Cultivating Individuals with Both High Expertise and a Broad Perspective to Meet the Demands of the Future
The Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Tokushima University was established as a graduate school following the three faculties located at the Josanjima Campus: the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry. The Master’s Program was launched in April 2020 (Reiwa 2), followed by the establishment of the Doctoral Program (Doctoral Second Stage Program) in April 2022 (Reiwa 4). This marked the completion of a series of educational reorganizations that began with the restructuring of undergraduate faculties in April 2016 (Heisei 28). Additionally, as part of this transition, the Master’s Program was renamed the Doctoral First Stage Program.
Responding to a Changing Society
In today’s rapidly evolving world, concepts like Society 5.0, SDGs, Digital Transformation (DX), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Carbon Neutrality highlight the increasing complexity and diversity of required knowledge and technologies. Universities, especially graduate schools, are now expected to cultivate individuals who can drive innovation.
With technological development and global market competition accelerating, professionals must possess the skills to succeed internationally. At the same time, regional universities play a crucial role in addressing local challenges, such as depopulation and industrial revitalization. These changes indicate a shift in graduate education—moving beyond the traditional model of training highly specialized researchers to developing innovators who can integrate multiple disciplines to solve complex real-world issues.
A New Approach to Graduate Education
Recognizing these challenges, we designed the Master’s Program (established in 2020) to maintain some connections with the undergraduate faculties while integrating four interdisciplinary majors:
- Regional Development
- Clinical Psychology
- Science and Engineering
- Biological Resource Studies
To broaden students’ perspectives, we introduced the “Education Cluster”, a cross-disciplinary program that allows students to gain knowledge beyond their primary field. Additionally, in Special Research and Special Exercises, students engage in open-format presentations and discussions that go beyond their specialized areas. We also established core courses in areas such as Data Science and Global Competency to ensure that students develop essential skills for the modern world.
In 2022, we introduced the Doctoral Program, designed to not only enhance expertise at the doctoral level but also train professionals who can create innovation beyond academic research. To achieve this, the program consists of a single major structure.
Each student belongs to a “Degree Program”, which provides foundational specialized education and research training. Additionally, students select one “Research Supervision Cluster” related to their research topic. This allows them to enhance their expertise while simultaneously acquiring interdisciplinary knowledge, fostering advanced problem-solving abilities that society demands.
A Unique and Flexible Learning System
At many universities, graduate students select a primary major and a secondary major, engaging in multiple research areas. However, our graduate school offers a unique system where students gain interdisciplinary experience through the Education Cluster and Research Supervision Cluster. This enables them to deepen their expertise while developing a broader, more comprehensive perspective.
A key strength of this system is its flexibility—these clusters can be created or modified as needed, allowing the curriculum to adapt to societal changes. This ensures that students are always learning relevant and applicable skills.
By studying at the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Tokushima University, students can take full advantage of these unique educational opportunities and develop into professionals who possess both deep specialization and a broad, multidisciplinary vision—becoming “specialists with the vision of a generalist.”
We are committed to supporting students in their journey to become future leaders, and our faculty and staff will work together to nurture as many talented individuals as possible.