2018.11.13

Nagaoka University of Technology’s “Global Pro-Active Root Technology Program” was selected as the “Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education (WISE)” in fiscal 2018” that cultivates the world’s highest level of elites by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Our university is the only one in the field of Monodzukuri.

The “Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education” aims to produce distinguished doctoral students such as “Researchers Leading Global Academic Research”, “Professionals Leading Innovation”, “Entrepreneurs Leading Implementation of New Knowledge to Society”, and “Human Resources Leading the Policymaking in the Public Sector in and outside of Japan”. It also aims to create a base developing new cooperative research sustainably, and to promote reform of entire graduate school. We shall cooperate organizationally with external institutions such as top-ranked universities and enterprises in the world, and establish a 5-year integrated doctoral program that concentrates world-class education and research ability.

54 universities (including 44 national universities) applied for Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education recognition, of which only 15 universities (including 14 national universities) were granted this recognition by MEXT.

【Outline of NUT’s program】

Since its founding, Nagaoka University of Technology has been implementing unique and pioneering programs such as Jitsumu-Kunren (long-term internship) of approximately six months. In 2015, we established a“5-year Integrated Doctoral Program (Science of Technology Innovation Program) and have fostered innovative human resources contribute to the SDGs with entrepreneurship. Our program cultivates excellent human resources (Root Technology Human Resources) who innovate the technology (Root Technology) for industry using “Materials Science” and “Power Engineering”, and who have world-class research ability as core elements, based on the knowledge and skill of “Information Technology” gained from practice.
To respond flexibly to rapid change in industrial structure, human resources who can solve the various problems efficiently while maintaining research ability based on fundamental principles and being helped by supporters with diverse backgrounds are required. In this program, we foster the 4 necessary skills set forth below at an international level:
(1)“Capability to Develop the Academic Field" in original ways as a fundamental aspect of Doctoral studies
(2)“Leading-edge IT Capabilities” to keep improving instead of taking a stop-gap approach
(3)“ Capability to Navigate Uncharted Territory” by employing a network of talented experts across varied fields
(4)“Capability to Implement Social Practices” that can resolve issues pursued in the industry by producing suitable plans and proposals.
We are using the concept of “Global Pro-Active Education” as a keyword to cultivate the above skills. By developing our advantageous practical education and global education, one can “exceed self-studied ‘Active learning’, lead a team, solve problems, and gain on-site experience around the world. Especially, having the experience of overcoming discouragement is vitally important.
Thus, this program is not only dispatching participants overseas or industry in the long-term but also providing “Repetitive Training” which dispatches them again for the further consideration and relearning. It is hard to provide learning opportunities to graduate students as leaders in domestic enterprises, however; our program’s “Super-practical Education” can provide learning opportunities at a low cost in a short period. NUT places “Consortium” with a practical research and education university overseas, “Cooperative factory” with government, and “Research laboratories of industry” in NUT. These places are integrated and create an “Open Innovation Campus” which provides a place for collaborative research with companies. We are actively acquiring resources from outside of campus and establishing the international Digital Industry Platform.
Utilizing the above fields, we enhance the global advantages further by reinforcing university management which enable autonomous expansively while incorporating growth vitality in and out of Japan. There is also an “on-site” of practical research and education, as well as the “knowledge” created in this field.

This program and the human resources produced by it are evaluated based on three criteria, and evaluation is carried out in three corresponding phases: global standpoint of overseas consortium, collaborative enterprise standpoint, and NUT faculty standpoint. The global standpoint utilizes the UNITWIN program consisting of our practical engineering program for the purpose of global evaluation and verification. Furthermore, the academic evaluation of students is conducted at the international and industry levels based on the framework of a teaching system by three persons in charge: NUT faculty, overseas institutions faculty, and visiting faculty from industry.

Thus, our program is leading the innovation of education and research within the university, by not only establishing new departments but also by re-distributing on-campus resources and by establishing new sites based on collaboration with external institutes. Under the strong leadership of our University President, we will re-organize the network for Industry-Academia collaboration and International collaboration. Moreover, we will establish the program and continue to drive innovation through the development of a teaching system conducted by educators and practitioners who have a wealth of experience and skills.

【University President Dr. Azuma’s comments regarding the selection】

Our University’s “Global Pro-Active Root Technology Program” has been selected as one of the “Doctoral Programs for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education (WISE)” in FY 2018 by MEXT. The value of our concept of cultivating a resource talent pool who innovate foundational technologies for industry using “Materials Science” and “Power Engineering” as a core, based on the knowledge and skill of “Information Technology” gained from practice, and of utilizing “Global Super-practical Education” in collaboration with overseas universities and companies was instrumental in the selection. It is an honor to be recognized as one of MEXT’s Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education (WISE).

We aspire to be part of the central core of industrial sector in the future by fostering a global talent pool that will create new industries that will enable ongoing economic development.

I seek your support and cooperation in our endeavor.

2018.10.03
National University Corporation
Nagaoka University of Technology
President Nobuhiko AZUMA