Kobe Gakuin University was established in 1966 with Shigeki Mori as the first President. It initially offered a single course of study with 100 students, in the Faculty of Nutrition, being founded on the philosophy of "shinri-aiko kosei-soncho" (love of truth and respect for individuality). Today, 50 years later, the University has expanded to become the largest private university in Kobe City, with three distinctive campuses, ten faculties and seven graduate schools, and a total of more than 11,000 students. About 83,000 students have graduated from the university or completed graduate school courses.In 2012, Kobe Gakuin Educational Foundation celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. In 2016, the University marked the 50th anniversary of its founding. Reflecting our belief that the timing of these 100 year and 50 year anniversaries provides us with an excellent opportunity for Kobe Gakuin University to develop greatly, we announced the "Kobe Gakuin 100-Year Declaration" and implemented our "mid-term action plan" as a five-year plan based on that Declaration. We took advantage of the 50th anniversary of the University's founding to announce a vision for its next 50 years. That vision articulates the issues that the University needs to address, and we have begun to do so in a steady manner.Going forward, I believe it must be the mission of Kobe Gakuin University to offer an education based on its founding philosophy so that students can experience their own growth and go forth into society with a sense of self-confidence, and to provide a range of support so that all students can achieve their dreams and goals. We must also strive to become an institution that will continue to operate into the indefinite future, one that is prized for its essential role in society, by enhancing our education, research, and social outreach programs. I hope that we will have your understanding and support as we do so.