130 years of excellence: Tokyo Institute of Technology’s anniversary celebrations

On 8^th October, members of staff, students and several international guests took part in a series of events on the Ookayama campus to celebrate the 130^th anniversary of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

The first event was a commemorative ceremony in the morning, attended by a large number of faculty members, graduates and officials from international partner universities and foreign embassies in Japan.

The ceremony began in style with a performance by the Tokyo Institute of Technology Orchestra and the University’s choral society, Chor Kleines. They played the “Tokyo Institute of Technology 130^th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony Fanfare”, which was composed by Professor Kunihiro Kawano on a special commission especially for the occasion. This was followed by the university song, which everyone sang with great gusto!

In the president’s address, Dr. Kenichi Iga talked about the University’s 130-year history and his hopes and visions for the future. Then the guests of honour delivered several congratulatory addresses, bringing the opening ceremony to a close.

After the ceremony, the attendees enjoyed a commemorative set of lectures entitled “The Future of Japan, the Future of the World”. Professor Makoto Konagai of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering and General Corporate Advisor Nobuo Seki of Chiyoda Corporation each delivered inspiring talks on the future aspirations of Japanese research.

In the afternoon, the University hosted a luncheon in honour of the 130^th anniversary, which was enjoyed by all. Finally, to conclude the celebration some of the guests, who had traveled from all over the world, took part in a campus tour guided by international students of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Happy Birthday! 130 years of Tokyo Institute of Technology

Who would have thought that Tokyo Institute of Technology was 130 years old in October this year? On Saturday October 8^th 2011, Tokodai celebrated 130 years of academic achievement in style.

An evening reception was held on Friday October 7^th at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel close to the university’s Ookayama campus. The reception hosted a rare gathering of dignitaries from partner universities, many of whom had travelled great distances to be there. The visiting guests had the opportunity to meet with the President and other members of the university.

The reception began with a speech by Dr. Kenichi Iga, President of Tokyo Institute of Technology. His words highlighted the importance the university places on its international partnerships and exchanges.

During the course of the event, representatives from partner universities met with President Iga. The guests exchanged small gifts of appreciation, and discussed many present and future plans for further partnerships between institutions.

A further 130^th Anniversary commemorative event took place the following morning, with all visiting dignitaries present.

Study visit to Thailand motivates and inspires students from Tokyo Institute of Technology

JAYSES (Japan-Asia Young Scientist and Engineer Study visit) is a program that has been organized by Tokyo Institute of Technology since 2007. Its purpose is to give science and engineering students from Asia an opportunity to gather together in a country and explore its industries, education and manufacturing first-hand.

This year's JAYSES brought together students from universities in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand with Tokyo Institute of Technology students originating from China, Kazakhstan and Japan. The students met in Bangkok to study the city and the surrounding area.

Prior to the trip the students from Tokyo Institute of Technology had learned some Thai language and culture, and learnt about the Thai economy and related issues as preparation. However, nothing could prepare them for the actual experience of being in the country, learning from the people “on the ground” and meeting other students from Asia.

Throughout the week, the JAYSES group visited companies, large and medium-scale, both Thai and Japanese, where they learnt about doing business in Thailand. Visits to the Department of Intellectual Property and the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court impressed upon the young scientists and engineers the importance of Intellectual Property management and enforcement.

At the end of the week King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) hosted a lecture and provided space for discussion on themes raised by the trip. This formed the basis for the final day, hosted in the Faculty of Engineering of Chulalongkorn University, where all the students in their groups gave presentations using the facts they had gathered from each of the visits. The saying, “seeing is believing” certainly proved true. Each group demonstrated how their visits had provided information that could not easily be gained by other means, and that being given the opportunity to ask questions in person had a profound effect on them.

After the presentations, each participant was awarded with a certificate of participation, followed by group photos and the promise by all to maintain the precious friendships that had been created.

Further Information:
JAYSES Homepage http://www.ttot.ipo.titech.ac.jp/JAYSES/top_e.html
Chulalongkorn Univerisity http://www.chula.ac.th/cuen/index.htm
King Mongkut’s University of Technology http://www2.kmutt.ac.th/en_index.aspx