the coming age of AI and super AI, what kind of prompts will be important? I would like to bring together the wisdom of students, faculty members and staff members and create new value through dialogue."
For the participating students, this meeting was an opportunity to exchange opinions with students and faculty members from other faculties with whom they do not normally interact, and to discover new values. It was also a meaningful time for the university side, where they were able to learn directly about the students' thoughts and attitudes. Going forward, we hope to share the opinions and proposals made at this meeting within Tokushima University and continue to consider ways to put them into practice, as well as to continue holding these meetings and utilize them to create a better university.
President Kawamura talks about his experiences when he was a university student
Participants split into groups and hold discussions on different themes.
A lively exchange of opinions
Commemorative photo with President Kawamura
