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OPENed Wrap-up Symposium: Driving Diversity for the Future
The 6th OPENed* Wrap-up Symposium: Driving Diversity for the Future was held online on November 28, 2023.
*OPENed: Progressive Initiatives of Empowering Network for Diversity
Osaka University was selected as the only institute that would carry out the MEXT’s* funding project "Initiative for the Implementation of the Diversity Research Environment (National Network Core Institute)" in academic year 2018/19. Since then, the university has served as the managing institute for the OPENed network, which consists of 185 participating institutes.
*MEXT: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
As the project enters its final year, this symposium was held to summarize what they have done, attracting over 350 participants.
Following the opening speeches by organizers, including President NISHIO Shojiro, KAKITA Yasuyoshi (Director, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, MEXT) and YAMAMURA Yasuko (Program Officer, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)), expressed their expectations for the network.
Next, the two guests delivered keynote speeches, presented problems based on actual data, and spoke from international and global perspectives:
- “Diversity and Inclusion for a Prosperous Society” by UEDA Naoko (Head, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Tokyo Centre)
- “Promoting Women’s Success – Structuring Problems to Eliminate the Wage Gap,” by YAJIMA Yoko (Executive Officer/Principal Researcher, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting)
At the panel discussion moderated by Osaka University Vice President, SHIMAOKA Mana (Director, Center for Diversity and Inclusion), OSUMI Noriko (Vice President, Tohoku University), NAKATANI Yoshio (President, Ritsumeikan University), and YOSHIE Naoko (Vice President, The University of Tokyo) introduced progressive endeavors at their universities.
Following this, participants discussed future university networking in the presence of Ms. Yamamura of JST.
Panel Discussion
(Clockwise from top left: Vice President Shimaoka, Vice President Osumi, President Nakatani, Vice President Yoshie, and Ms. Yamamura)
Finally, Prof. MURAKI Atsuko (Guest Professor, Tsuda University/Visiting Professor, Osaka University) gave a general recap and reaffirmed the significance of this symposium with the audience.
The symposium was a great success, with over 90% of attendees describing themselves as highly satisfied in the post-symposium survey.
Moving forward, we will continue to promote diversity using the network that we have cultivated through this project.