2015 New Year's Greetings

January 5, 2015
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Director Tadashi Matsunaga

Happy New Year. Thank you to all the faculty and staff for gathering together today at the beginning of the year.

This is the fourth time I have wished you all a Happy New Year. The selection committee for President was held in November last year, and after a document review, a survey of intentions, and interviews, I have been granted the position for another two years. I look forward to your continued support.

2015 is the final year of the second Medium-term Objective period. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has been working hard to establish itself as a Institute of Global Innovation Research and developing global innovation human resources in the nine-year integrated science and engineering program. We have already established the Global Innovation Research Organization, created nine strategic research teams with a focus on food and environment, energy and materials, and life sciences, and hired well-known foreign Distinguished Professor to double the number of international collaborative research projects and international co-authored papers. We are also working to send students and faculty overseas and accept excellent international students. At the same time, we are reforming our personnel and Faculty Member evaluation systems. Specifically, we have introduced an annual salary system, expanded the tenure track system, and established Organization for Evaluation of Faculty.

The third Medium-term Objective period will begin in 2016. In the third period, our university aims to become a globally recognized research university. Our vision for this includes leading the industry on a global scale, strengthening cutting-edge research capabilities that are competitive on a global scale, promoting education and research that can communicate with the international community, and cultivating highly innovative human resources.

Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of all staff, campus development is also progressing smoothly. At the Fuchu Campus, University Library was recently reopened, and has been transformed into University Library is very easy for students to use. Earthquake-resistance renovations of the Faculty of Faculty of Agriculture 's Building 1 are also progressing smoothly. At the Koganei Campus, renovations are underway on the General Hall, Building 7, and the gymnasium.

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology University of Agriculture and Technology is a university that consists of agriculture, engineering and the interdisciplinary fields of agriculture and technology. It is highly regarded for its constant challenge of new things and for its continuous reforms. However, it is not large enough compared to other comprehensive universities with many faculties. It is not particularly well-known. In this situation, I think it is necessary to properly recognize the current situation and move forward toward the future without necessarily overestimating or underestimating it. To this end, we plan to strengthen the university's investor relations function, objectively recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the university, and proceed with university reform.

I have briefly touched upon some recent topics, but in order to ensure that this year is also a fulfilling time for students, faculty and staff at the university, I would like to ask for your continued cooperation and take this opportunity to wish you a happy new year. Thank you for your continued support this year.