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Today, Japan faces several major, potentially catastrophic crises― socio-economic, environmental, moral, political, and educational. In addition to these crises, accelerated as they are by widening globalization, developing IT, and increasing borderlessness, Japanese universities in this twenty-first century are also beset by numerous unprecedented problems as well as rapid social changes―a series of phenomena entirely outside our experience. Reitaku University, which aims to create wisdom and high moral education for the sustainable future, is no exception in this respect. Therefore, our task at Reitaku University is to face these global problems squarely, seeking to solve and conquer them by nurturing virtuous people with high levels of learning and good character. To accomplish this, we need to inherit the intellectual, cultural, moral, and ethical systems built up through our respectable predecessors' earnest endeavors while conveying them to the rising generations by improving, beautifying, and developing them. We should always remember that when we step forward into the future, it is in the past that we can discover the light illuminating our steps―as St. Augustine aptly says: "Novum in Vetere latest: Vetus in Novo patent." (Only in the New does the Old unfold: And hidden in the Old lies the New.) The tenets of Reitaku University, founded by the eminent scholar and educator Dr. Chikuro Hiroike, are based on his philosophy that education should provide students with the knowledge and a high level of moral character. Since its foundation in 1959, Reitaku University has provided students with an education of such high quality in the liberal arts and made greats efforts to offer them a wealth of moral and educational experience. Reitaku University also enjoys a well-earned reputation for its language education. In 2005, the educational project of our Faculty of Foreign Studies―"Education through English as an International Common Language"―has been adopted as part of the Contemporary Education Needs Support Project ("Gendai GP" or Contemporary Good Practices) by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). A language itself is a mere tool, not a teleology. One of the purposes of language learning is to develop our global literacy and communication abilities, which allow us to deepen our understanding of and respect for the various cultures of the world and our own cultural identity. Reitaku University will continue to nurture people who, having acquired global literacy, can exercise intellectual and moral leadership in international society and produce people of intellectual creativity, originality of mind, and endowed with what we call the Reitaku frontier spirit. This educational philosophy of Dr. Hiroike is also actively realized in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Its educational aim is to nurture "Global Servants" who can contribute to society from a global and altruistic perspective. Again, looking at present-day social conditions, it has been observed both at home and abroad that the alarming degeneration of political and business ethics is affecting the vital fabric of society. We at Reitaku have been promoting research into business ethics, compliance, and risk management and in 2001 established the Reitaku University Business Ethics and Compliance Research Center (R-bec). This produces and distributes information necessary for the promotion of ethical business practices through the conduct of comprehensive and interdisciplinary research and analysis. We are proud to note that some of our professors, in the process of establishing ethical-legal compliance management and internal control systems, are supporting corporations and other organizations throughout the country. To cope with the complex problems referred to above, a paradigm shift is indispensable in the conventional learning and education systems, which continuously need improvement and innovation. As a highlight of our fiftieth anniversary, Reitaku University is now processing drastic improvements in its educational system in the form of reorganizing both colleges. As Shakespeare says, we should "strive to do better" to become a more attractive 21st-century university, inspired by Reitaku's unique traditions and founding spirit. Fortunately, our University is blessed with many devoted teachers fired by the benevolent energy and enthusiasm of this dynamic Reitaku spirit, and who have been recognized internationally for their academic achievements in many fields. The administrative staff is also dedicated and willing to help students fully utilize and enjoy significant campus lives. Their combined support ensures that our students can obtain a rich and rewarding comprehensive educational experience. View full university