国際地域学科 国際地域専攻

　21世紀が始まって四半世紀が過ぎました。もし25年前の人がタイムマシンに乗って今の世界に来たら、きっと目を丸くするでしょう。スマートフォン一つで生活の多くが完結し、世界はMDGsからSDGsへと目標を進化させ、生成AIなどの新技術も次々に生まれています。一方で、地球温暖化は「地球沸騰化」と呼ばれるほど深刻化し、国際情勢や経済の不安定さも増しています。日本各地ではこれまでの予測を上回る速さで人口減少や少子化が進んでいます。

　こうした変化を理解し、よりよい未来へつなぐには何が必要でしょうか。

　国際地域学科 国際地域専攻は1997年の創設以来、国内外の「地域づくり」に貢献できる人材育成を目指し、実践的な学びと、少人数ゼミによる専門的な学修を重ねてきました。本専攻の特徴は、4つの「あいだ」を行き来する学びです。日本と海外、都市と地域、複数の専門分野同士（国際関係・開発政策、比較文化、コミュニティ・地域政策、環境・情報・インフラ）、そして大学と社会の「あいだ」です。それぞれの「あいだ」を何度も行き来し、語学力や異文化理解、現場での実践力、専門性、そして社会で求められる力を身につけていきます。すでにある分野の「あいだ」を行き来しながら考える横断的な学びと、少人数ゼミで未知の問いに挑む専門的な学びを通して、国内外の地域づくりにこれから必要となる考え方や知識を身につけていきます。

　世界の変化はすでに地域で起きています。そして未来もまた地域からつくられます。次の四半世紀をむかえる2050年、「この地域はよくなった」と言える未来を、ともに築いていきましょう！

（国際地域学科長　鈴木 鉄忠）

A quarter of a century has passed since the beginning of the 21st century. If someone from 25 years ago came to the world today in a time machine, they would probably be amazed. With only a smartphone, many daily life tasks can be completed; the world has progressed from MDGs to SDGs; and new technologies such as generative AI are continually emerging. On the other hand, global warming has become so serious that it is called “global boiling,” and instability caused by the international situation and economy is increasing. In many parts of Japan, the population is declining and the birth rate is falling faster than previously expected.

What is needed to understand these changes and to connect them to a better future?

Since its founding in 1997, the Department of Regional Development Studies, Regional Development Studies Course, has aimed to cultivate human resources capable of contributing to regional development domestically and internationally, through practical learning and specialized study in small seminars. The main feature of this course is the learning of moving back and forth in the four “betweens.” Between Japan and overseas, between cities and regions, among multiple areas of expertise (international relations and development policy; comparative culture; community and regional policies; environment, information, and infrastructure), and between the university and society. By going back and forth between these areas many times, students acquire language skills, cross-cultural understanding, practical skills in the field, expertise, and the skills required by society. Through cross-disciplinary learning that involves moving back and forth between existing areas of expertise, and specialized learning that challenges unknown questions in small seminars, students acquire ideas and knowledge that will be necessary for regional development in Japan and overseas.

Changes around the world are already taking place in regions. And the future will also be made from the regions. As we head into the next quarter century in 2050, let’s work together to build a future where we can say “These regions have improved”!

（Department Chair, Suzuki Tetsutada)