Confronting the challenges facing human society
Through its research activities, Shizenkan strives to bridge Western rationality with Asian spiritual and cultural foundations while exploring inclusive and sustainable approaches to economy, society, business, and organizations. Our goal is to contribute to the future of a prosperous and harmonious human society through the creation of knowledge and its social implementation.
In today’s world, where AI is rapidly evolving and the role of humans in organizations and society is being fundamentally reexamined, we are committed to questioning the essential nature of humanity and human society and envisioning their future through liberal arts (Visit Liberal Arts Center’s page).
We position the following four challenges that face human society at the core of our research activities.
Business & Society/Planet — What are the models of corporations that enable sustainability of both society and the planet? What transformations in our economic and societal systems are needed to realize the vision?
Innovation & Humanity — How can we harness the rapid advancement of innovation in science and technology, exemplified by AI, to create a prosperous and humane society?
East & West — How can we integrate Western rationalism with the philosophical traditions of East Asia, including Japan, such as respect for humanity and coexistence with nature, to envision our future?
Leadership — What kind of leadership is required to create a prosperous future? And how can we develop leadership education that nurtures talent capable of fulfilling this role?
Research centers
Our research activities are characterized by engagement with practice, interdisciplinarity, and an emphasis on social implementation. Rather than confining ourselves to academic communities, we engage in exploration through dialogue with business and society leaders, advocate for new models of economic and social systems as well as management and organizations, and work to create the future by promoting their implementation in society. Our unique approach to research is elaborated in our Policies on Research Activities outlined below.
At the heart of this endeavor is the Shizenkan Research Platform and research centers established within it. Our research centers serve as venues for research, education, outreach and advocacy, and support for social implementation through collaboration among Shizenkan faculty and staff along with various partners.
Policies on Research Activities
Shizenkan has established its research policy based on the university’s philosophy (founding spirit, mission, and purpose) and objectives.
1. Research Objectives
Through its research activities, the university strives to present new models of political, economic, and social systems, nations and regional communities, corporations, businesses, organizations, and management that will realize a prosperous and peaceful future for humanity, and to participate in their implementation in society. Simultaneously, we explore the models of business leaders, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and leaders who will realize such a future, as well as approaches to their development and cultivation.
2. Research Approach
Based on the premise that research should contribute to human progress and prosperity, we emphasize research that starts from the challenges faced by humanity and the various systems created by humanity (political, economic, and social systems, market systems, corporate systems, etc.) and the fundamental questions derived from these challenges.
We appreciate both data-based empirical approaches and normative approaches based on values and beliefs.
While recognizing the importance of discipline-based research, we also respect interdisciplinary research that transcends disciplinary boundaries.
For the social implementation of hypotheses and proposals generated from research, we emphasize not only publication in specialized academic conferences and journals in disciplines to which researchers belong, but also broad communication to society and real-world management leaders, as well as collaborative exploration and practice with them.
３．Considerations in Research Activities
In conducting research, we must always adhere to ethics as researchers.
Regarding normative approaches based on values and beliefs, recognizing the possibility of falling into dogmatism, we maintain awareness of the existence of different values and beliefs while continuously maintaining a sincere and honest attitude that questions what is important for humanity and humanity’s future.
４. Organizational pursuit of knowledge and wisdom
Alongside individual faculty research activities in their specialized fields, we encourage sharing of problem awareness and research outcomes among members, mutual dialogue and constructive criticism, and focus on organizational knowledge pursuit and social implementation.
Recognizing that social implementation requires collaboration not only with researchers but also with political, economic, and societal leaders, policymakers, business leaders and entrepreneurs, and change-makers, we work to build ecosystems and create spaces for emergence through the activities of the Shizenkan Research Centers.