President's Message

Shinichi Kitaoka

The world today is facing several major problems such as regional disputes, culture clashes, imbalanced population growth, shortage of food and energy, and environmental distractions.

After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the global markets have come to play a dominant role in the allocation of resources and the production and distribution of goods and services. Globalization has rapidly accelerated due to the free market mechanism and the rapid progress of information and communication technology. Today the world political-economy system is transitioning from the G7 to a more diverse multi-polar structure. The global leaders have to come up with new higher-quality global governance systems with a new level of rapid international cooperation.

For corporations, the days where the quest for profit was the only rule is over. Today, management must not only create economic value but also create social value for its long term survival. Business leaders have to establish better corporate governance to fulfill these two missions.

The International University of Japan (IUJ), located in the serene heartland of rural Japan, is an ideal place for young men and women from all parts of the world to gather and to learn from each other and from a talented and diverse international faculty. The Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR) and the Graduate School of International Management (GSIM) present a unique opportunity for IUJ students to deepen their understanding of the policy sciences and area studies, using cutting edge information and communication technologies. Our well-equipped campus, with its superb Matsushita Library and Information Center (MLIC) allows students to keep pace with the rapid change in this technological age.
While English is the language of instruction, various levels of Japanese language courses are offered at IUJ so that those who wish to develop their proficiency in Japanese for internships or a professional career where knowledge of the Japanese language is important can do so. At the same time, the Japanese language courses will help overseas students to better understand Japanese culture and will help in their day-to-day cross cultural communications and exchanges.

Those who wish to pursue professional careers in global business and public organizations will leave IUJ not only with MBA or MA degrees, but also with a lifelong personal and professional network throughout the world that will be a huge asset useful throughout your life. All of us at IUJ look forward to welcoming you here to a unique experience.