President, Akita International University
Norihiko Suzuki, DBA
Free yourself from all values and reshape yourself
Since its foundation, the University, which celebrated its 13th anniversary in April 2017, has been communicating the idea of International Liberal Arts from Akita to the whole world as the leading institution developing global human resources in Japan.
International Liberal Arts, which has been highly esteemed by all quarters including educators, is the trend of the 21st century that universities across the world are aiming to incorporate.
The global knowledge-based society of the 21st century requires human resources equipped with all human qualities such as intelligence, physical strength, and moral values.
International Liberal Arts is an all‐around education on methods and arts of liberating ourselves from the values and customs that have shaped us and create our new selves to gain different abilities that are necessary to achieving success in the global society. AIU is the leading university in International Liberal Arts in Japan.
In this global era, we can instantaneously connect with 7 billion people worldwide simply by touching the keyboard of an electronic equipment using Information and Communication Technology and exchange messages with each other, creating the fundamental composition of an individual versus the world anywhere in the world. Graduates of our university become the individual in this composition, depart from Akita and achieve global success. Some of them decide to base their activities in Akita as the center of the world.
You may question what individuality is, who you are, and how you want to live your life. You must have plenty of questions to ask yourself, but constantly asking yourself questions, finding answers and achieving self-realization is the very process of becoming an individual.
Just as many of our graduates have accomplished, each current and prospective students at AIU will become an individual in the global society by taking on new challenges through challenging educational programs provided entirely in English, discussions with teaching staff and fellow students, and their year abroad.
Akita International University looks forward to welcoming those wishing to make the world their stage.
Norihiko Suzuki
President’s Profile
| 1945 | Born in Kuroiso Machi, Nasu Gun (Currently Nasu Shiobara City), Tochigi Prefecture |
|---|---|
| 1968 | B.A., Economics, Hitotsubashi University |
| 1972 | M.A., Economics, Hitotsubashi University |
| 1978 | D.B.A., Indiana University |
| 1978 - 1982 | Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, Washington State University |
| 1982 - 1986 | Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| 1986 - 1990 | Associate Professor, International Christian University |
| 1990 - 2012 | Professor, International Christian University |
| 1991 - 1992 | Visiting Professor, University of Washington |
| 2000 - 2004 | Vice-President for Academic Affairs, International Christian University |
| 2004 - 2012 | President, International Christian University |
| 2010 - 2012 | President, The Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia |
| 2012 - 2013 | Senior Managing Director, Japan University Accreditation Association |
| 2013 - present | President (Chair of the Board), Akita International University |
Other prominent posts include member of the University Education Section of the Central Council for Education
Publications include, Takokuseki Kigyou Keieiron (Management of Multinational Enterprises, Dobunkan, 1988), Winner of the 1988 Management Science Literature Award, Kokusai Marketing (International Marketing, Dobunkan, 1989), Kigyousenryaku to Kokusaikankeiron (Corporate Strategy and International Relations, Yuhikaku, 1995), Takokuseki Kigyou to Kokusai Kankei no Tougou Riron (The Multinational Business and International Relations -Toward the Integrated Theory Building-, Kokusai Shoin, 1997), Kokusai Keiei Seijigaku (The Global Corporate Politics, Bunshindo, 2000), Global Kyoikuzai Ido Riron (Global Transfer Theory of Education Products, Bunshindo, 2014), Journal of International Business Studies, Academy of Management Journal, International Management Review, Asia-Pacific Journal of Management, The Columbia Journal of World Business, and many more.
Greetings from the President's Office
"I am glad to announce that I will issue my opinions/thoughts through this letter occasionally with the hope of increasing communication between all of you and me." (An excerpt from the first issue)
- No.17 Children’s Cross-Cultural Interaction
2019.6.11 issue- No.16 What I recall from the Sakura Cherry Blossoms
2019.4.30 issue- No.15 In Awe of the Akita Dog
2019.3.18 issue- No.14 Cooperation among four national and public universities in Akita
2019.1.21 issue- No.13 International Students Remake Themselves in Akita
2018.11.26 issue- No.12 An Experiment on Japanese Sake Turned out a Party
2018.10.15 issue- No.11 The Ability to Continue Growing your Dream”
2018.09.05 issue- No.10 A Comfort of the “Warabi-za”
2018.6.18 issue- No.9 Financial-Aid supported by honey bees
2017.7.24 issue- No.8 As an Advisor and a Witness – A Memory in the United States
2016.12.01 issue- No.7 Craving for Traditional Japanese Food while Overseas
2016.3.23 issue- No.6 Dear AIU New Students
2015.4.24 issue- No.5 Message from the Vice President
2014.8.8 issue- No.4 My Favorite Study Spot in the Library – The Place of Marx and I
2014.5.22 issue- No.3 Listening to Enka Songs in the Midwest Great Plains of the U.S.
2014.4.2 issue- No.2 Abacus Nori
2013.12.16 issue- No.1 President’s Responsibilities
2013.11.25 issue