Tokyo Institute of Technology

[EduCativ]

The Communication Lounge on Tokyo Tech's Ookayama Campus was a lively place on the afternoon of November 22, 2017, when 207 Tokyo Tech members — 60 students, 53 faculty members, 66 staff members, and 28 alumni and members of management — gathered for the Future of Tokyo Tech workshop, the largest of its kind thus far.
Using the Tokyo Tech 2030 Statement to initiate discussion, participants sat down to share ideas on implementing the Institute's shared vision best and how each individual of the community can contribute to making Tokyo Tech better, healthier, and more united.
Through a series of workshops in 2016 and 2017, Tokyo Tech students, staff, faculty, and management formulated An alternate future, a declaration of the present and future of Tokyo Tech as seen by its unique community members.
A key component in the latest workshop was identifying the "I" in the Institute — the role each member of the Tokyo Tech community can adopt to make a positive impact at the Institute and society. As with previous similar workshops, the day was also a great chance to create new relationships, fresh ideas, and positive energy.
After participants had mixed with other groups throughout the discussion of the three topics, they returned to their home groups to jot down what they had learned. The next step was to brainstorm "my seeds for an alternate future," what each individual could do to help Tokyo Tech achieve its vision. Twenty participants volunteered to share their ideas, which included establishing a "Tokyo Tech Science and Technology Hospital" and the formation of extracurricular clubs open to all students, faculty, and staff. Those who agreed with the suggestions could engage by tagging the ideas with "Like" post-it notes.
After closing remarks by President Yoshinao Mishima, the event officially ended with a final shout-out by Kyohei Kondo, a 1st-year bachelor student, and the youngest workshop participant.
Working hard behind the scenes to make this workshop a reality was the Planning Committee, made up of 19 dedicated students of all levels, Liberal Arts Associate Professor Asa Ito, and staff members from the Student Services Department and International Affairs Department. The group sketched out the guiding topics for discussion and decided on a format to ensure that all 200 plus participants could participate equally. The committee also created invitation posters, which were displayed before the event around Tokyo Tech's campuses to encourage community members to join.
Tokyo Tech aims to be globally recognized as one of the top 10 research universities by 2030, one year before the Institute's 150th anniversary. To realize this goal, students, faculty, staff, and management need to discuss and share ideas regarding Tokyo Tech's future. From late 2016 to early spring in 2017, four workshops were held to facilitate this. In September 2017, an Institute-wide workshop concerning Tokyo Tech's research plan took place. And in late November, 207 students, faculty, alumni, and management members met to brainstorm what we can do individually to contribute to the future of Tokyo Tech. I am incredibly pleased with the heated discussions and great ideas that have emerged and how all Tokyo Tech members are bouncing ideas off to improve the Institute. I sincerely hope this kind of activity takes root and becomes a part of Tokyo Tech culture.
Tokyo Tech is the top national university for science and technology in Japan, with a history spanning more than 130 years. Of the approximately 10,000 students at the Ookayama, Suzukakedai, and Tamachi Campuses, half are in their bachelor's degree program, while the other half are in master's and doctoral degree programs. International students number 1,200. There are 1,200 faculty and 600 administrative and technical staff members.
In the 21st century, the role of science and technology universities has become increasingly important. Tokyo Tech continues to develop global leaders in science and technology and contributes to society's betterment through its research, focusing on solutions to global issues. The Institute's long-term goal is to become the world's leading science and technology university.
As one of Japan's top universities, the Tokyo Institute of Technology seeks to contribute to civilization, peace, and prosperity globally and aims at developing global human capabilities par excellence through pioneering research and education in science and technology, including industrial and social management.

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