At the Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL), we have welcomed fifteen new graduate students as the sixth cohort of June 2023 to its program. A registration ceremony for the new students were held on June 7 at Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, Ookayama Campus.
New students, President Kazuya Masu, Provost and Executive Vice President for Institute Strategy Isao Satoh, Executive Vice President for Education Jun-ichi Imura,
Director of ToTAL Yutaka Akiyama and faculty
Established in April 2018, ToTAL offers a five-year extracurricular program for graduate students. The academy’s mission is to provide leadership excellence education to empower students in the science and technology fields to develop core expertise and the leadership skills to bring out the best in each other and become innovative global citizens in a rapidly-changing era.
At the beginning of the registration ceremony, Tokyo Tech President Kazuya Masu mentioned that Japan needs to change in order to grow in the fast-moving world, and that Tokyo Tech is also taking its first steps toward change through various new initiatives, including the integration with Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He then encouraged the registered students to take their own first steps to change themselves by engaging in dialogues with various people they meet at ToTAL and by making use of their willingness to take on new challenges.
President Kazuya Masu
Next, Tokyo Tech Executive Vice President for Education, Jun-ichi Imura explained the outline of the ToTAL program and about the three seeds of leadership that ToTAL aims to nurture in their students, which is one of the objectives of the program. He also emphasized that ToTAL offers cutting-edge classes and workshops like no other educational program. He encouraged the new students to acquire leadership skills at ToTAL and demonstrate those skills not just in Tokyo Tech, but also in society after graduation.
Three seeds of leadership nurtured at ToTAL
Then, Provost and Executive Vice President for Institute Strategy Isao Satoh also gave a speech to the new students. He encouraged the registered students to find something they want to try, and take on challenges without fear of failure, not only on their own, but also by valuing the connections they make in ToTAL.
Following the Executive Vice Presidents’ remarks, Professor Yutaka Akiyama, Director of ToTAL, spoke to the registered students to take advantage of the opportunities ToTAL offers to develop skills in collaboration, leadership, and followership. He also expressed his expectations for the new students saying that he hopes they will actively engage in resuming face-to-face dialogue in this post-pandemic era. He mentioned that the post-pandemic world is not as optimistic as we hoped, and students should be aware of what is happening in the world and approach world issues with determination.
Professor Akiyama then introduced each faculty member of ToTAL, and a registration certificate was handed to each student by President Masu. To conclude the ceremony, each student gave a self-introductory speech about their goals while at ToTAL and commemorative photos were taken at the end.
[Excerpts of self-introductory speeches by new ToTAL students]
-At ToTAL, I would like to be able to think creatively by interacting with highly-motivated people with different cultures and backgrounds.
-In addition to developing specialized knowledge and skills at Tokyo Tech, I would like to broaden my perspectives and develop the ability to think flexibly by joining ToTAL.
-I am not used to speak in public now, but in the future I will need to express my opinions in a team and the ability to unite a team. I would like to acquire those skills with fellow colleagues at ToTAL.
-Through my past experiences, I realized that I need to nurture my communication skills. I would like to improve those skills by increasing opportunities to interact with various people through group work at ToTAL.
-I was recommended to join ToTAL from a senior colleague. I would like to learn more about leadership skills and incorporate various people’s perspectives into my own.
-I am interested in active learning and would like to acquire soft skills through ToTAL workshops.
-My dream is to work abroad, and when I told my advisor about it, he introduced me to ToTAL. I heard that there are various forms of leadership, so I would like to find my own style of leadership and develop towards it.
Please look forward to seeing the development and future activities of these students as they engage in friendly competition with their peers from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds!
