2021 Enrollment Ceremony, Special Programs of the Graduate School of Engineering and Science

　

　

　

---

　

2021 Special Programs of the Graduate School of Engineering and Science
Entrance Ceremony
Welcome Address by President Nishida

Welcome to the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus. On behalf of the university, I’d like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of you.

We were looking forward to holding the ceremony together in person in attendance. However, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, we have decided to welcome you in this manner based on the internet. Even so, we are thinking of you all watching this live streaming on the internet wherever you are. We celebrate all the new students joining us today, and thank you for adding another new page to the 71-years history of the university.

The global outbreak of the new coronavirus has greatly restricted our activities including moving across the borders. Due to the restrictions on entry to Japan, many students are still unable to join us in time. We would like to do our best to support you all. I hope the situation is getting better, and wish that we will be able to meet you face-to-face in the not-so-distant future in Okinawa.

From today, you shall pursue your graduate degrees. We believe that you will work very hard to achieve your goal as you join our program with great aspiration and infinite potential. We also believe that you will dedicate all your efforts to develop your expertise, while you grow yourselves as researchers and professionals with high ethical standards.

As soon as you start your program, you will have excellent support and guidance from your advisors and other faculty members. We have been internationally recognized by our quality of education and innovative research incorporating distinctive resources of our university, and you will soon enjoy being a part of this intellectual community.

If you have any concerns about your studies or everyday life, please feel free to talk to your advisor or faculty staff. We are striving to make your campus life as comfortable as possible.

On the other hand, in the process of getting to innovative ideas on your own, it is also crucial to develop your independence. You must be independent to be able to set tasks by following your own decision, and think and solve problems for yourself. Please work hard to develop your independence as well as fundamental abilities for the scientists, which, I believe, are the abilities to observe, perceive, and endure.

And, in addition to those abilities, you will also be required to hold the spirit of challenge. You will need to work hard to develop that spirit with which you can tackle every problem you face, actively and positively.

So far I have been stressing the importance of hard work, but I’m not saying you should be busy working all the time. There is a saying like, “all work and no play makes you a dull person.” There is no innovation where there is no play. So, during your stay in Okinawa or in Japan, please do find time to enjoy our amazing culture and nature. A variety of experiences will be useful for your future career. I wish your study here would lead you to a successful career.

Once again, welcome to our university.
Thank you.

October 11, 2021

Mutsumi Nishida
President
University of the Ryukyus

---

2021 Graduate School of Engineering and Science

Enrollment Ceremony Speech of the Dean

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you very much, President Nishida for those heartfelt words. I would also like to thank the Vice Presidents, Faculty staff, family and friends of the new students for being here with us through the Internet.

It is my honor to be with our 27 new graduate students today. To the family members, mentors, friends, everyone — on behalf of the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, I congratulate and welcome all of you. Welcome to the Manga and Anime country Japan. Welcome to the subtropical island Okinawa. And welcome to the University of the Ryukyus, your new home.

Okinawa is a unique place like no other in Japan. It is surrounded by coral reefs and is famous for remarkably high biodiversity. There are many endemic species on the island, in the surrounding coral reefs, and in the deep sea.

Here in the beautiful islands of Okinawa, I regret to say that we have serious problems, which are global issues, for which we need to find solutions – environmental problems, sustainable energy issues, food and human health issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. In addition to understanding the nature of Okinawa, it is also our mission of the Graduate School to find new possibilities for our future. Because of these reasons, the science and technology you will study in this school is greatly anticipated by society in the 21st Century.

From today, you, 27 young people, have joined our Graduate School. Some of you might feel anxious. But you do not need to. Be reminded that you did not enroll into just a graduate school. Look at faces of your new friends in the ZOOM windows. Look at the faculty members and faculty staff joining the online ceremony. Unfortunately, we are not able to meet face to face, but our minds have been already connected to each other. From now, you have become a part of the big family of Ryudai.
 
Dear young new family members, let’s seek out something new. Let’s create something wonderful. Let’s make a difference together. I sincerely hope you will find a brilliant time in you life with us in this graduate school.

Thank you very much.

October 11, 2021

Hideo Yamasaki
Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus