The last presenter of the meeting was Aiji Tanaka, Professor of Political Science and President Elect of Waseda University, who asked, “How can we foster capable researchers and educators?: Expected roles of a research university, the case of Waseda University.” He proposed a strategy to foster young researchers based on his experience in Japan and the US. He opened the presentation by saying, “We need determination to become stellar world-class universities,” as the top US universities did in the 1930s. At that time, universities in the US were far behind their Europe counterparts in terms of research and education. However, US universities developed a strategy consisting of three major objectives that they achieved by the 1970s. The first objective was to “enhance the quality of faculty members.” Tanaka argued this enhancement came from the international recruitment of faculty and overseas Ph.D. holding candidates and by introducing the ‘tenure-track’ system. Harvard University gathered the best professors in the world, an effort that has since established the basis of the university. The second objective was to “enhance the quality of research,” for which US universities decided to develop academic associations and systems for research publications. The last objective was to “enhance the quality of education.” Good education converts capable students into capable researchers. Methods for improving the quality of education included the development/introduction of course-numbering system, syllabi, ‘office hours’, the course evaluation by students, training for academic writing skills, and the tenure-track system.

Based on these ideas, as Dean of Academic Affairs/Vice-Provost, Tanaka introduced a new education framework at Waseda University. He initiated a series of courses to improve basic academic skills since 2007 including: Writing Center for Japanese and English, Freshman Japanese Academic Writing, Math and Stat Center, and the Academic Writing and Discussion in English (AWADE) course. In addition, new systems have been introduced such as teaching/course evaluations by the students, tenure-track systems, international announcements of job openings, academic quarter systems, and structured course numbering.

Tanaka concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of education, noting that the “systematic education for young students” and recruitment of “good and strong faculty members who are good at research as well as at teaching” are the key to promoting future research and sustaining universities.