It gives me great pleasure to hold the Spring 2017 Degree Awarding Ceremony today for the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science (UGSAS) and the United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences (UGSVS). I would like to express my 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 success. A total of twenty-two students, including four international students, have successfully completed their studies and research activities. I would also like to congratulate your families, both who are present here today and those who are not. We are deeply grateful for this diverse atmosphere at the graduation ceremony of Gifu University Graduate Schools, because - as I mention in every degree awarding ceremony, especially those in the spring and fall that see the participation of many international students - we are steadily promoting internationalization and adult education as an important mission. This is the ideal 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 an active part in various sectors, including educational institutions, private companies and public organizations, both in Japan and overseas. Today, our Doctoral Programs are highly recognized both domestic and globally, which can be attributed to the efforts paved by our graduates. From now on, you yourselves will begin a new career path in which your contribution will truly be judged based on your performance and achievements.

From this perspective, the message I would like to convey to you is, the importance of maintaining and utilizing the networks you have developed in your Doctoral Programs. It is of paramount importance to maintain human networks as you play a leading role in the research and educational communities, as well as in the public/private sector activities. Closely keep in touch with the professors and laboratory staff in your Doctoral Program, as well as your colleagues, senior and junior alumni members all of whom will help you keep up to date on education, research and human resources, providing significant support to further develop your endeavors in the future.

The Universities, which offer the Doctoral Programs in the United Graduate Schools, are also continuously striving to establish such networks both in Japan and abroad. We have established overseas offices and laboratories that can help our alumni faculty members, students and researchers with their education, research and business development in different forms. Collaborative relationships, which are built in Japan through participation in the United Graduate Schools, will lead to international contributions and to further improvement not only in education and research but also in the industrial, economic and welfare sectors in Japan and abroad.

Secondly, I would like you to keep the development of the younger generation in mind. 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 broad point of view and I also invoke you to recommend your juniors to advance to the Doctoral Program in the United Graduate Schools to further widen their human networks.

These are the points that I would like you to keep in mind. Before ending my message, I would like to reaffirm that each one of you have completed an educational program for highly skilled experts and advanced researchers, and are therefore awarded a doctorate degree today. The knowledge and skills you have acquired in the Doctoral Programs will form a foundation that will equip you to move into the future. Keep your aspirations high, as they will allow you to achieve higher goals. I sincerely look forward to seeing and hearing about your successes both inside Japan and around the world.

I wish you all good luck. Congratulations again.

March 13, 2018

Hisataka Moriwaki
President of Gifu University