Masahiro Yamaguchi

Director of Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School
Vice President for Education Reform and Global Engagement

Tohoku University has officially been accredited as a “University for International Research Excellence.” The Advanced Graduate School will strive to achieve the goal of “Gateway to New Venture,” as outlined in the Research System Strengthening Plan.

The world is currently experiencing a new era marked by the globalization of the economy and distribution, rapid technological innovations such as information and communication technology and AI, swift social changes and divisions, and the emergence of global issues such as global warming. In this complex era, with rapid societal changes and an unpredictable future, many countries are undertaking educational reforms for the youth living in this “global age.” Domestically, however, Japan faces prolonged economic stagnation, a declining birthrate and aging population, and a decrease in its international standing. Additionally, there is a concern that universities are not adequately fostering global and innovative talent, and that research and education organizations are becoming rigid, as symbolized by the over-specialization of disciplines.

Tohoku University is trying to resolve these problems through bold reforms, greater efforts to internationalize, and plans to strengthen education and research ability so that it can become a truly world class university. To unite and lead our group of “Graduate Programs,” we have created the “Advanced Graduate School,” which is made up of the “Division for International Joint Graduate Programs,” the “Division for Interdisciplinary Advanced Research and Education,” which pushes for the interdisciplinary fusion of several multi-disciplinary fields, and the “Division for Academia-Industry Collaborating Graduate Programs,” the “Division for Leading Graduate School Programs,” which educates doctoral students who can solve social problems and create innovation in society.

In order to produce highly specialized professionals for society, the importance of transferable skills that can be applied in various situations is increasing. We are developing new programs and training courses, as well as common graduate school subjects, to ensure that each student acquires these transferable skills in addition to their individual expertise. By enhancing career development support for doctoral students, we are also strengthening their pathways into academia and industry. Furthermore, to alleviate economic concerns and ensure that doctoral students can conduct their research, we have established a support system for doctoral students through the university’s independent initiatives. Through these various initiatives by the Advanced Graduate School, we aim to become a top-ranked research university that attracts students and researchers from around the world who aspire to learn and conduct research here. These initiatives provide students with additional learning opportunities beyond their regular departmental and major studies. We expect that these experiences will enable you to become global leaders who can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society for humanity and drive social innovation in the future. We will continue to work towards implementing educational reforms for graduate level education.