In 1966, our University was established under Dr. MORI Shigeki, an authority in the field of onstitutional medicine and a professor emeritus at Kyoto University, as the first President, on the philosophy of "shinri-aiko kosei-soncho" (love of truth and respect for individuality). It initially offered a single course of study with only the Faculty of Nutrition. Today, more than half a century later, the university has expanded to become the largest private university in Kobe City to offer programs combining the humanities with sciences, with multiple distinct campuses, ten faculties and eight graduate schools, and a total of more than 11,000 students. We will soon reach approximately 100,000 graduates, who are actively contributing to a wide range of fields including industrial fields, public service fields such as national and municipal governments, NPOs and NGOs, and educational fields.

In AY2022, we formulated "KOBE GAKUIN INNOVATIVE VISION 2040 - Leading to the Future," our Long-Term Vision for Kobe Gakuin University, and also announced our "Kobe Gakuin University Grand Mission" which breaks this down into 32 specific items. This Long-Term Vision and Grand Mission are supported by our "aspiration to connect with the community." Throughout our daily efforts, we aim to actively engage in joint projects with industrial fields, administrations, and local residents in our community, and by incorporating those results into our curricular and extracurricular educational programs, we aim to both improve learning results and achieve social growth for our students.

Having established and implemented our "Mid-Term Action Plan," which began in AY2013, we have begun moving toward our "Third Mid-Term Action Plan" in AY2023. In AY2026, which is covered by this "Third Mid-Term Action Plan," Kobe Gakuin University will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its founding. Construction of Building 1 located near the front entrance of Arise Campus, our mother campus, is also scheduled to finish during this milestone year. We hope you look forward to the completion of this new building, which incorporates solutions to student needs.

Through our experience with the COVID-19 crisis, we were able to develop "wisdom" and "ingenuity." I believe it to be the mission of Kobe Gakuin University to continue this development in order to offer an education based on its founding philosophy, and to provide a range of support so that all students can discover and achieve their dreams and goals. We strive to enhance our education, research, and social contributions to integrate expertise and to impart the broader knowledge and abilities needed by society now to our students. We ask for your continued understanding and support.