A Good Read by Prof. Uchida Katsuichi

by Prof. Uchida Katsuichi, President of BXAI

Comprising nine chapters, this book discusses strategies for the development of universities within the context of contemporary Japanese society, which has witnessed three major trends:

1.  Explosion of world population and decrease in population of Japan
The world population will rise from 7.7 to 9.7 billion by 2050, while Japan’s population will drop from 126 to 100 million due to a continued decrease in birth rate.

2.  Globalization of Japanese society
The proportion of foreigners in Japan is growing and will soon account for over 10% of its overall population – a phenomenon known as internal globalization.  As Japan evolves into a more multicultural and multiracial nation, the harmonious coexistence of people from different cultures and backgrounds will become increasingly important.

3.  Rapid development of science and technology
Contemporary society is characterized by artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, biochemical engineering, gene recombination, genetic engineering, and information technology, and while the development of science and technology should be encouraged, it is also critical to ensure adequate regulation to avoid abuse and exploitation.

The effects and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on contemporary society are also discussed.

Based on how Japanese society is evolving in “an age of uncertainty”, Prof. Uchida examines various university strategies across topics of education and research: