Address at the 2025 Kochi University and Graduate School Entrance Ceremony
To all of you who have enrolled today at Kochi University and Kochi University Graduate School, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your admission. Together with our distinguished guests, the members of the Board of Trustees, the deans, and the entire faculty and staff, I sincerely celebrate this new beginning for all of you. I express my deep respect for the efforts you have made thus far, and I also extend my sincere congratulations to your families and everyone who has supported you.
As students of Kochi University, you are now embarking on a new journey of learning. Some of you may already have clear goals and be aiming to obtain professional qualifications, while others may be seeking to discover your aptitudes and aspirations during your time here. There is a concept known as “planned serendipity,” which suggests that many of life’s successes arise from chance encounters and events. The key to shaping your future lies in how actively you engage during your university years and how you embrace new challenges and experiences.I hope that you will make the most of this irreplaceable time and expand your own potential.
The society you will face in the future is often referred to as the “VUCA” era—an era marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. While the world is united in its pursuit of a sustainable society—that is, the achievement of the SDGs—Japan faces challenges such as high dependence on foreign food, resources, and energy, a declining birthrate and aging population, and climate change. In such times, what is most important is maintaining an attitude of continuously seeking “truth” without being swept away by change.To achieve this, it is essential not only to study your specialized field within your undergraduate or graduate program but also to acquire a broad-based education in the “liberal arts” that liberates the mind. As a comprehensive university, our institution is a “community of knowledge” comprising nearly 600 faculty members who explore diverse academic fields and continually take on the challenge of the unknown. Please make full use of this privileged environment to absorb a wide range of knowledge.
On the other hand, there has been growing concern in recent years about the decline in society’s “ability to continue learning,” or “sustained learning capacity.” It has been pointed out that the percentage of working adults in Japan who do not engage in self-improvement or learning is extremely high by international standards.If learning is confined solely to formal education and people attempt to navigate the rest of their lives relying only on knowledge acquired in the past, they will be unable to forge a path in a rapidly changing future. Against this backdrop, the importance of lifelong learning and reskilling has been increasingly emphasized in recent years. Surveys indicate that those who developed regular study habits during their student years are more likely to continue learning after entering the workforce. Please keep in mind that the study habits you cultivate in college will determine your growth and potential throughout your life.
Kochi University provides continuing education and reskilling programs even after graduation or completion of studies, supporting lifelong learning. At the heart of this effort is the “Kochi University Alumni Association,” established two years ago. We encourage you to register with this association immediately upon enrollment and to make a conscious effort to continue your learning by leveraging its network while you are still a student.We aspire to be an institution that walks alongside you not only during your designated time as a student, but throughout your entire life.
Last year, in 2024, Kochi University celebrated its 75th anniversary. To date, the university has produced over 60,000 graduates and program completers, nurturing many talented individuals who are now active both in Japan and abroad. Tracing our roots back to their origins leads us to the former Kochi High School, established 103 years ago.At the entrance ceremony, the first principal, Mr. Atsuo Ebe, declared, “Be moved, young people; a life without emotion is empty.” This passionate message, which resonates deeply with young people, is still passed down to this day. We hope that all of you entering today will carry on this spirit. It is rich and deep human relationships that bring about such emotion. Our university will do everything in our power to support you as you build that foundation.
In closing, I would like to express my hope that all of you who have enrolled today will grow into key leaders capable of forging a path through an unpredictable future and will develop the ability to continue learning throughout your lives. With that, I conclude my address as President.
Once again, congratulations on your admission.
April 3, 2025
Hiroyuki Uchida, President of Kochi University