Dr. Kazuo Kuroda
Dean of the Center for International Education
Professor of Graudate School of Asia-Pacific studies.
From student life to the International Community.
What kind of student life did you have Dr. Kuroda?
In my second year of University, I started living in a dormitory for foreign Students at the Asian Cultural Center for three years. They allowed three people from each country to live in the dormitory so three people from Japan had the opportunity to live in the dormitory. So I was one of only three Japanese to share this dormitory and live with others from Asia and Latin America and other countries around the world. Life at the dormitory was a pseudo International Community and I learned to adapt to different cultures.
I also took part in a youth International Exchange Program called the Southeast Asian Ship.
At the time there was a strong negative image about Asia in terms of poverty and the history of colonial rule, however after spending two months living side by side with other Asian youth, I saw that in fact, Asia is an energetic, dynamic and interesting place. Our bond became like family and I changed a lot after being with these passionate Asian youth who knew that they could change society for the better.
You have experienced many things, what was it that got you started?
It was my desire to be involved in the International community in some shape or form.
My undergraduate days were filled with various other activities besides what I mentioned before, like engaging in activities at the international conference with the International Student Association of Japan, and I also started a student association at the United Nations University.
Because I had this strong desire, every activity was full of passion and excitement for me. Whether you look inside or outside the University, the opportunities are everywhere. But you can’t be passive. It’s important to be actively seeking out opportunities for yourself.
In order to do this you first need to have a vision or desire of who you want to be and hold on to it tightly.
Seriously consider areas that excite you.
What do you think are skills and qualities needed in the “Global Human Resource world”?
Broadly speaking the three main elements would be expertise, communication and passion and the most important of these would be expertise. No matter how good you are communicating in English, or how tolerant of diversity, or how passionate you are about working in the international community, unless you have some form of expertise to offer it’s not enough. So I would like to encourage students to seriously consider what contribution you can make to the international community.
Education development is my area of expertise, I love my field of research and find it very interesting. It’s extremely important for students to find something that you can be passionate about developing yourself in for the rest of your life.
How can students acquire expertise in an area if they don’t go on to become graduate students?
Becoming a graduate student is of course one option, but it’s very possible to acquire skills while you are working too. However, please choose your job very carefully. I am fully aware the job hunting situation is very difficult, however please consider what areas you would like to develop your skills in and how you can gain these skills from the job you are applying for.
You also need to remember to keep developing those skills once you do start working.
Of course educational institutions are not governments, companies or NPOs. Contribution to the organization you work for must be first priority. But please have a long-term perspective, and work to grow and polish yourselves especially in your 20’s and early 30’s.
It can take quite some time to acquire the skills that can assist developing countries, it will probably take until your late thirties. From my own personal experience, I have had the support and assistance of many people from developing countries over many years. So in return I want to spend the rest of my life throwing myself passionately in to my field of research and to keep reaching for new heights.
What can you do to find something you can passionate about?
After spending time with students I realized how hard it was to find something to be passionate about let alone to find a field of expertise or a career. You may not be sure what you’re interested in yet. So it’s essential to challenge and try many new things. If you find something you like then really sink your teeth in to it. I had an affair on my true calling and started working for a bank once. However I knew was only fooling myself. I couldn’t change the passion I had for education in developing countries. That is why I am where I am now. If you are true to yourself and follow your dreams then you will never end up being unhappy, because if you are doing what you truly love you will overcome any obstacle or circumstance.
The bad habit of depending on a brand name.
Lately young people are thought of as being very “inwardly focused”, what do you think the actual situation is at Waseda?
I don’t have the impression that Waseda students are inward focused at all.
For instance, the minor subject of “International Co-operation” has become very popular this semester. Also, it’s not completely bad to be inward focused either. If people were only thinking Internationally, and there weren’t people taking care of our own country then we will become like grass with no roots.
So it’s very important to have a balanced perspective.
Waseda University culture has always had diversity in students, and I feel that it is becoming even more of a homogenized society.
In the past I think the student culture revolved around doing something that was different to other people. More students these days come from prep school, are from the Tokyo region, and some may be from families high up in the social hierarchy. It’s no different to Keio University in some ways. Waseda University is all about raising leaders in a diversity of fields so I think it’s very dangerous for us to start putting everyone in the same box.
How can students diversify?
The best thing is to fail many times. To challenge and fail is a great thing.
The students here are the elite when it comes to examinations, they don’t like failing and I think they are afraid of failure.
Waseda University is a brand name so many students take advantage of that name and don’t push themselves but depend on the name to carry them through. I have been seeing this bad habit in more students these days. “I won’t try because I’m afraid to fail, the fact that I am a Waseda student will be enough.” This is a wrong way of thinking.
Things like challenging new programs and putting your heart and soul in to them to the point of breaking point. These qualities are so important in working in the International Community. If everyone can find these things that make them feel alive and chase after them with heart and soul, I think it will bring back more diversity to Waseda University.
<Reprinting from ICC webmagazine (Japanese only)>
Career：Before his current position, Dr Kuroda was a lecturer and assistant professor at the Center for International Cooperation in Education at Hiroshima University.
In addition, he was on the national committee of UNESCO Japan, visiting Professor at the Institute of Developing Economies Development School and a researcher for JICA. He has also been engaged in research assessment development areas such as the Ministry of Education, JICA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Kuroda obtained an MA (International Education Development) at Stanford University and a Ph.D. (Sociology of Education) at Cornell University.
ICC webmagazine (Japanese only)
