Address at the 2005 Kochi University Graduate School Entrance Ceremony
Congratulations to all of you who have been admitted to graduate school.
To all of you who have entered the Graduate School of Kochi University after already acquiring foundational knowledge, skills, and experience, Japanese society expects that you will cultivate both the advanced research capabilities needed to pioneer new frontiers that can bring happiness to humanity in the 21st century, and the ability to mentor junior researchers in your respective fields.
In other words, you are expected to hone your ability to conduct independent and original research in your respective fields of specialization, as well as your aptitude for mentoring junior colleagues.
For Kochi University as well, we view the enhancement and revitalization of our graduate school as an extremely important challenge—one on which the very existence of Kochi University now hinges, following our transition to a corporate entity.
One such initiative is the establishment of a special admissions program for working professionals, through which we actively accept working adults into our graduate programs and have adopted a system offering both daytime and evening classes. Furthermore, we are committed to reviewing and reforming our graduate school system from every angle—including facilities, organizational structure, curriculum, and research funding—in order to meet the expectations of our graduate students.
However, please be fully aware that, ultimately, the driving force behind planning, carrying out, and achieving outstanding results in highly original research must come from the researchers’ own efforts.
Your flexible minds and boundless energy, especially for you young people, are irreplaceable assets and treasures. I conclude my address as president with the sincere hope that the day will come when you experience the joy of discovering new truths by overcoming the obstacles in your path with free-thinking that is not bound by existing laws or theories.
April 8, 2005
Kochi University, a National University Corporation, President Yusuke Sagara