Aoyama Gakuin Educational Corporation Chairman Nobuya Hotta

Taking on the world and striving to develop servant leaders

Aoyama Gakuin Educational Corporation Chairman　堀田宣彌(Nobumitsu Hotta)

■ Profile

Born in 1943. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Aoyama Gakuin University. Joined Moriya Shokai Co., Ltd., becoming its President and Representative Director in June 2009. In November 2015, he became the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Aoyama Gakuin Educational Corporation, a position he holds to this day. He also serves as the Mie Tourism Executive Advisor for his hometown, Mie Prefecture.

It began in 1874 (Meiji 7) as three schools, including a girls' elementary school, started by an American female missionary, and has since undergone many changes to become a comprehensive school. Since its founding, the school has been run with Christian principles at the core of its education. This year, marking the 150th anniversary of its founding, the school has been in the news with no shortage of news, including its victory in the long-distance relay race. We spoke to Chairman Hotta about education and management.

■What kind of student were you?

When I was a university student, I started the Rover Scouts, which take on global challenges. In my second year, I went to Egypt and worked on a desert development project for just under a month. I was a poor student, but I loved traveling to different places, and I wanted to work in the trading business when I entered the workforce. By chance, I joined Moriya Shokai, a trading company specializing in machinery, dealing in energy plants and industrial machinery.

■What groundbreaking initiatives have you undertaken since becoming chairman?

I became Aoyama Gakuin's chairman after being approached by then-chairman Koshiro Ando. He expected me to transform the government-like organization of schools with the vitality of the private sector. As soon as I assumed the position, I undertook a new initiative: the introduction of the "university version of hometown tax." Japan currently has a limited number of grant-type scholarships that do not require repayment. To address this issue, I created a new system in which universities collect donations and provide them as scholarships that do not require repayment. In addition to tax benefits, donors receive a "Aoyama Gakuin Gift" consisting of 110 items in return for their donation. This university version of hometown tax continues to garner attention as a groundbreaking initiative, with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology even visiting to inspect the program.

■What is Aoyama Gakuin's educational policy?

Aoyama Gakuin provides education based on Christian principles, and its school motto, "Salt of the earth, light of the world," is a quote from Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible. This year, Aoyama Gakuin celebrates its 150th anniversary. Its goal is to cultivate servant leaders. In other words, it aims to produce talented people who can support and guide others with a spirit of service and become a shining light for those around them. The theme is "Be the difference (The world can be changed by the power of each individual)."

■Message to university students

I hope you will believe in your dreams and make the most of your individuality. In particular, we are entering the age of data science. With new social visions such as Society 5.0 being proposed, Aoyama Gakuin plans to establish a new faculty related to data science by 2028. I urge you to study data science to acquire AI literacy.

Student Newspaper April 1, 2024 Issue Chuo University 4nd Year Student Yoshikazu Kamei