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In April 2022, the Chiba University Center for Innovative Higher Education (hereafter referred to as "the Center") was established to restructure and strengthen the Institute for Excellence in Educational Innovation. The Center's main objectives are to create educational policies and plans, design comprehensive educational programs, and implement evaluation schemes to enhance Chiba University's educational functions and student support.

Today, our society faces challenges that cannot be solved without the cooperation of many people across various fields, such as energy and environmental problems and the declining birthrate and aging population. Furthermore, situations are occurring that overturn the international order that has been built up until now. In this context, there is a need for individuals who can utilize their knowledge and abilities in their specialized fields to solve societal problems. Moreover, in the face of social transformation brought about by AI, which is rapidly permeating society, there is a need for abilities that AI cannot achieve. We need to promote the development of human resources that can meet these societal demands, looking ahead to the future.

Meanwhile, following the COVID-19 pandemic, various media-based classes, such as on-demand and synchronous interactive learning, have become common. Furthermore, new possibilities in the means of university education are expanding, including the provision of educational environments tailored to individual student achievements and preferences through generative AI.

It is necessary to collect data on these changes in the needs and resources surrounding university education, as well as the current state of education at Chiba University, and to systematically promote "data-driven" educational reform throughout the university based on this analysis. The Center for Innovative Higher Education will lead this "data-driven" educational reform in cooperation with related centers.

The success of educational reform requires the sharing of awareness and utilization of knowledge among a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty and staff involved in the implementation of education, as well as students. Therefore, we intend to make efforts to disseminate easily understandable information about our educational reform initiatives and create opportunities for interaction with a wide range of stakeholders. We ask for understanding and support of the stakeholders.

Vice-President for Educational Reform,

Director, Center for Innovative Higher Education,

Professor, Faculty of Engineering

 Yukihiko Sato