It is our great pleasure to hold the Fall 2017 Degree Awarding Ceremony today for the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science and the United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences. A total of twelve students, consisting of five and seven from each school, have successfully completed their studies and research activities. I would like to express our sincere congratulations to all those who have been awarded a doctorate degree, as well as to the professors who guided the students to today's remarkable academic success. Actually, the students came from a variety of countries, including one from Bangladesh, one from Indonesia, two from Afghanistan, one from Thai and seven from Japan. I would also like to congratulate your families, who are present here today. We are deeply grateful for this international atmosphere of today's ceremony. As I have repeatedly mentioned at the fall ceremony, participation of many international students and their families prove that we are steadily promoting internationalization and post-doctoral education as an important mission of our university. This is the hallmark for our Graduate Schools, which gives me an even stronger sense of pride.

The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science and that of Veterinary Sciences were established in 1991 and 1990, respectively. Currently, a large number of graduates play active roles in various sectors, including educational institutions, private companies and public organizations, both in Japan and overseas. Today, our Doctoral Courses are highly recognized both domestically and globally, being brought about by the efforts of our graduates. Now, you will join in such graduates and begin your career path in which your ability will truly be evaluated based on your own performance and achievements.

Hence, the first thing I would like to remind you of is, that please maintain and utilize the networks you developed in the Doctoral Courses. Human networks is of everlasting importance when you play a leading role in the research and educational communities, as well as in activities in the public/private sectors. Closely keep in touch with the professors and laboratory staffs of your Doctoral Course, as well as your colleagues and senior/junior alumni members. This will help you keep up to date on education, research and human resources, providing significant support to further develop your activities in the future.

Our Universities, are also exerting continuous efforts to establish such networks both in Japan and abroad. We have established overseas offices and laboratories that can help you with your education, research and business development in different forms. Collaborative relationships, which are built in Japan through participation in the United Graduate School, will lead to international contributions and to further improvement in industry, the economy and welfare services in Japan and abroad.

Secondly, I would like you to keep in mind the development of the next younger generation. It is of course understood that you will be committed to working diligently in education, research and social activities. However, in order to seek greater potential and further achievement, developing next-generation human resources and building a synergistic relationship with them is essential. We hope you will take on this challenge from a comprehensive point of view. We also expect your juniors wishing to study agriculture or veterinary medicine to be enrolled in our United Graduate Schools in the near future.

Before closing my address, I would like to reaffirm that you have completed an educational program for highly skilled experts and advanced researchers, and have therefore been awarded a doctorate degree today. The knowledge and skill you acquired in the Doctoral Education program will form a base that will help you leap up into a broader future. Keep your dream high, as they will allow you to reach higher goals. I sincerely look forward to seeing you and hearing about your successes both inside Japan and around the world.

I wish you all good luck. Congratulations again.

September 22, 2017

Hisataka Moriwaki
President of Gifu University