NEWS
Message from International Christian University (ICU) , No4
Update: January 8, 2021
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Message from ICU , No.4（January 8, 2021 ）
ICU Admissions under COVID-19 Pandemic
Kenya Kubo,Director of Admissions Center
ICU has a variety of admissions systems to accept students from all over the world with diverse backgrounds. Applicants in Universal Admissions - English Language Based Admissions undergo a documentary screening process in English, which requires the evidence of educational certification and/or national examination results, which typically certifies students' preparedness for university entrance in respective countries.
Universal Admissions: English Language Based Admissions (April/September Entry) https://www.icu.ac.jp/en/admissions/undergraduate/engdoc/
Due to the impact of COVID-19, our admissions schedules and/or procedures may change. Please kindly note that it will be announced on our website if any changes are made.
This issue of the e- newsletter will focus on the admissions systems mainly targeted for Japanese high school students.
With COVID-19 still raging, we have yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When this disease first spread in a limited area of China, some thought it would go away in a month. As the pandemic lingers, being vigilant against the invisible virus has become part of daily life around the world.
ICU has been introducing its response to the pandemic in this Web magazine. The topic of this issue is admissions, an important task in creating a multicultural community on our campus. We have different arrangements to secure an influx of students from diverse backgrounds, which enhances intellectual and social stimulation for individual growth. The admissions process has already begun this year, with various screening methods implemented as usual. This year, we started accepting applicants from secondary schools with an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program through the Sogogata Sembatsu. The defining parameters of students we seek remain unchanged. Several measures were implemented to protect examinees from COVID-19.
We usually ask applicants to come to the verdant ICU campus for written tests and interviews, but those taking the Sogogata Sembatsu, and April Admission for Returnees were interviewed online. Despite these modifications, we hold steadfast our philosophy of attracting students who will study, grow and absorb all they can at ICU to serve God and humankind.
The future regarding COVID-19 remains uncertain, but the General Admissions will be given on campus next February with strict measures to prevent infection. We will inform you promptly through our Website if any changes are made.
Liberal Arts and Society
As the coronavirus is transmitted from person to person, the spread can be stopped if people stay at home without any social contact. However, society cannot function without social interaction. In countries and regions around the world, measures befitting the situation in each locale are being enforced to stem the spread of the disease. These efforts are assessed against daily reports of new cases, deaths and recoveries, as well as fluctuations in economic indicators.
The spread of the virus can be predicted scientifically if we can simplify our behavior into a model. However, economic and social factors constantly affect human behavior, so a simple model cannot serve as an accurate predictor of how we behave. Methodology must be incorporated from the natural and social sciences to design appropriate strategies to stop the spread of COVID-19. The arts such as music and literature, as well as religion provided many with relief from anxieties during lockdowns implemented in many countries. The current abnormal state of life has provided us with the opportunity to rediscover the importance of the humanities．
In navigating the pandemic, we have reacknowledged the importance of preparedness for unprecedented disasters and the ability to cope appropriately with emergencies based on imperfect information. Specialists across the arts and sciences need to collaborate in the effort. This undertaking will also involve tough decisions by politicians, businesspeople, government officials, leaders in all corners of life, those who bring peace to the mind, and the general public. More than ever, ICU's education, which nurtures students who delve into liberal arts with intelligent inquisitiveness to cultivate critical thinking for appropriate decisions and innovative problem-solving through extensive interaction, is being put to the test.
The world will inevitably change after COVID-19. What the future holds for humanity will depend on the younger generation, when they become active members of society. We are a small college, but we seek those who have the potential to make a positive difference in the world.
Profile of Professor Kenya Kubo
Professor Kubo received his PhD at University of Tokyo. He started teaching at ICU in 2002 and has been served as Director of Admissions Center since 2019. Vice President of the Society of Muon and Meson Science of Japan, Member of the Steering Committee of the Institute of Materials Structural Science, Member of the Management Committee of Super Science High School, Jonan High School, Fukuoka Prefecture. His research interests have been focused on the application of radiochemical techniques to material characterization and elemental analysis.