About Toyo University NEWS・Information

On October 10, 2021, the Track and Field Club’s Long-Distance Division participated in the first ekiden of the series of three major university ekiden, the 33rd Izumo All-Japan University Ekiden. 20 teams took part in this year’s Izumo Ekiden, which held for the first time in two years due to the impacts of COVID-19. Keishun Kushima (2nd year student, Faculty of Economics) was 2nd fastest in the fourth section, and Kosuke Ishida (1st year student, Faculty of Information Sciences and Arts) was awarded the single stage prize for the fifth section, which brought Toyo temporarily in second place. Toyo came home overall with a third-place finish in this year’s Izumo Ekiden in which particularly the 1st and 2nd year students put in outstanding performances.
Kosuke Ishida put in another stellar performance following the Izumo Ekiden at the Prince Chichibu Cup 53rd All-Japan University Men’s Ekiden held on November 7, winning a single-stage award for the second consecutive ekiden. Toyo finished in 10th place overall, however, every one of the athletes embodied the spirit of “SONO-ICHIBYO-O-KEZURIDASE － Every Second Counts!”, showing determined mind towards  running and not letting up until they crossed the finish line.Teams that finish in top eight are seeded in following year’s Hakone Ekiden, but unfortunately, Toyo finished 52 seconds behindthe top eight and could not maintain their thirteen-year streak that has been kept since 2008. However, Coach Toshiyuki Sakai gave encouraging comments, noting that “Everyone in the team understands the severity of the situation, and we will rebuild our team looking ahead to the Hakone Ekiden.” The athletes wrote“Proving TETSUKON’ *” as this year’s slogan, and expectations are rising that their performance will demonstrate the strength of the athletes that pass on the Toyo navy blue sash.
TETSUKON *: Toyo University's school color. A rich purplish navy-Blue.

Hayato Miyashita running the eighth section of the All-Japan University Men’s Ekiden

Kosuke Ishida running the fifth section of The Izumo Ekiden

Toyo University established the Toyo University Incorporated Educational Institution Charter of Conduct for SDGs and is working comprehensively to achieve the SDGs. We set the two months from October 1 to November 30 as the TOYO SDGs Weeks as part of these initiatives. We implemented various programs related to SDGs targeted at Toyo students and faculty, and local people. We worked to promote understanding so that people can perceive the SDGs as issues related to their own lives. We did this by providing various opportunities such as symposiums, contests, and workshops.
Also, to further invigorate, enhance, and develop on-campus SDGs activities, we established a system for conferring the title of Toyo University SDGs Ambassador for individual students and student groups. On November 2, 49 students were the first to be accredited as ambassadors under this system. Going forward, the Ambassadors will take the lead in implementing projects and disseminating information to promote SDGs activities at Toyo University.

<Lectures>

Special Lecture from the Norwegian Ambassador On October 27, the Faculty of Law invited her excellency Ms. Inga M. W. Nyhamar to the university to deliver a special lecture about foreign policy as an opportunity for students to develop a global perspective. In a typical year, students travel to Norway for training in peace studies conducted in English. The aim of the training is to develop students with an international perspective, knowledge, and experience. However, the training was canceled due to COVID-19. Amidst this situation, the special lecture was a valuable opportunity to learn in Japan about Norway’s peacebuilding, dispute resolution, and international aid. Students asking questions to the Norwegian ambassador after the lecture

Environmental Education Related to the SDGs (Class Conducted in English)

Through Passion, Changing Welfare, and Changing Society

Reducing Food Loss and Preservatives: Promotion of Goal 12 of the SDGs

Taking on Child Poverty: Considerations From The Frontline of Social Care Initiatives

Utilizing ICT in Special Education Schools for Intellectual disability Students: Supporting for Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing

Corporations and Human Rights: Let’s Learn About SDGs and Human Rights

The Philosophy of Disaster Prevention: Theory of Evacuation Information Abolition and Disaster Prevention Pragmatism

Student Facilitator Development Program to Invigorate The Faculty of Life Sciences Community: SDGs That You Can Start from Relatable Activities

Learn About SDGs and Human Rights Through SDGs-Based Card Games

Introductory Workshop for Toyo University Students to Think About SDGs

Let’s Play at Day Camp Session (Day Camp with Foster Families)

Online TGL Camp: Considerations Around The Achievement of The SDGs

 

NEWS 05
Toyo University and The BLUE SEED PROJECT
Collaboration with SEED Co., Ltd. To Promote SDGs Activities

From April to July 2021, Toyo University and SEED Co., Ltd. which is a contact lens manufacturer, collected used blister packs (plastic cases for contact lenses) as an SDGs initiatives. Waste plastic is one of the causes of ocean pollution and is a major global issue. Currently, various plastic reduction initiatives are being increasingly adopted.
The initiative was carried out as part of a fieldwork exercise for the Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Sociology, and students took the lead in collecting blister packs at the Hakusan Campus. The collected blister packs will be remanufactured into pallets used in logistics (a platform for handling packages) as part of SEED Co., Ltd.’s BLUE SEED PROJECT.
Students took a proactive role to share the purpose of the project, the current state of marine debris issue, and how many blister packs they collected. The students collected a total of 1,713 blister packs in about two weeks. Through the project, students increased their awareness of the environmental issues, stating, “As it's hard to live without plastic, I want to do what I can, such as recycling.” Students were able to connect their experience to personal growth, noting, “I was able to identify my strengths and areas that I need to improve.” After the project had ended, a student from Fukuoka Prefectural Kurate High School held an online discussion with one of the Toyo University participants as part of the student’s general research time in their investigative research.

Blister packs collected on campus

Students in front of SEED Co., Ltd.’s head office with collected blister packs in hand.

-INFORMATION-

A “soundproof booth” for job hunting has opened at the Hakusan Campus Career Support Office.
Two soundproof booths were set up at the Hakusan Campus Career Support Office and have been available for reservation from October 20, 2021. The booths are to be used to attend online interviews for job hunting and job-hunting events, such as group discussions and internships.The booth provides quietness and privacy necessary for online interviews to support students who struggle to focus or whose interviews will be disturbed by noises at home. It also has sufficient ventilation, lighting, and sound insulation, so students can talk without worrying about their surroundings. A student who used the booth commented that “I had an important online interview between classes, and it was good to be able to take the interview in an environment where I could focus.” All Students of all grades and campuses can use the booth, but advance reservations are required.