Address at the 2011 Graduate School
今日ここに、高知大学の大学院に入学された皆さんに、心から、歓迎の意を表します。
Building on your academic achievements to date, you have chosen to pursue further research Graduate School in pursuit of new heights.
I hope that your efforts will bear fruit, so that one day it will be proven that this choice was the right one and that it was meaningful.
The fundamental purpose of a university is to foster intellectual curiosity. Therefore, any activity rooted in intellectual curiosity is permitted and encouraged. However, this does not mean that unrestrained behavior is tolerated.
As the indispensable foundation of intellectual inquiry, researchers are expected to maintain an attitude of constantly asking themselves, “Is this beneficial to humanity?”
The distrust of science that has emerged since the late 20th century stems, in part, from society’s perception that researchers have lost sight of the attitude expected of them—a perception that leaves them with no choice but to express concern.
高知大学大学院がより高度な専門性を有するジェネラリストとしての人材育成に力を注ぐ所以は、正にこの一点にあります。即ち、文理融合のもたらす、人間としての、高い品性に裏打ちされた専門家の育成を、目指しているのであります。
Nowadays, the term “knowledge-based society” has become part of everyday language everywhere. It is only natural to expect that those possessing advanced specialized and cutting-edge knowledge will play a significant role in society, and it can be said that resistance to the growing importance of science has relatively diminished. For this very reason, I believe we must be all the more committed to cultivating a character free from baseness.
皆さんは、大学院という最高学府に進まれ、本学にとりましても、期待の大きい貴重な人材であります。それだけに、自ら探求しとうとする課題についての、社会的意義を自問し続けることと同時に、社会の側からの意見や問いかけにも、謙虚に耳を傾け、知的に受け止める心を持つことを鍛錬してください。
It is only natural to ask whether the practical outcomes of research benefit people or serve the greater good of human society. To completely ignore this question and retreat into the shell of one’s own intellectual curiosity is, from society’s perspective, unfair.
While the ways in which each of you responds to society from your respective fields of expertise may vary, we must answer this question with complete honesty. In fact, at that moment, the entire character of the person answering is being put to the test.
Through your continued dedication and hard work, I look forward to seeing you grow into the kind of professionals that 21st-century society—your era—expects and seeks: individuals equipped with advanced expertise underpinned by a broad education.
With the hope that you will forge a bright future for yourselves, I conclude my address as president.
April 3, 2011
Kochi University, a National University Corporation, President Yusuke Sagara