To all our new students, congratulations on your admission to the graduate schools of Gifu University. We are elated to have 642 new graduate students joining our campus in this new academic year. On behalf of the university faculty and staff, I would like to express my warmest welcome. I am profoundly grateful to share this new beginning with you as we commence a new chapter in our lives.

　Over the past three years, we have experienced the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in many restrictions and disruptions in our daily lives. In addition, the world has been significantly affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Consequently, people worldwide continue to face severe hardship. However, even this unprecedented adversity has failed to break your determination to advance to the graduate schools at our university. You have made a wise choice regarding the direction for higher academic achievement in your field of expertise. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to everyone, including your guardians and supervisors, who have supported you at every step of the way.
　Due to the continually evolving nature of Covid-19 and safety reasons, the in-person Entrance Ceremony here at the Nagaragawa Convention Center will be held in three ceremonies today, separated by faculty and graduate school, with the number of attendees limitted. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on Gifu University's YouTube channel in its entirety for those who are not able to attend.

　Gifu University currently offers four master's degrees, two doctoral programs, two united graduate school programs, and one joint graduate school program. Most notably, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology (master's degree) was established for students to learn unique interdisciplinary subjects that combine engineering and applied biological sciences. For instance, in its design thinking course, students are instructed to collectively address diverse socioeconomic issues and find solutions. Design thinking education is pivotal for the development and expansion of graduate school education. The strong commitment of students in the Professional Degree Program (Graduate School of Education), Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, and Joint Graduate School (PhD Program) in the Science of School Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, for academic and research success, also reinforces the high quality of our graduate school education.

　
　Our institution's history can be traced back to the founding of Gifu Normal School in 1873. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the establishment of Japan's first academic integration scheme, started in April 2020, called "Tokai National Higher Education and Research System" (THERS). The creation of this entity facilitated deeper engagement in a wider range of joint educational and research projects at Nagoya and Gifu Universities.
　While sharing THERS' mission of "Make New Standards for the Public" and upholding Gifu University's own long-term ideals of "Learning, Exploring, and Contributing," we advocate the following core values of our new vision and strategies for the future: "strategic promotion of co-creation within the community," "execution of unique and original research projects," "sparking of innovations," "provision of quality education," and "serving as a hub for community revitalization to address various issues of humanity." Accordingly, we embrace a new age with our stakeholders.
　Furthermore, under our new model for value-creation, "Migration, Laboratory, Innovation, Education," Gifu University together with our stakeholders are striving to put forth the five objectives: "Creation of Businesses and Community-Building," "Product Manufacturing," "Food Manufacturing," "Development of New Medical System," and "Human Resource Developments." The virtuous cycle of our academic achievements and social contributions that spark dynamic changes in the community help us make Gifu University a place for students to fulfill their dreams and become active players in community building. For sustainable growth and to serve as a driving force for social transformation, we are committed to proceeding continuously with our university's reform efforts.
　Next, I would like to share the achievements that have been made by Gifu University in the past three years since the establishment of THERS in 2020, focusing on the major developments of "Core Educational and Research Directives" of THERS.
　First, the "Human Glycome¹ Project" was launched by the Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE) as a large-scale national project to create a new horizon in life sciences, and it is already making significant progress.
　Second, establishment of the Aerospace Research and Education Hub (AREH). Its primary mission is to advance aerospace technology and human resource. Today, as one of THERS' directives, AREH is embarking on "Cyber Physical Factory" projects to assist a wide range of manufacturing businesses in the community since gaining support from Gifu Prefecture and the Cabinet Office.
　Finally, in January 2023, the Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research (COMIT) commenced operations to discover and develop new medical treatments. This is the main component in our drive to build one of the most progressive bases for life sciences in Japan to advance new medicine and drug discovery. All relevant faculties of Gifu University, including medicine, veterinary and pharmaceutical sciences, and drug discovery, are important stakeholders in building this base for life sciences, which will be bolstered by the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering in combining the fields of life sciences, food sciences, agriculture, and bioengineering. We are ready to expand our collaboration to include other research institutions, where scholars and researchers can freely interact to pursue new medical and therapeutic interventions or treatments for humans and animals. COMIT has already demonstrated a leadership role in creating a comprehensive region-based clinical research platform and implementing THERS' drug discovery leading edge medical research strategy initiatives.
　We have made consistent efforts to promote carbon neutrality and environmental protection to achieve SDGs². We aim to employ considerable progress in science, technology, and dynamic innovations to address a wide range of socioeconomic issues, such as climate change, and work toward robust economic growth in the future.

