On May 9, Okayama University held the Okayama University Fellowship for Science and Technology Innovation (commonly called the “OU Fellowship”) for FY2023, at the Administration Building of its Tsushima Campus.

The OU Fellowship, which offers support for doctoral students, is a program that provides a research grant (400,000 yen to 1,100,000 yen per year) and an assistance grant for living expenses (1,800,000 yen per year) to a certified person as a fellowship (research scholarship), in order to support the improvement of their research ability, securing a career paths, etc., through various efforts conducted under Okayama University’s unique “young researcher development and support package.”

In February 2021, Okayama University established this program, which was adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the “establishment of university fellowships for the creation of science technological innovation.” Okayama University was also selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation Program” in September 2021, and operated the “Okayama University Fellowship for Science and Technology Innovation.” For FY2023, applications were accepted in September 2022, and 28 persons were selected from among a total of 86 applicants on the basis of documentary examinations and interviews.

At the ceremony, hosted by Specially-Appointed Professor OHTSUKA Aiji from the Organization for Research Strategy and Development, Okayama University, which is the supervising and supporting body for this program, the first Vice Executive Director for Research/Industry-University Co-Creation and Vice President/URA for Educational Affairs SATOH Norito gave an overview of the program and led some cheers. Then the Executive Director for Academic Affairs and Senior Vice President SUGA Seiji called the names of the certified persons, and President NASU Yasutomo awarded a certificate to each of these individuals. President Nasu greeted them by saying that: “Okayama University considers doctoral students as researchers, rather than students, and has improved its research environment so that they can work on pioneering research. I myself went though many experiences and hardships as a graduate student, but I was able to obtain my degree with considerable support. Various issues will lie ahead, for those of you who received this certificate today as researchers. I expect that, while adapting to the times, you will always keep “an ideal future” in mind, change your approach flexibly, and embrace the idea of “change and continuity.” In other words, you must hold what is changing and what you must maintain in your mind, and push forward every day with your research activities that will contribute to science, technology and the creation of innovation in Japan,” thereby encouraging the young researchers who will be responsible for the next generation.

After that, Associate Professor MACHIDA Hisashi from the Institute for the Promotion of Education and Campus Life, Okayama University, who serves as mentor on the career aspect of this program, provided the future plan, information on career support, etc. The certified persons were then divided into three groups and sat in a circle to hold an opinion exchange session. Facilitated by Specially-Appointed Professor Otsuka, Associate Professor Machida and Vice Executive Director and Vice President Satoh, President Nasu also joined in the circle and each of the certificate recipients gave a “flash talk” one-minute presentation of themselves and their research, to deepen the interactions with each other.

Okayama University will work together to secure excellent human resources, who will advance from a Master’s to a Doctoral course, to improve the treatment of Doctoral students who will be responsible for the future creation of science, technology, and innovation in Japan, and to support their career paths under a university-wide strategy. Please rest assured we will develop and foster human resources for research and innovation at Okayama University, a research university with a regional core and distinctive characteristics.