What is "education that can only be done at a women's university"? Expectations for diversity expressed by the new president of Ochanomizu University

For women's universities, the wave of diversity promotion is an opportunity. Industry-academia-society collaboration in information and data science (DS), for which there is a high demand for human resources, will also support the active participation of women. In response to this trend, we asked Yasuko Sasaki, President of Ochanomizu University, "What kind of education is possible only at a women's university?"

-Efforts are being made to develop female leaders even at co-educational universities.

"At our university, about half of the faculty members are women, and there are many role models around us, so there are many opportunities to take on the challenge of ``Let's try it, too,'' and gain confidence that ``I can do it.'' I would like to call for changes to be made ``together with Ochanomizu University'' without drawing lines such as ``because it is Ochanomizu University (as much as possible),'' such as the high ratio of female faculty members."

- Recently, we hear a lot about "gendered innovation," which incorporates the perspective of gender differences into research and development.

"Car seat belts are a well-known example, and if only men were involved in the development process, it would be difficult to imagine the problems of pregnant women using them. We need more women to become leaders in product design and research and development." Yes, it is also important to change the mindset of the parents' generation in order to increase the number of girls who go on to study science, and our university has a major role to play in this aspect as well."

-What are the results of the “Social Collaboration Course,” where about 20 companies and students collaborate to think about promoting women's empowerment?

"There is one company in each industry participating, and the discussion with working people and students is very stimulating. The future-starting seminar with Bridgestone is for girls and students from the affiliated high school to the graduate school in 15 years. In the past few years, the students' attitudes have changed, such as actively coming up with other ideas.This year, the third year, I want to bring out new results through internships (work experience)."

-We are focusing on education so that women can play an active role in the fields of IT and DS.

"Industry-academia collaboration with information-related companies has resulted in endowed lectures by Nippon Steel Solutions and scholarships by Avanade (Minato-ku, Tokyo). Utilization of DS / artificial intelligence (AI) and humanities in 2023 The school will establish a "collaborative engineering department" to learn about such things as language, dance, geography, etc. Introduce a gender perspective to prevent the prejudice of AI by analyzing data such as language, dance, and geography.I am interested in this field after making information subjects compulsory at high schools. I want to support the human resource development of women who have

[The eyes of reporters/Expectations for human resource development facing the world] President Sasaki specializes in sociolinguistics, which studies how language is used in society. He has a wealth of experience in international exchange and support for foreign students, and has also felt the importance of diversity. I look forward to seeing him take over the industry-academia collaboration that former President Kimiko Murofushi was good at, and steer him toward his personal goal of “cultivating human resources who can face global challenges.” (Editorial Committee Member, Kayoko Yamamoto)

Related article: What is the original education unique to Ochanomizu University, a new department in "data science / AI"?　Related article: What is the plan for Ochanomizu University to follow the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology in the use of land leased by national universities?

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun June 17, 2021

COMMENT

In terms of promoting diversity, co-educational schools seem to be flat in terms of gender. However, I hear that there are a number of studies in educational papers that show that co-education brings in the nature of gendered society as it is, and that gender disparities become fixed. It overlaps with the problem that the judgment of artificial intelligence (AI) will rather promote discrimination in society as it is. Women's universities, especially national universities that use tax money, may "disappear someday", but for the time being, I would like them to work hard as an existence that "will consciously correct the distortions in society while nurturing female students in a relaxed manner." .