Dialogue with MEXT Minister on JDP and Submission of Request to the Higher Education Bureau

2025.05.19

On Friday, April 25, Chancellor MATSUO Seiichi of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS), President YOSHIDA Kazuhiro of Gifu University, and President SUGIYAMA Naoshi of Nagoya University (participating online), along with other representatives from both universities, visited Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ms. ABE Toshiko. They engaged in a discussion on the current status and future prospects of the Joint Degree Programs (JDPs) implemented by the two universities under THERS.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chancellor Matsuo introduced the initiatives of the Interuniversity Joint Degree Program Council of Japan, for which Gifu University serves as Chair and Nagoya University as Vice-Chair and expressed appreciation for the Ministry's continued support. Following this, President Yoshida and President Sugiyama each provided an overview of their respective university's JDPs, highlighting achievements, challenges, and future outlooks.

In addition, Professor KOYAMA Hiroyuki of Gifu University, who serves as Chair of the Interuniversity JDP Council of Japan, together with Chancellor Matsuo, submitted a request titled "Recommendations on the Operation of Joint Degree Programs" to Mr. ITO Gakuji, Director-General of the Higher Education Bureau. Professor Koyama expressed gratitude for the Ministry's response to the FY2022 request, which contributed to the partial revision of university establishment standards in FY2023, and discussed new proposals aimed at further advancing JDPs.

The Interuniversity JDP Council of Japan, THERS, and both universities reaffirmed their commitment to promoting JDPs in collaboration with MEXT and other relevant stakeholders.