Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University Joint Graduate Program celebrates 15th anniversary

Published: November 15, 2019

The Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University Joint Graduate Program celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with a gathering of over 100 faculty members, students, staff, government officials, and business professionals at Tokyo Tech's Ookayama Campus on October 21.

The Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University Joint Graduate Program was established in 2004 with the aim of contributing to the development of science and technology and the industrial economies of Japan and China. In the past 15 years, Tokyo Tech and Tsinghua University have trained excellent science and engineering professionals who have strong knowledge of Japanese, Chinese and English, and are familiar with both Japanese and Chinese culture and customs.

Attendees at the commemorative ceremony included Tokyo Tech President Kazuya Masu, Executive Vice President for Education Tetsuya Mizumoto, nine representatives of Tsinghua University including Associate Dean of the Graduate School Hongying Hu, representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), employees from private companies supporting the program, Tokyo Tech professors emeriti, and current students and alumni of the program.

Tokyo Tech President Masu's greeting

Tsinghua University Assoc. Dean Hu welcomes participants

Tokyo Tech Professor Emeritus Hashizume

After greetings from Masu and Hu, participants also heard from Tokyo Tech Professor Emeritus Daisaburou Hashizume, the first steering committee chairperson who played a key role in initiating the collaboration and designing the curriculum before the launch of the program. Director Kuniaki Sato from MEXT's Office for International Planning, Higher Education Bureau and Representative Director Futoshi Sotani of SOMAR Corporation also shared congratulatory words.

MEXT Office for International Planning Director Sato

SOMAR Corporation Representative Director Sotani

After these speeches, Tsinghua University Professor Xinhui Xing was the first academic to receive the title Tokyo Institute of Technology Fellow. Xing has been a key member since the program launch in 2004, cooperating in the preparation stage, the establishment of curriculum, and the continuous planning and management of the program as the steering chair of the Tsinghua University side.

Xing (left) named first Tokyo Institute of Technology Fellow

Tsinghua University's Xing (left) with Masu

In the second half of the commemorative ceremony, Yuuki Hishikawa and Fanghan Dong — two current students of the program — reported on ongoing activities while Zhen Chen, Masaru Narusawa, Rong Hu, and Akimasa Koji — all graduates of the program — spoke about their experiences and how the program had impacted their lives.

14th cohort student Hishikawa
15th cohort student Dong
2nd cohort alum Chen

11th cohort alum Narusawa
2nd cohort alum Hu
5th cohort alum Koji

After the commemorative ceremony, a reception party was held at Tokyo Tech's Centennial Hall. In a gentle yet lively atmosphere, faculty members from both universities engaged in further discussions while alumni enjoyed sharing the colorful memories from their time in the program.

Lively gathering after ceremony

Good food and conversation

Tokyo Tech's Masu (left) exchanging gifts with Tsinghua University's Hu

Throughout the commemorative ceremony and reception, one could sense an air of excitement regarding the achievements and future of the program. The shared efforts of Tokyo Tech, Tsinghua University, MEXT, and all the supporting companies have led to more than 200 students securing a bright future for themselves in the past 15 years. Tokyo Tech eagerly continues to develop the Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University Joint Graduate Program as an exemplary cross-border collaboration between two leading science and technology research universities.

Contact

Student Exchange Group 2, International Student Exchange Division

Email seika@jim.titech.ac.jp

Tel +81-3-5734-7650