NEWS

2019 Spring Matriculation Ceremony

Update: April 3, 2019

On April 2 (Tue.), with cherry blossoms in full bloom, ICU welcomed 40 exchange students from universities which have exchange student agreements with ICU in addition to 551 new undergraduate and graduate students from within and outside Japan at the Matriculation ceremony held in the University Chapel.

As per the tradition that has been followed for over 60 years since the founding of the University in 1953, the students' names were announced individually and all new students signed the written pledge to uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their student lives.

In her address, Junko Hibiya, President of ICU, introduced the philosophy of the University as well as the history of how it was established with the large donations collected from Japan and the United States. She also talked about those around the world who have to quit school at even primary or secondary level of education, not to mention quitting high school, or forego pursuing studies due to various reasons including economic hardships, at a time when Japan has posted a record 53.3% college-going rate (academic year 2018). Further, she told the freshers that there was something that was sought from all of them, who have been fortunate enough to receive education till now. The aim of acquiring various skills at the University was to contribute to others and the world by faithfully carrying out your duty without forgetting the words from chapter 20 verses 33, 34 and 35 of the Acts of the Apostles from the Bible read at the beginning of the Matriculation ceremony - It is more blessed to give than to receive."This institution was created through the good will of countless people. Entering such a school, you are urged to meet the expectations of those who contributed to its founding. May the years ahead of you be fruitful," she said in concluding her address as words of encouragement to the new students.

2019 Spring Matriculation Address by Junko Hibiya, President

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First year undergraduate and graduate students, welcome to ICU. Congratulations to family members, relatives, and friends who are viewing this ceremony on the screen at Diffendorfer Memorial Hall.

International Christian University, which you entered today, aims to cultivate capable individuals who will serve God and humankind. It was established on June 15, 1949, exactly seventy years ago, when Japanese and North American Christian leaders convened at the Gotemba YMCA Camp, in Shizuoka, after the hard work on planning, from the fall of 1945, just weeks after the end of World War II. With the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Councillors, the founding principles and a fundamental educational plan were laid down. Every year, we commemorate the founding of ICU on that day.

The fund to purchase this campus land where you will study, engage in extracurricular activity and, for those who reside in a dormitory, conduct your daily lives, was raised through a large-scale fundraising campaign conducted in the United States, as well as in Japan. On the American side, various Christian churches, those connected to foreign mission boards, and many individuals, made efforts. On the Japanese side, Governor Hisato Ichimata of the Bank of Japan took charge as president of the supporters' association. A campaign of unprecedented scale began, involving the political, economic and academic sectors of the country. Those who responded positively to this call were not simply leaders in these sectors but countless ordinary people, despite the poor condition of life in the immediate post-war years. The list of donors included students of another university and elementary school children. As a result, the amount raised reached its target of 150,000,000 yen on July 20, 1950. In the next summer, it was announced that the amount totaled 160,000,000 yen. What those who contributed to establish ICU did, despite their hardship coincided perfectly with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," that we heard at the beginning of today's service. The wooden boxes that contain the cards recording information about each donor are housed in the University Archives on the first floor of the library. You will certainly use the library many times in your academic life at ICU. Do visit the Archives when you take a break from your study. Upon request, you will be able to take a look at individual cards in these boxes. The Archives include over 10,000 items such as photographs and documents. They have been collected since the foundation of ICU. I strongly encourage you to go to the Archives and familiarize yourself with the university you enter today.

Have you heard of the "School Basic Survey" that has been conducted annually by the Ministry of Education since 1948? Its purpose is to obtain essential information to design various policies of educational administration. All schools decreed by School Education Law, as well as every board of education of municipality, participate in this survey. Survey items include the number of schools, students, teachers/professors, graduates, those who go on to further study, those who obtain employment among other items. Today, on the occasion of your matriculation ceremony, I would like to draw your attention to the percentage of high school graduates who went to four-year colleges. The figure was 10.0% in 1962, 21.6% in 1972, 30.1% in 1994, 40.5% in 2002, 50.2% in 2009 and last year it was 53.3%. In other words, one out of two persons goes to college in Japan today. Given these figures, some of you may take it for granted that you are enrolled in a university, an undergraduate program in particular. However, it is worthwhile reminding ourselves that there are students who wished to attend ICU or other universities, but who, for reasons that have nothing to do with their ability, such as financial difficulty, were forced to abandon hope of doing so. In the world today, unfortunately, some are not able to finish their elementary or secondary education. What is expected of you who are lucky enough to continue your studies to this day and, including those who have entered graduate school, are given the opportunity to further your education?

As I said at the beginning, ICU aims to cultivate capable individuals who will serve God and humankind. In your undergraduate days, please attain the ability to learn creatively while strengthening your academic foundation and forming an independent plan as an intentional learner, the ability to learn in both Japanese and English and to use those languages to communicate with people from around the world, the ability to identify and resolve problems based on critical thinking that can be directed at yourself and others, the ability to integrate knowledge that transcend the disciplinary boundaries and put such knowledge to use in real-world situations, and the ability to effectively express ideas in both oral communication and the written word.

Those who enter the Master's program are expected to cultivate a broad-based scholarship and to be able to carry out research in a specialized field of study and to learn the skills necessary as future professionals. Those who enter the Doctorate program must acquire the superior skills necessary as independent researchers in their chosen field of study or as highly-specialized professionals based on their scholarship. The purpose of attaining these abilities is exactly to serve God and humankind, in other words, to contribute to others and the world by fulfilling your mission, always remembering that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This institution was created through the good will of countless people. Entering such a school, you are urged to meet the expectations of those who contributed to its founding. May the years ahead of you be fruitful.

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