Page 63 - Forbes - Asia (September 2018)

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“We have a dual degree program not only in Japan and SIT, but also in
that allows foreign students to pur- other Asian countries,” he says.
sue multiple degrees. Foreign and Like most universities in Japan,
Japanese students can take the op- SIT is in the process of becoming a
portunity to visit Silicon Valley as well more international university and is a
as take part-time jobs in ICT compa- member of the Top Global University
nies around the University of Aizu,” project. Murakami explains the mis-
he adds. sion of SIT is to foster engineers and
“We can provide a unique en- scientists who can learn from the
vironment by mixing the Japanese world and contribute to global sus-
and Western way of research, and it Q “As a solution, we invite Q “Since its establishment, the tainability. To accomplish this goal,
is a unique one for creating original it encourages its students to see the
algorithms in ICT technology. The professors and lecturers from university has continuously world. The university is also encour-
Japanese way of thinking is holistic, Asia to learn about robotics focused on AI, robotics, big aging more foreign students to come
while the Western one is analytic. By and other high technologies data analysis and other related and experience the unique learning
mixing both educations, we create here at SIT. Robotics is an fields. Therefore, our university atmosphere that SIT has to offer.
a unique and complete educational interesting field of research and is at the forefront of many “Most industries in Japan are al-
system. We want each of our stu- of education. We are therefore ready globalized. It is now the turn
dents to graduate with special skills promising fields of research of Japanese universities to globalize.
that will allow them to develop to- expanding this field not only in and other developments that In fact, higher education in the STEM
morrow’s technologies,” Oka says. Japan and SIT, but also in other will undeniably shape our [science, technology, engineering,
Asian countries.” future.” and mathematics] eld itself is bor-
Robotics Powerhouse derless. Performing higher education
In 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe MASATO MURAKAMI, RYUICHI OKA, in a global environment is important
unveiled a plan to maintain the coun- President, Shibaura Institute President, University in the internationalizing process of
try’s position as an international ro- of Technology of Aizu Japanese universities,” says Mu-
botics superpower by creating a new rakami.
industrial revolution driven by robot- (JAXA), the National Institute of In- such an advanced technology, it is “Thus we are increasing the num-
ics, a market that Mr. Abe hopes will formatics and the National Institute dif cult to nd professors with a ma- ber of international students and
reach a value of US$21 billion by of Science and Technology. jor in robotics to create international faculty at Shibaura Institute of Tech-
2020. The Shibaura Institute of Technol- partnerships,” explains SIT president, nology. I also encourage my students
Academic research is central to ogy established its robotics research Masato Murakami. to go abroad and see the world.
Japan’s robotic aspirations. There are center in 2015 and has 40 professors “As a solution, we invite profes- By sharing the traditional values of
more than 70 university-sponsored working there full time as it aims to sors and lecturers from Asia to learn Monozukuri, or craftsman spirit and
robotic laboratories in Japan, accord- advance in this exciting segment of about robotics and other high tech- tradition, Japan can grow into the
ing to the Robotics Society of Japan. the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It nologies here at SIT. They then go teacher of Asia. Students from Asia
Leading labs include the facilities at invites professors and researchers back to their countries to establish are also intelligent and industrious,
Kyoto University, Yokohama National from all over Asia to come work at a new department. We promote and inspire Japanese students. Inter-
University, Osaka University and the the center. international collaboration with SIT national students as a whole—not
Nagoya Institute of Technology. Pub- “I believe Japan is number one graduates who have become profes- just those from Asia—are very impor-
lic research organizations involved in the world in the eld of robotics sors. Robotics is an interesting eld tant for education and research at
in robotics development include the technology, and it is an area of inter- of research and of education. We SIT. Hence, we wish to invite more
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency est for many students. Because it is are therefore expanding this eld international students,” he says.

Project Team: Antoine Azoulay (Country Director); Produced by The Worldfolio.
Aline Ouaknine (Project Director); Alexandre Marland #TheWorldfolio Forbes Asia magazine did not
(Editorial Director); Fabrizio F. Farina (Regional Director of #JapanTheWorldfolio participate in its preparation and is
Institutional Relations); Jonathan Meaney (Chief Editor) not responsible for its content.

ENGINEER YOUR PATH TO THE FUTURE

The Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo
is the only private technology university to

be selected for the Japanese government’s
prestigious Top Global University Project.

www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en