KUAS Appoints Dr. Alberto Castellazzi as Dean; Dr. Osamu Tabata Continues as Vice President

Mar 31, 2025

Engineering

Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS), under the leadership of President Masafumi Maeda, announces significant leadership changes within its esteemed Faculty of Engineering, signaling a new phase of development for its internationally focused engineering programs. Effective April 1st, Dr. Alberto Castellazzi assumes the role of Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Osamu Tabata will transition to Vice President full-tume. This transition underscores KUAS‘ commitment to academic excellence and internationalization in engineering education.

Dr. Castellazzi Assumes the Role of Dean of Engineering

A distinguished professor within the faculty, has been appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Castellazzi brings extensive international academic and research experience to this leadership position.

Brief Biography

  • Doctor of Engineering
  • Graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Milan (Italy)
  • PhD in Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (Germany)
  • Researcher in Power Semiconductor Devices at the Institute of Electrical Engineering Physics, Technical University of Munich
  • Principal Researcher at the Integrated Microsystems Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
  • Assistant Professor/Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
  • Appointed as Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University of Advanced Science in 2019
  • Hobbies: Electric guitar, motorcycling, learning Japanese
  • Favorite Japanese word: “Monozukuri” (craftsmanship)

Dr. Alberto Castellazzi

Expressing his vision for the faculty

“I first visited Japan in 2006 to attend an international conference. Since then, I have had several opportunities to visit Japan and have developed a strong affinity for the country. In 2011, I conducted research on wide-band-gap semiconductor devices as a visiting scholar at Kyoto University for six months. Joining Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS) as a faculty member in 2019 was a natural progression, given that much of my research aligns with Japanese technological advancements.

I was privileged to be involved in the initial establishment of the Faculty of Engineering, conceptualized by the current Dean, Professor Tabata. It is a distinct honor to succeed him in this role. Building upon the robust foundation established by Dr. Osamu Tabata, my commitment is to cultivate practical and globally engaged engineers – “Street Smart Global Engineers” – by further enhancing collaboration with industry and fostering academic exchanges with international institutions, thereby contributing to the continued advancement of the Faculty of Engineering at KUAS.”

Dr. Tabata Continues as Vice President Full-time

The esteemed founding Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, will now dedicate his expertise and leadership to the university as Vice President full-time. His instrumental role in the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering in 2020 laid a strong foundation for its current success.

Dr. Osamu Tabata

Reflecting on the faculty’s development

“The planning for the curriculum of the new Faculty of Engineering commenced in January 2018 during my tenure at Kyoto University. The subsequent seven years have progressed rapidly. The inauguration of the Faculty of Engineering in April 2020 coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting initial challenges. With over half of the student body comprising international students, the implementation of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), and the introduction of the “Capstone Project” addressing real-world industrial challenges, our Faculty of Engineering possesses several distinctive features, all of which represented novel endeavors.

However, through the strong guidance of the Chairman and President, the dedication of the faculty and staff, and most importantly, the high caliber of students from across the globe, we successfully established a solid framework for the Faculty of Engineering. This past March marked the graduation of the second cohort of students from the Faculty. Under the leadership of the new Dean, we are now entering a subsequent phase focused on solidifying our position as a unique Faculty of Engineering with global recognition. As Vice President, I will continue to dedicate myself to the advancement of the Faculty of Engineering.”

Distinctive International Education Experience in Kyoto

This leadership transition underscores KUAS’ distinctive approach to international education. Located in Kyoto, KUAS provides an integrated learning environment where domestic and international students collaborate in courses conducted entirely in English. This commitment to internationalization has attracted a diverse student body from over 50 countries, fostering a rich intercultural exchange.

The Significance of These Appointments

The appointment of Dr. Alberto Castellazzi as Dean and Dr. Osamu Tabata as Vice President signifies a continued commitment to providing high-quality, internationally-oriented engineering education at KUAS. Their collective expertise and leadership are expected to further foster innovation and growth within the Faculty of Engineering.

Learn More:
To discover more about the Faculty of Engineering and the unique academic opportunities at KUAS, please visit https://www.kuas.ac.jp/en/academics/

(Revisioned by Giovanni Perez, International Office)