｢ええっ！金城が!?｣ なぜ金城学院大学が“共学化”検討 4年前から定員割れ…名古屋学院大学の傘下へ 理事長に独自インタビュー「キリスト教的に言うと神に導きをいただいた」

It has been revealed that Kinjo Gakuin University, a women's university in Nagoya, will become part of the Nagoya Gakuin University School Corporation and is considering becoming coeducational within three years. This report includes local reactions and exclusive interviews with the chairpersons of both universities. Kinjo Gakuin University, located in Moriyama Ward, Nagoya City, is a traditional women's university. Last March, this university proposed the integration of its operations with Nagoya Gakuin University, located in Atsuta Ward. On April 20th, a basic agreement was reached for Kinjo Gakuin University to become part of the Nagoya Gakuin University School Corporation. The reorganization will take effect in April of the year after next, with both universities coexisting and retaining their names. Furthermore, Kinjo Gakuin University is considering becoming coeducational within three years. Meanwhile, Kinjo Gakuin Junior and Senior High School, located in Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, will remain under the Kinjo Gakuin School Corporation, while the kindergarten in Moriyama Ward will be transferred to the Nagoya YMCA Gakuen from April of next year. "I had the image of it being a girls' school..." "A bit of a surprise." We asked around Nagoya... (20s) "I've always had the image of it being a girls' school, so I'm surprised it's changing so suddenly." "I actually went to a girls' school myself. So this news is a surprise. If my alma mater were to change... I wouldn't be shocked, but I would be surprised." "Kinjo = women's university, a place for refined ladies. I wonder what reason there is for men to enroll?" (60s) "'What?! Kinjo?!' That was my first reaction. It's definitely the declining birthrate. There are far fewer children now. Without revenue, schools can't be maintained." "Aichi Shukutoku University also became co-educational quite a while ago. I think it's the way of the times, but Kinjo was the last bastion, so it's a bit of a surprise." "This isn't the era to separate schools by gender. I felt like it would happen someday. I'm not that surprised." "A new vision can be drawn up rather than continuing with just Kinjo." We spoke to the chairpersons of both universities to find out why they decided to reorganize. (Naoko Komuro, Chairperson of Kinjo Gakuin) "Rather than Kinjo Gakuin operating alone, we can envision a new university education by uniting schools of similar size." (Toshiya Nishinaka, Chairperson of Nagoya Gakuin University) "We want to combine interdisciplinary education, international exchange, and social collaboration, and provide education while working across disciplines." What brought the two universities together was… (Kimochi, Chairperson of Kinjo Gakuin) "We share the same founding spirit." (Nishinaka, Chairperson of Nagoya Gakuin University) "In Christian terms, we received guidance (from God). We are being tested now, aren't we?" Kinjo Gakuin, whose roots lie in a school founded by American missionaries, and Nagoya Gakuin University, which upholds "reverence for God and love for humanity," are both Christian Protestant universities. "There might be a strong backlash from alumnae." Regarding the "co-education" plan, which is being considered within three years... (Kinjo Gakuin Chairman Komuro) "I think they will be very surprised. Since it's a girls' school with a long history, there might be a strong backlash, especially from alumnae. We'll just have to persuade them." Kinjo Gakuin University has been under-enrolled for the past four years, with 4,492 undergraduate students representing 87% of its capacity. Graduate students number 56, representing only 54% of its capacity. Management Situation: Kinjo Gakuin University was in a "preliminary stage." According to a survey by the Private School Promotion and Mutual Aid Association, 207 out of 662 school corporations operating private universities nationwide were in a "difficult financial situation," and Kinjo Gakuin University was considered to be in a "preliminary stage" due to the construction of a new school building and a decline in enrollment. (Kinjo Gakuin Chairman Komuro) Q. Does being a women's university pose a management bottleneck or create headwinds? "That's not the case. While it's true we're seeing a decrease in enrollment, we don't feel it's a headwind. It's certainly true that high school students are increasingly finding co-educational appealing." Mukogawa Women's University to become co-educational from April next year In Kyoto, Notre Dame Girls' Academy stopped accepting university students this academic year. Its elementary, middle, and high schools were transferred to Viator Gakuen, another Catholic institution. Mukogawa Women's University in Hyogo Prefecture, the largest of its kind in Japan, will become co-educational from April next year and change its name to "Mukogawa University." (Kinjo Gakuin, Chairman Komuro) "Other schools and women's universities have recently become co-...