　Japan and many other Asian countries are experiencing lower birth rates and an aging society at an alarming rate. The global economy is constantly exposed to uncertain and unpredictable elements such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Under these rapidly changing global situations, our nation faces a critical juncture in increasing its research and technological prowess, sparking innovations, and grappling with a wide range of social and economic problems. To stay relevant, Japanese universities need to maintain global excellence through partnering with leading universities worldwide, while working closely with the community. All faculty members of Gifu University are ready to provide the utmost support to students who wish to advance their studies in doctoral programs, explore their scholarly interests, and help meet the nation's academic ambitions in the future.
　Acquiring and accumulating knowledge and expertise does not always promote awareness of the changes occurring globally. A significant paradigm shift is taking shape globally, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, the acceleration of climate change, the increasing frequency of natural disasters, the rising challenges of poverty, and the recent proliferation and increase in consequences of international disputes. The traditional approach to gathering wisdom is not viable before this array of global challenges of unprecedented scale, compounded by exponential technological change. Studying the liberal arts in depth could serve as a guiding principle for tackling and seeking solutions to these daunting global challenges.

　 　Basic research conducted at graduate school typically takes 20 or 30 years before its results become readily available for the greater good and can "give back to the community." Let me discuss my own experiences and struggles as a young surgeon specializing in gastroenterology. After completing my studies at graduate school, I continued to seek a new standard treatment for patients with digestive illnesses. In the past, my daily work was simply to prove that every medical theory or assumption I learned in graduate school was true and correct. Later, the new treatment that I developed was verified in multiple stages, ranging from basic research to clinical and practical trials. Twenty years later, I am truly overwhelmed to realize that my unwavering resolve to develop a new standard treatment recently culminated in renewing the guidelines on stomach cancer in Japan.
　Like myself, you may feel completely helpless before those insurmountable challenges, but please be confident and continue exploring your dreams until they materialize.

　Lastly, I would like to quote one famous passage from "Sange-gakushōshiki" written by Saichō ³, a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school of Buddhism. Saichō noted: "The real treasure for the nation is the people who work for the details of even small, trivial matters in good faith and with great sincerity." Saichō underscored the importance of sincere and earnest efforts that we must make to shine at home and work. He preached that people with great patience and strong resolve to succeed under any given circumstances are irreplaceable treasures of the nation. Please listen to Saichō's strong message, resonating in the minds of many Japanese people for generations, and do your utmost to shine through all situations or difficulties you are in.
　From today, you are a full member of the Gifu University community. May you consciously remember the following as you proceed with a new chapter in your life: "What do you learn, what do you learn for, and how do you use your expertise in society?" The same question is posed to all the faculty members of Gifu University.

　Finally, let me close by wishing you a campus life of fulfillment in all respects. We are eager to be your supporters and guides in realizing your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. I welcome you all and please join us in striving to make your university years the best.

April 7, 2023
YOSHIDA Kazuhiro　President of Gifu University

1) Glycome is an entire complement of sugars-whether free or present in more complex molecules-of an organism.
2) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future," established in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly (UN-GA) and are intended to be achieved by 2030.
3) Saichō (September 15, 767 to June 26, 822) founded the temple and headquarters of Tendai at Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei near Kyoto. After his death, he was awarded the posthumous title, Dengyō Daishi.