Fall 2023 Entrance Ceremony Held at Uzumasa Campus

On Wednesday, September 6, following the Fall 2023 Graduation Ceremony, the Fall 2023 Kyoto University of Advanced Science Entrance Ceremony was held at Mirai Hall of Uzumasa Campus. A total of 113 new students from 27 countries, including 98 undergraduate students and 15 graduate students, were in attendance for the event. The ceremony was held in English, and many international students wore their home country’s traditional attire to celebrate the occasion. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and guardians were able to attend the event in person, making for a spectacular ceremony with a stronger international atmosphere than ever before. In addition, 19 international students who could not complete the immigration procedures in time for the ceremony were able to participate online.

At the beginning of the ceremony, President Masafumi Maeda offered words of encouragement to the new students, saying, “At KUAS, we offer programs that give our students the wisdom and strength needed to build their dreams with their own hands. . .Please make full use of these opportunities. The chance is there for you to grasp. In four years, I expect that you will be young professionals, fully capable of pursuing your own dreams and succeeding in Japan or anywhere in the world.”

Executive Vice President and Dean of Faculty of Engineering Dr. Osamu Tabata congratulated the new students, challenging them to master the fundamentals of engineering and aim to embody the spirit of “Global Street-Smart Engineering”. He ended his address by advising the international students to “. . . interact with many Japanese people around you and enjoy the culturally rich environment of Kyoto during your university life.”

Following President Maeda and Dean Tabata’s addresses, Mr. Suo Matsunaga, a second-year at KUAS Faculty of Engineering, welcomed and encouraged his new peers, saying, “I would like to tell you two things based on my experiences after a year and a half at this university. First, everything is up to you. . . opportunities are waiting for you to grasp them. Don’t be shy. The second thing I want to tell you, is that you are never alone. . . Our professors, teaching associates, campus staff and students like me will do our best to support you.”

Finally, Mr. Santoso Jonathan Richard, class representative of the new batch of KUAS Faculty of Engineering students, offered words of joy on their admission, “Let’s take risks, take on new challenges, build new friendships and make the most of our opportunities here at Kyoto University of Advanced Science.” Mr. Santoso delivered the final words of his speech and brought the ceremony to a close.

Yuki Nakamura, University General Affairs Division