39 graduate students attend special lecture on diversity-friendly, inclusive society and the Japanese economy

Chancellor Ito speaking to students

Students having a group discussion

A special class was held on May 16th at the Tokyo Kioicho Research" class (taught by Chancellor Oe Hiroko) at the Graduate School of Graduate School of International Administration, and 39 graduate students from Graduate School of Business Design and the same Research school participated.

"Diversity" is a concept that recognizes and respects the various differences that individuals and groups have, and includes various elements such as gender, age, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, values, career, experience, work history, and work style.

Chancellor Ito began by looking back on his own experiences, explaining to the students the invisible barriers he faced, such as being left out of group activities when playing or studying, and the fact that previously there were legal restrictions on hearing-impaired people being able to obtain national qualifications such as medical qualifications. He also mentioned that the employment rate of people with disabilities in Japan is about half that of other countries, and explained the challenges facing Japanese society. The students listened intently to specific examples of the efforts and effects of companies that actively employ people with disabilities.

Finally, Chancellor Ito spoke to the graduate students, saying, "I want you to create communities outside of university and have diverse values. I want you to take an interest in social issues, participate in volunteer activities, and disseminate information."

One of the participating graduate students commented, "I gained a deeper understanding of diversity and welfare for people with disabilities, and realized the importance of inclusive initiatives, especially in companies. I felt that companies have a very large role to play in creating an environment where people from diverse backgrounds can work together."

A student giving a presentation on behalf of the group

Group photo with Chancellor Ito