Impressive Innovations at Sanjo City University

■ Impressive Innovations at Sanjo City University

I visited Sanjo City University in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, and had the opportunity to discuss with President Ahmad Shahriar. This powerful new public university is fostering talent through industry-academia collaboration in a town known for manufacturing. It's commendable that such an institution has been established.

The university collaborates with over 100 local companies, providing all students with internship opportunities. They refine their skills by extensively using advanced equipment for grinding, welding, non-destructive testing, and 3D printing. The university also undertakes material development in physics and chemistry, thus supporting the R&D functions of the manufacturing town. Here, students grow through hands-on development and practice rather than traditional academic research, becoming valuable assets to local companies. The concept is clear and decidedly innovative.

Donations are increasing, and scholarships are being offered. The majority of students are male, while a neighboring nursing and medical school is predominantly female. The shared cafeteria fosters interaction. Despite being only in its second year, the university has already attracted the attention of Prime Minister Kishida, a testament to its well-executed design.

The greatest challenge faced during the university's inception was dealing with the Ministry of Education. Laughingly, it mirrors my experience with iU. When attempting to establish a school with a new concept, the lack of precedents poses significant hurdles. We have proposed to jointly create a groundbreaking graduate school that transcends Japan’s traditional educational frameworks—a daring and visionary project.