iU President Ichiya Nakamura

Students themselves create the university! Together with students, we will create the most interesting university in the world.

iU President　Ichiya Nakamura(Ichiya Nakamura)

■ Profile
He is also a specially appointed professor at Kyoto University, a researcher at the University of Tokyo, a specially appointed professor at Keio University, chairman of the Digital Policy Foundation, chairman of the CiP Council, president of the International Association for Public Economics, special advisor to the Japan Esports Union, project leader for the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 Commercialization Support Team, and coordinator at the RIKEN Institute.
In 1984, he joined the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications after serving as director of the rock band Shonen Knife. He served as a visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab, director of the Stanford Japan Center Research Institute, and professor at Keio University, before becoming president of iU in April 2020. He has served as an advisor and committee member for the Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. His numerous publications include "New Edition: Creating a Super-Idle Society - The Post-COVID Era is the Age of Cats" (Yoshimoto Books) and "Content and National Strategy" (Kadokawa EPUB Selection). Born in 1961, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kyoto University and completed his doctoral studies at Osaka University. He holds a PhD in Policy and Media.

The vision of Information, Management and Innovation University (hereinafter iU) is "everyone can start a business, everyone can be an intern." It is the first university in the world to include "innovation" in its name, and it aims to produce young people who will lead the future. We spoke with President Nakamura Ichiya about the background and aspirations behind launching a new university in this rapidly changing world.

During my student days, I was more passionate about my band than my studies. While everyone around me was becoming professional, I became anxious about my future and wondered if I could make a living from being in a band, so I decided to start job hunting. My main focus during my job hunt was to support people who, like me, were passionate about something. I joined the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), which handled various national systems. At the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, I drafted laws and worked on budgetary projects. In 2001, I was involved in the launch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a new government agency that merged the Management and Coordination Agency, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. After 15 years at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, I moved to the United States. While in the United States, I worked with universities on projects such as the "Children and Media Research Institute Project" and the "Pop Culture Project." Overseas, it's common for companies and university students to work together on projects like this. However, at the time, such initiatives were rare in Japan. This gave rise to the desire to create a university in Japan where companies and universities could create new things together, which led to the founding of iU.

■ "Entrepreneurship" is promoted as a means of education

iU is a school that cultivates individuals who can thrive in the business world. We aim for all students to start their own businesses, and our goal is a 1% employment rate. However, even though we say "everyone should start their own business," I believe that entrepreneurship is merely one educational tool. Entrepreneurship is one way to acquire the ability to learn independently and acquire necessary knowledge. We strive to create a school that fosters this self-motivated ability in students. To that end, we offer numerous visiting professors, partner companies, and internships, providing opportunities for students to interact with adults from diverse backgrounds and inspiring them. Furthermore, our 30 full-time faculty members, few of whom are university graduates, are characterized by their open-mindedness. Our faculty members work together to create unique and engaging curricula that students can enjoy, and we strive to create a place where learning is fun. I believe that providing this kind of environment will help us cultivate individuals who can think about and act on their dreams and contribute to society.
In the future, we would like to increase the number of schools and professors who are interested in creating our school, and by connecting with them, we would like to form a larger community in order to help students realize their dreams.
In fact, at iU, we are conscious of something other than "entrepreneurship." And that is "breaking and creating." I believe we are entering an era of change in which traditional rules no longer apply. I believe that those who can enjoy change will be the ones who will survive in such an era. In fact, when I asked students, "Is COVID-19 a crisis or an opportunity?", they all immediately answered, "opportunity." I believe that it is precisely in times of adversity that breaking down conventional thinking, thinking in new ways, and creating new concepts and rules will bring hope to society. I look forward to seeing students who can look up in adversity and see COVID-19 as an opportunity have a variety of impacts on society in the future and become a source of hope for society.

■ Creating the most interesting university in the world

My goal is for iU to be known as the most interesting university in the world. I believe that by making iU an interesting university, I can support the dreams of many students. We are currently developing various initiatives and curricula to ensure that we receive this reputation. However, a university's reputation can only be achieved once its graduates have successfully entered society. Therefore, I believe it will take some time for our university to achieve this recognition. However, what's important is not the reputation of those around us, but the reputation of our students. I want to make iU a groundbreaking university that allows students to realize their dreams, such as by creating the first university-based television station and an international media outlet that connects students from around the world, so that students will think, "Learning is fun" and "I'm glad I came to iU." By doing so, I believe our university reputation will naturally follow.
There are many things in society that are not possible in business but are possible at university. That is why I want students to take on many challenges. And in the future, I want them to exchange ideas and fantasies with various people. Our university would like to provide a place where the ideas that are born there can be realized, and become a "bridge between society and academia" that transcends the boundaries of business.

■Message to university students

I want you to think seriously about what you can only do as a university student. And try to do things now that you won't be able to do once you enter the workforce.
Those who have had a variety of experiences, such as thinking and taking action as a university student, will be able to quickly understand the importance of learning and gain the treasure of experience. Such people will be able to play an active role in society. In order to acquire the skills necessary to play an active role in society in the future, it is important to always maintain a "learning mindset."

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on August 9, 2023 by Daiki Shimada, a third-year student at Kokugakuin University