Message from the President
Our Path Toward Becoming a World-Class University
Ever since Tohoku University was established in 1907, our philosophy has always been to put "Research First" while maintaining an "Open-Door" policy in order to emphasize "Practice-Oriented Research and Education." Over the years, this has enabled us to offer our students a world-class education and the opportunity to carry out ground-breaking research. The results of our research have proven useful in solving many problems facing society, and by educating leaders we have contributed to establishing a just and peaceful society. Our university's history has been built through the efforts and accomplishments of those who have passed through the halls of our campuses and facilities during our ten decades of operation.
Our alumni, educators, administrative staff, and the local community have all taken part in the development of our unique institution. Humanity today is facing a variety of difficult and complex challenges which need to be addressed on a global basis. By applying the knowledge we have accumulated over the past century, and by continuing our efforts to achieve innovation in the fields of research and education, our university is determined to play a leading role as a "world-class university" in helping humanity overcome the challenges it faces today.
Resolved to become a world-class university and capable of playing a leading role in solving the problems facing humanity we have come to realize that in trying to direct the future course of development, Tohoku University should base its efforts on three key words: "Challenge," "Creation" and "Innovation." At the core, there must be a spirit of "Challenge" which will motivate us to achieve a level of excellence required to build the society of the future. As a "transmitter of knowledge" Tohoku University aims to serve society by "Creating" a large number of entreprenurial graduates able to play leading roles in various fields on the international stage. Furthermore, as a "creator of knowledge" our is to use the energies generated by our spirit of challenge to create world-class knowledge and contribute to the progress of human society by harnessing the practical applications of this knowledge. "Innovation" leads us to promote interdisciplinary research with a transdisciplinary emphasis in an effort to find innovative solutions to problems in the areas of environment, energy, food, life sciences, and social welfare. As an "enterprise of knowledge" welcoming input from both inside and outside the university, we are able to develop strategies to accomplish our goals. By taking advantage of the best minds available, and by fully exploiting the capacities we have developed over the years, I am fully convinced that we will be able to open the way to a very bright future for ourselves as a leading research-intensive university in the world.
To become a "World-Class University," Tohoku University announced the "Inoue Plan 2007" in March 2007. The Inoue Plan establishes the specific steps that will be taken to implement a strategic five pillar plan. These include education, research, contribution to society, campus environment and organization/management.
Tohoku University has made steady progress towards achieving these goals since the formulation of the plan two years ago.
In the field of education, for example, we have moved forward with the development of our new proprietary liberal arts curriculum, which includes an overseas internship program, all the while putting in place an implementation system for that curriculum.
In the area of research we have established the Institute for International Advanced Research and Education to train and educate leading researchers with advanced knowledge and comprehensive/creative intelligence. "The WPI Advanced Institute of Material Research (WPI-AIMR)" was also established as part of the World Premier Research Centre Initiative (WPI).
In other areas, we are making our presence better known internationally through membership in associations such as the APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) and T.I.M.E.(Top Industrial Managers for Europe), and we are facilitating the creation of new venture businesses by promoting cooperation between the university and the private sector. Steps are being taken to create world-class campuses open to students from around the world. We are pursuing a number of other strategies, such as the development of a modern personnel management system to improve our international competitiveness, and the establishment of the Tohoku University Fund. These developments are helping to foster a sense of pride in the uniqueness of our institution, and are indicative of how our teaching and administrative staff, student body, and alumni are all pulling together to advance the interests of the university.
At a time when the pace of change affecting our university is accelerating, those of us who have been entrusted with this task of creating a center of knowledge capable of serving the needs of society must steel our resolve and work tirelessly to make new advances in the fields of research and education. We must develop the capacity to act and implement reforms more quickly than ever before.
We will share with you our vision of the mission and future direction of Tohoku University, and with your help I am convinced that we will become a university which is trusted, respected, and loved by the surrounding community, one which will contribute significantly to the advancement and prosperity of mankind.