Many people considered study to be a chore during their time at school and failed to realize the pleasures of learning. As people are leading busy lives and are caught up in their work day after day without even being able to find the time to read, you have probably noticed an intense craving for learning, loudly calling out from inside you. "Jiyu Daigaku (Freedom University)" in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, was created for such people. At this school, a course plan will be organized for you if you think of something new that you want to learn. People who wish to learn can freely study by themselves and people who have a message to deliver can give lectures. "Jiyu Daigaku" is neither an educational corporation nor an NPO. It is a new place for learning that was created by people who teach, people who learn and people who plan and organize courses, all working together in cooperation.
The lectures offered at Jiyu Daigaku are meant to help people gain the intelligence to be "wise," not "clever." The lectures are all practical, unique and interactive and never theoretical. At the same time, they are all somewhat creative. Currently, there are seven faculties consisting of "Information and Society," "Language and Culture," "Nature and the Environment," "Food and Agriculture," "Life and Work," "The Future and the World" and "Religion and Philosophy," each of which attracts various kinds of people wishing to learn. No qualifications are required for sitting in on the lectures at Jiyu Daigaku, as the only prerequisite is a desire to "learn." The lectures cover a vast array of fields from design and communication to shoe shining and philosophy. There is even a course for warriors to travel about to gain skill in combat. This is all because the courses are designed by "lecture planners," who want to realize lectures that "would be nice to have."
Other than agreeing with the objectives of the school, there are no qualifications required to become a lecture planner and deciding lecture titles, ideas, purposes and themes, as well as finding lecturers. If a course is actually set up, a salary will be paid. Other positions such as lecture curators, who handle the PR activities, etc., for realizing the course and lecture organizers, who organize the lecture structure, are composed of like-minded people under similar conditions. All of the courses are thoroughly professional without compromise, as they are planned by people with a strong wish to "create" and an earnest desire to see the courses implemented (the courses won't be adopted unless they attract students). In addition, it is possible to become a lecturer at Jiyu Daigaku if there is something that you earnestly want to teach. People with such aspirations often knock on the door of Jiyu Daigaku with their own plans in hand (which are later screened in a selection process).
Lectures are basically in Japanese, but some are given in English and their contents vary. Among the courses offered in July are lectures on communication and agriculture taught by Mr. John Moore, a former president of the Japan branch of Patagonia, who is currently active as a social entrepreneur. Being active as a communication and organic food director, he teaches lectures from new perspectives on topics such as "How should 'communication' be designed?" and "Growing 100% organic food by yourself." He will also teach a Japanese language course for foreigners from this summer.
Not just a place for mere learning, but a place for learning how to "learn." That is the essence of Jiyu Daigaku, where you will find an answer to your natural desire to learn.
Jiyu Daigaku (Freedom University) http://www.freedom-univ.com/
●Current lectures in English
・Communication Workshop
