2014.09.26

Nagaoka University of Technology’s “The Education Program for Innovative Global Engineers – Toward development of an integrated global campus with collaboration between industry, academia, and government –” was adopted for the 2014 Top Global University Project (Type B) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (→Go to the MEXT website)

MEXT’s “Top Global University Project” was undertaken to strengthen the international competitiveness of higher education in Japan by intensively supporting universities that carry out thorough internationalization and university reform, including top universities that perform world-class education and research and universities that challenge pacesetting trials and lead the internationalization of universities in Japan. The project is to be implemented for 10 years, during 2014–2023.

For the category of “Type B (Global Traction Type)”, which Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT) was adopted, 93 projects were applied from national and public universities across Japan (44 projects of national universities), of which 24 projects (10 projects of national universities) were adopted.

NUT aims to be a university with solid networks with next-generation strategic pursuits. It continues to take a lead in practical, global engineer education that leads the world. To this end, we will construct an integrated global campus with collaboration among industry, academia, and government based on solid networks with industry and overseas universities that NUT has built up, and will realize the following goals:

• Overseas development of education and research systems based on GIGAKU
• Support for sustainable innovation of Japanese-owned companies and local enterprises in strategic bases
• Development of global and innovative human resources using an integrated global campus with collaboration among industry, academia, and government
• Creation of International GIGAKU Park Foundation that guarantees independent and sustainable development of an integrated global campus with collaboration between industry, academia, and government

Here is the concept report of NUT as a “Top Global University Project”.
(→Go to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science website)

[Comments of President Dr. Niihara on the adoption]
We were informed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that “The Education Program for Innovative Global Engineers – Toward development of an integrated global campus with collaboration between industry, academia, and government – ” proposed by Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT) would be adopted to the 2014 MEXT Top Global University Project (Type B).

We are delighted that our achievements in widely various active international exchanges and that our concept of strengthening functions that produce an integrated global campus for the overseas development of education and research based on GIGAKU (Science of Technology) were recognized and adopted as a university project that leads the globalization of Japanese society.

NUT has actively accepted international students by pioneering and implementing educational programs such as the Twinning Program and the Double Degree ahead of other universities. Additionally, we have made positive efforts to work on overseas dispatching of Japanese students since 1990, including overseas internship training that sends many students to overseas companies for six months to gain valuable practical experience.

From now on, through the GIGAKU Education Network and the GIGAKU Techno Network, which will be constructed by expanding the long-term KOSEN (technical college) – GIDAI (technical university) education and research system, and through the industry–academia collaboration system based on GIGAKU, which we have built up and which other universities have been unable to accomplish for next-generation overseas strategic regions, we shall continue to develop practical engineers as global innovators. Additionally, we shall realize the overseas development of small and medium enterprises in Japan and the globalization of regional companies on a worldwide scale. Your support is very much appreciated.

September 26, 2014
National University Corporation Nagaoka University of Technology
President Koichi Niihara