2012 New Year's Greetings

January 4, 24
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Cho Matsunaga Kore

Happy New Year, everyone.

Last year was a difficult year in which we were hit by unprecedented disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused by the earthquake.

This year, in order to regain a healthy Japan, all the faculty and staff will work together to contribute to society through education and research, which is the original purpose of the university.

At the end of last year, in a very difficult financial situation, the government's budget proposal for the 24th fiscal year was compiled. The subsidy for operating expenses of national university corporations, which was expected to be significantly reduced, was reduced by 0.9% for national universities as a whole, but only by 0.5% for our university. Looking at the contents, we can see that the 1% reduction in faculty and staff personnel costs and property costs outside of the Faculty Member standard for installation each year is still being implemented, and other expenses are also being assessed very strictly. On the other hand, when we look at the budgets for higher education and science and technology, budgetary measures are focused on reconstruction projects that will determine the future of the country, the development of global human resources, and projects related to the promotion of green and life innovation. Scientific research grants, which support basic research, have also been increased in FY24, such as the introduction of a fund for newly adopted "Fundamental Research (B)" and "Young Researcher (A)" from FY24. We believe that we must continue to actively acquire competitive funds related to these activities.

In addition, it is necessary for the University to work together with other corporations to continuously reform the university. University reform includes guaranteeing the quality of education, clarifying individuality and characteristics, promoting inter-university collaboration, and enhancing university management, specifically reorganizing Faculty & Graduate Schools with educational review, expanding the appointment of foreigners and practitioners to Faculty Member and board members, radical institutional reform to expand interactive study abroad, establishing joint Faculty & Graduate Schools that leverages each other's strengths, and revitalizing education and research through collaboration beyond the boundaries of universities. Examples include the sharing of administrative processes for efficient university management and the strengthening of the management system through the centralized management and appropriate use of university information. Waseda University has been working on reforms that are responsive to the times, such as organizational reform of the graduate school, the establishment of the first joint graduate school in Japan through a national-private partnership with Waseda University, and the Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine with Iwate University, which will start in April this year. In addition, reforms of the Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering (BASE), centers, administrative organizations, etc. are being considered. Going forward, we will continue to respond appropriately to the needs of the public and industry and implement university reforms.

In 2014, our university will celebrate its 140th anniversary. It started in Meiji 7 as a Ministry of Home Affairs Agricultural Training School and Sericulture Experiment Section? in Naito Shinjuku, and the agricultural science department moved to Fuchu via Komaba and became the Tokyo College of Agriculture and Forestry, and the engineering school moved to Koganei through Nishigahara and became the Tokyo Textile College, and after World War II, it was established as a national university Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and after becoming a national university, it has continued to the present. In commemoration of the 140th anniversary, various projects are being carried out, such as fundraising and the establishment of a memorial hall. Let's inherit the good traditions of our predecessors and build the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology of the future.

In closing, I would like to conclude my New Year's greeting by wishing the new year a new year of development for Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and wishing the faculty and staff a wonderful year.