Address at the 2024 Graduate School Degree Conferment Ceremony
Today, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you who have completed your master’s, professional degree, and doctoral programs. I express my deepest respect for the tireless efforts you have made over the years, which have culminated in the achievement of your degrees today. I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations to your families, who have supported you throughout this journey, as well as to the faculty members of this university who have guided you, and to all others involved.
Now, I imagine that each of you will soon set out toward a new future, armed with your respective degrees. Some of you may choose to pursue further advanced studies and aim for another degree. The future is full of possibilities, and the paths you take will all be unique to you, but there is something I would like all of you who have completed your studies at this graduate school today to keep firmly in mind.
The world is currently facing numerous challenges. With protracted international conflicts, the rise of authoritarian states, global environmental issues, and the threat of new infectious diseases, we have truly entered an era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—the so-called VUCA era.Japan, too, is feeling the impact of these issues alongside a decline in international competitiveness, and our sustainability is becoming increasingly fragile due to rising geopolitical risks. Furthermore, here in Kochi Prefecture, challenges such as a declining birthrate and aging population, as well as increasing disaster risks, are becoming more acute than in the rest of the country, and urgent solutions are required.
There is ongoing debate regarding how to address these challenges. In particular, with regard to Japan’s declining international competitiveness, it is considered an urgent priority to increase national wealth through the generation and implementation of innovation, thereby leading the country toward sustainable development. As one solution, the importance of maintaining and increasing the “sum of knowledge” has been proposed. The “sum of knowledge” is expressed as the product of “population size” and “human capability.”Amid a declining population, maintaining and increasing this product requires a significant improvement in quality. Specifically, it is essential not only for more people to receive higher education but also to increase the number of individuals earning master’s and doctoral degrees.
Currently, Japan’s graduate school enrollment rate is among the lowest in the OECD, and the proportion of PhD holders is by no means high. At the same time, evidence suggests a positive correlation between the number of PhD holders per capita and labor productivity in various countries. In light of this, there is a growing recognition that increasing the number of PhD holders and fostering leaders who will drive innovation is of paramount importance for Japan’s future development.I sincerely hope that all of you who have received your degrees today will contribute to expanding this “sum of knowledge” and become the driving force that shapes the future of our country and, indeed, the world.
Now, I have used the word “development” several times so far. The English word for “development” is “develop.” Its antonym is “envelop,” which means to wrap or enclose. Development is the process of breaking through one’s own limitations through inner growth—in other words, it is driven by “internal evolution.”The moment of breaking through the shell that once enveloped you is expressed in the prefix “de” of “develop.” In this sense, all of you who have received your master’s and doctoral degrees today are, indeed, at that very moment of breaking through that shell. As you look back on the journey that led to your degrees, I hope that by further enhancing your inner potential and continuing to evolve ceaselessly, you will thrive as leaders who create a sustainable and hopeful future.
I would like to offer my congratulations and wish you all continued success in the future. Congratulations on this special day.
March 24, 2025
Hiroyuki Uchida, President of Kochi University