This report is a summary of the 47th Research Institute for Higher Education Annual Study Meeting, held at the Higashi-Hiroshima campus of Hiroshima University in 2019. The theme of the year was “Considering the future of university education: Expectations and challenges of the integration of arts and sciences education”. The meeting was opened by two keynote addresses. Sayama Oki, Professor of Nagoya University, gave a keynote address entitled “Possibilities for the Integration of Arts and Sciences Education: Why are Arts and Sciences Separated?” Yamada Toshihiro, Professor of Hiroshima University, gave a second keynote address entitled “A Wonderful Recipe to integrate the Arts and Sciences”. Subsequently, three speakers made presentations, followed by comments from the audience and discussion.
In recent years, new human resources are in demand in the context of "Society 5.0", and education reforms to meet this demand are being pushed forward. Particularly, independent learner development is being increasingly supported through ICT education and active learning. In addition, in universities, programs featuring integrated Arts and Sciences components have been developed to support the formation of new human resources. At this meeting, the expectations and problems of the integration of Arts and Sciences education were examined based on philosophical and practical reports of the integration process.