For those who have entered or progressed to the Faculty of Marine Life Sciences, Faculty of Marine Engineering, Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Department of Marine Science, Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, and those who are absent due to training voyages or preparations for departure. Congratulations to everyone today.

　You are now starting a new journey of learning as students at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. Our university offers an original and practical educational curriculum with the motto of ``Know the ocean, protect the ocean, and use the ocean.'' You can systematically study academic concepts and theories through lectures and seminars taught on campus. Various training sessions are held at the university's experimental facilities, five stations in Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and Chiba prefectures, and three large training ships, allowing students to touch and see things with their own eyes in real-life environments. By thinking on your own while tackling assignments, you will be able to gain a more concrete understanding of the academic concepts and theories you learned on campus. The deep knowledge acquired in this way can be applied to similar problems, and I believe it will lead to the acquisition of so-called problem discovery and problem solving abilities. And for you, your intellectual curiosity will be stimulated, and you will want to know more and understand more, and I think you will experience a different feeling from studying for entrance exams.

　In order to further improve the learning effects of these unique curriculums, our university has introduced a four-semester system of 105-minute classes starting this year. The main purpose of this is to create a term called a gap term in which there are fewer compulsory subjects, so that you can increase your learning opportunities outside the university, such as study abroad and internships. In particular, the international exchange program OQEANOUS Plus, which was selected as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Global Expansion Strengthening Project, received an S rating, the highest out of five, and our university's efforts have been highly evaluated. The reason why our university focuses on international exchange is that in order to solve all ocean-related issues, it is important to share a common awareness of issues across borders and to cooperate across nationalities, races, and genders. Because I'm thinking about it. I believe that the mission of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology is to develop human resources who will play an active role in this endeavor.

　Our university also focuses on data science and AI education. In addition to launching the "Marine Industry AI Professional Development Outstanding Graduate School Program" in 2020, we obtained the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Mathematics, Data Science, and AI Education Program Certification System (Literacy Level)" in 2020. . In Japan, where there are concerns about a decline in the working population, there is a need for human resources who can make full use of such advanced science and technology to create diverse value and lead the maintenance and improvement of labor productivity. Similarly, in ocean-related fields, there is a need for human resources who can freely use mathematics, data science, and AI technology to solve various issues surrounding the ocean. We encourage all new students to study mathematics, data science, and AI technology as tools so that they can utilize them in research in their own specialized fields.

　Furthermore, this is information that I would like all those who are planning to enter graduate school in the future, including those who are going on to graduate school doctoral programs, to know, but starting from 2021, our university has introduced a program for doctoral program students. We are implementing the "Emergent Ocean Research and Industrial Human Resource Development Support Project." This project is being carried out as part of the "Next Generation Researchers Challenging Research Program" run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and with generous financial support and career path support after obtaining a Ph.D. We provide an environment where you can concentrate on your research. Future doctoral human resources are needed in many fields as innovative human resources who will lead Japan's future. If you think you are the one, please give it a try.

　Meanwhile, regarding the campus environment, which is an important element in education and research, we plan to gradually update aging buildings and facilities and create an attractive campus based on projects that make effective use of land. As the first step, we will begin construction of an international mixed dormitory on the Shinagawa campus where Japanese students, international students, and foreign researchers will live together. The purpose of this project is to build a global education and research network, create an environment suitable for co-creation with domestic and international stakeholders, and create a hub for knowledge and human resources. Completion of the international mixed dormitory is scheduled for 8.

　Finally, I'm sure you've heard reports about Japan's population decline from time to time. Last year, the number of births in Japan was 75, a decline for eight consecutive years, and the decline in the number of births continues to be unstoppable. The effects of population decline, declining birthrate, and aging population are manifesting as serious social problems such as shrinking economic scale, labor shortages, declining international competitiveness, and an imbalance in the social security system. In order to overcome this situation, the "Education Future Creation Council" chaired by the Prime Minister was established at the end of 8631, recognizing the urgent need to develop "human resources who will support the future." It has been installed. Of course, these "human resources who will support the future" are all of you. I want everyone here to become "human resources who support the future." Please understand that this is not a pressure on you, but a suggestion from me to you. Starting today, you will acquire a variety of knowledge, skills, and background in your respective specialized fields. At that time, I would like them to have the perspective of starting a venture company. The research results that you will produce from now on will only improve our lives and make many people happy when they are implemented in society. In other words, solving social issues and business opportunities are two sides of the same coin. Research at universities is conducted to solve various social problems, and I believe that attractive products and services that make daily life more comfortable will be widely accepted by society as a result of that research. . I believe that studying and researching from the perspective of finding business opportunities will lead to creating a prosperous future for people, and that you will become active as ``human resources who support the future.'' Masu. Starting this year, our university has made the entrepreneurship subject ``Sea Entrepreneurship'' a regular subject. Please try taking the course.

　Through your university studies starting today, I hope you will enjoy your new student life to the fullest while imagining yourself a few years from now.

Reiwa 6/4/5
Toshio Iseki, President of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology