Lecture by Monte CASSIM, President of Akita International University

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a special lecture by President Monte Cassim was held in Building D at Akita International University.

The event was organized with the aim of bringing students and the President closer together, allowing President Cassim to directly share his vision for AIU, the aspirations he places in the university, and his messages for students. More than 70 students—primarily first- and second-year undergraduates—attended the lecture.

President Cassim began with a keynote speech titled “GLOBAL LEADERSHIP: Creating sustainable futures for all with confidence, courage and resilience.” Reflecting on his own life journey, he spoke about why liberal arts education is essential in today’s world and introduced new initiatives currently being planned for AIU’s research endeavors.

During the Q&A session that followed, students engaged in lively discussion, raising questions such as: “What distinctive strengths can AIU develop to set itself apart in the future?” “How do you view the criticism that, despite being a public university, AIU graduates often do not remain in the prefecture?” and “Do you have an ideal image of what AIU students should strive to be?” The exchange was vibrant and interactive.

Students who participated shared many impressions, including: “Hearing the President’s passion and vision for the university’s growth was exciting, and it made me strongly aspire to become someone who continues to grow just like him,” and “I felt that we, too, have opportunities to contribute ideas about AIU’s future direction, which strengthened my sense of belonging to the university.”