On December 9, 2024, the Office for Gender Equity in the Center for Coproduction of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity held the “#WeChange Women Faculty Leadership Development Program Networking Event.” Forty-nine female faculty members from various departments within the university gathered at the Fukutake Learning Theater.
Outline of the Event
As part of the University of Tokyo’s “UTokyo Gender Equity Initiative #WeChange,” launched in the 2022 academic year to foster women leaders, the university has been piloting the Leadership Development Programs for Female Faculty Members since last year to support the career advancement of women researchers. A networking event was held again this year as well for female faculty members who are candidates for leadership positions.
Date and Time: Monday, December 9, 2024, 16:00–20:30
Program:
16:00–16:10 Opening Remarks and Purpose Explanation
16:10–16:50 Panel Discussion
16:50–17:10 Break
17:10–19:00 World Café-Style Discussion
19:00–20:30 Reception and Networking (optional participation)
Report
At the beginning of the event, Executive Vice President Kaori Hayashi, along with two faculty members with leadership experience—Professor Hatsumi Mori from the Institute for Solid State Physics and Professor Keiko Hongo from the Historiographical Institute—participated in a panel discussion moderated by Keitaro Tanoi, Head of the Office for Gender Equity.
Participants then engaged in World Café-style discussions in groups of around five people, sharing ideas on how to improve the University of Tokyo. The discussions were held in three rounds, with members rotating between groups to encourage diverse exchanges of opinions. After the discussions, each group presented their outcomes to the larger audience.
Several key suggestions emerged during the presentations. Participants noted that diversity committees are often led by female faculty members and suggested creating committees where everyone can participate. Some expressed concerns about the lack of increase in the ratio of female students, pointing out that the issue stems from an environment where they do not feel entirely comfortable. Others emphasized the importance of showcasing role models and promoting the idea that researchers can
return to academia even after taking a break, highlighting the value of diverse career and life paths. Additionally, participants mentioned the need for more communication and outreach efforts tailored to members whose native language is not Japanese. These discussions brought forward a variety of ideas aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within the university.
The discussions continued during the subsequent networking session, showing no signs of slowing down. Participants shared their thoughts, with one commenting, “It was very meaningful to speak with professors I normally wouldn’t have a chance to meet. I realized there are so many perspectives on increasing the number of female students and faculty that I hadn’t considered before.” Another participant admitted, “To be honest, I thought setting aside three hours would be difficult, but it turned out to be a productive and enjoyable event.”
