On August 29, 2023, the "Inauguration Ceremony of the New President" of Professor Shinji Tomita, the fourth president of The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics (KCGI), was held at the main hall on the 6th floor of Kyoto Ekimae Campus of The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics (KCG), Kyoto Station Satellite Campus of KCGI.A large number of guests from industry, government, and academia, as well as KCGI and KCG students, attended the ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of the new president.In 2023, KCG celebrates its 60th anniversary and KCGI its 20th anniversary.With the start of the new presidential administration in this milestone year, the KCG Group has renewed its commitment to further development and to being at the forefront of IT education.The ceremony was followed by a commemorative concert and celebration.
New President Tomita specializes in computer architecture.He has served as Dean of the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Director of the Center for Computing and Media Studies, Kyoto University, Professor and Administrative Director of the Center for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, and Professor at Kyushu University.He became a KCGI professor in 2017 and served as Vice President until his appointment as President on April 1, 2023.Since becoming dean, he has continued to lecture on "Computer Composition Theory.
The ceremony began with an address by Wataru Hasegawa, President of Kyoto Institute of Information Science and Technology, Kyoto Computer Guraduate School and Kyoto Automobile College.The previous third president, President Emeritus Toshihide Ibaraki, then introduced the new president, Dr. Tomita.President Tomita, in his opening remarks, said, "I have experienced three different fields: research, administration, and education.There is a word "tsuki no sumika," or "final abode," and for me, this university is truly a final school.I would like to make the most of my experience in exchanges with researchers in various fields that are very different from my own, my experience in establishing new organizations, and my experience in cooperation with administrative organizations, and I would like to make the utmost effort to address the University's urgent issues, such as the utilization of generative AI and further development of internationalization," he stated.
Guests of honor, Mr. Katsuhiko Shirai, Chairman of JMOOC and former President of Waseda University, and Mr. Terumasa Yamashita, Vice Governor of Kyoto Prefecture, gave congratulatory speeches.Mr. Daisaku Kadokawa, Mayor of Kyoto City, gave a congratulatory address via video message.This was followed by a presentation of congratulatory telegrams from various sources.
After a short break from the ceremony, a commemorative concert was held.The duet was performed by Dr. Liu Bai, a violinist from China who assumed the position of professor at KCGI in August 2023, and renowned pianist Kyoko Tagawa, also a professor at KCGI, and featured eight pieces including New Cinema Paradise, Hero Polonaise, and Czardas.Attendees enjoyed a masterful performance at one of the best concert halls in western Japan.
After the concert, the celebration was moved to the foyer of the main hall.Following the opening address by Chancellor Wataru Hasegawa, congratulatory speeches were delivered by Guest of Honor Masashi Nishida, Member of the House of Councilors; Akihiro Haneda, Executive Fellow, BIPROGY Corporation; Akio Hosono, Chairman and President, I-O DATA DEVICE CO.Mr. Hidefumi Koide, Secretary General of the Japan Association of Private Colleges and Universities, gave the toast, and the participants enjoyed chatting with each other while eating and drinking.In his closing remarks, President Emeritus Toshihide Ibaraki thanked the audience for their support on this occasion.
Thank you very much for your attendance at the inauguration ceremony, commemorative concert, and celebration.
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KCGI opened in 2004 as Japan's first IT professional graduate school, inheriting the pioneering spirit of KCG, Japan's first computer education institution founded in 1963.The Graduate School of Applied Information Technology offers a major in Web Business Technology, and upon completion, students are awarded a Master of Information Technology (Professional), the highest degree in the field of IT applications.The program is designed to enable students to concentrate on their studies efficiently through the following specialized fields: Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Web System Development, Network Management, Global Entrepreneurship, ERP, IT Manga/Animation, Tourism IT, and industry subjects: FinTech, Agriculture, Marine, Medicine/Health, Content Marketing, and Education.We send out excellent human resources with knowledge and skills in IT, management, and content to the IT industry in Japan, Asia, and the rest of the world.The number of applicants from Japan and abroad to KCGI, which nurtures top leaders in the field of IT applications, continues to increase, and the number of students admitted for the 2023 academic year has been increased from 600 to 700, approximately nine times the original 80 students when the school first opened.After FY2024, the capacity will be 1,400 students.In August 2022, a new building with state-of-the-art facilities will be completed at the Hyakumanben campus of the main school in Kyoto, and the school will be ready to accept students.
