Ever since assuming the leadership of the University of Tokyo, I’ve wanted to share my thoughts and activities as president with members of the university, as well as the larger community outside our institution. With my research field being connected to the ocean, I’d always kept a log during my time conducting surveys and being out at sea. Now, having embarked on my journey as UTokyo’s skipper, I would like to share with all of you my record of this latest voyage, through the UTokyo President’s Log.
Teruo Fujii, 31st President of the University of Tokyo
December 2023
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-22
Date & Time: December 15, 2023
Location: The University of Tokyo New York Office
Latitude/Longitude: 40°45'55.0"N / 73°58'43.3"W Open in Google Maps
I participated in “The Future of Higher Education in the AI Age,” an event organized by the University of Tokyo B’AI Global Forum, a project of the Institute for AI and Beyond, and held at the University of Tokyo New York Office.
In a “fireside chat” between President Joseph E. Aoun of Northeastern University and I, moderated by Anna Esaki-Smith, co-founder of research consultancy Education Rethink, we discussed what skills we need to acquire for the AI (artificial intelligence) age and what AI governance should look like, among other topics.
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-21
Date & Time: December 7, 2023
Location: Sungreat International Convention Hall, National Taiwan University
Latitude/Longitude: 25°00'49.8"N / 121°32'16.8"E Open in Google Maps
I attended the NTU-UTokyo Joint Conference 2023, which took place at National Taiwan University in Taipei. UTokyo and NTU have been holding the joint conferences periodically and alternately at the two universities since 2015, as part of the exchange between our institutions, and this was the seventh such conference.
After I delivered the opening remarks at the plenary session, my NTU hosts took me on a tour of the campus and the Nano-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (NEMS) Research Center.
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-20
Date & Time: December 6, 2023
Location: Sungreat International Convention Hall, National Taiwan University
Latitude/Longitude: 25°00'49.8"N / 121°32'16.8"E Open in Google Maps
I accepted an invitation by National Taiwan University in Taipei to be a speaker in its Royal Palm Lecture Series, and gave a talk there.
The lecture series was launched this year with the aim of expanding the perspectives of NTU students, faculty and staff.
In my talk, titled “Transcending Boundaries: from Underwater Robotics to Molecular Computing,” I spoke about my career as a researcher until now, and presented my vision as president of UTokyo. More than 200 people, including international students and people from outside the university, attended the event, and I received a variety of questions from the audience during the Q&A session.
UTokyo PLog #2023-E-19
Date & Time: December 7, 2023
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
UTokyo and Japan’s public broadcaster NHK concluded a comprehensive cooperation agreement, and we held a ceremony and press conference to mark the occasion. As NHK approaches the milestone of 100 years since beginning its radio broadcast service and UTokyo nears its 150th anniversary, the two organizations will join forces and collaborate on various activities by drawing on the strengths and assets that each has to offer.
Some projects have already kick-started and are underway, including a project aiming to unearth and reflect on Japan’s modern and recent history, while another aims to make use of the visualization and virtual reality technologies of UTokyo and NHK to create innovative forms of expression and content.
November 2023
UTokyo PLog #2023-E-18
Date & Time: November 30 & December 1, 2023
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
Tokyo Forum 2023, the fifth annual international symposium co-hosted by UTokyo and South Korea’s Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, took place at Yasuda Auditorium. The event, launched in 2019, was held both in person and online via livestream this time.
Under this year’s theme “Cultivating Humanity amid Social Divisions and Digital Transformation,” the academic experts and business leaders who had gathered discussed topics such as conflict resolution and robotics, and engaged in multifaceted dialogue on the use of large language models for educational research and further economic cooperation between Japan and South Korea.
In the forum’s Youth Session, students from five South Korean universities and UTokyo held a lively and fruitful discussion on topics ranging from the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence to declining birthrates and environmental issues.
UTokyo PLog #2023-E-17
Date & Time: November 14, 2023
Location: Yasuda Auditorium, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'48.3"N / 139°45'44.2"E Open in Google Maps
UTokyo co-hosted AI Forum 2023 “AI Synergy: Science and Society” with Microsoft Research Asia. In August 2023, UTokyo and Microsoft concluded a memorandum of understanding, which lists the promotion of artificial intelligence (AI) research among its main collaboration points.
Many people, including students, listened attentively to the talks and panel discussion of researchers representing the two organizations.
UTokyo PLog #2023-UT-24
Date & Time: November 8, 2023
Location: Kashiwa Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°54'08.3"N / 139°56'09.2"E Open in Google Maps
I conducted the annual president’s health and safety patrol and inspected the Kashiwa and Kashiwa II campuses. The once-per-year inspection is carried out to raise awareness among UTokyo members and expand the university’s health and safety apparatus by reviewing each department’s safety management and the condition of their facilities.
A safe and pleasant educational, research and work environment serves as the foundation of UTokyo’s activities. In my capacity as the chief administrator of UTokyo’s management of our environment, health and safety, I will continue my work to ensure health and safety at our university.
UTokyo PLog #2023-E-16
Date & Time: November 7, 2023
Location: Ito Hall, Hongo Campus
Latitude/Longitude: 35°42'36.6"N / 139°45'37.5"E Open in Google Maps
The University of Tokyo entered an industry-academia collaboration agreement with Canon Inc. and Canon Medical Systems Corp., and we held a signing ceremony and press conference of our partnership with the shared vision of maximizing every individual’s quality of life and well-being by delivering personalized medicine to realize a society that coexists harmoniously with sickness.
Although a medical theme underlies the partnership, UTokyo will bring a cross-disciplinary approach by drawing together the expertise it takes pride in in various fields, such as law and philosophy, to build a new future with our partners, Canon and Canon Medical Systems.
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-19
Date & Time: November 3, 2023
Location: Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing
Latitude/Longitude: 39°55'23.2"N / 116°19'58.4"E Open in Google Maps
I participated in Beijing Forum 2023 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the Chinese capital’s Haidian District. The international academic forum co-hosted by Peking University, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and South Korea’s Chey Institute for Advanced Studies marked its 20th anniversary this year.
I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at the opening ceremony, where I gave an address titled “Higher Education in the Age of Great Transformations,” in which I spoke about the status of higher education in a data-driven society.
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-18
Date & Time: November 2, 2023
Location: Peking University, Beijing
Latitude/Longitude: 39°59'12.9"N / 116°18'21.2"E Open in Google Maps
I met with Peking University’s Party Committee Secretary Hao Ping during my visit to the university in Beijing’s Haidian District, and we discussed revitalizing the exchanges among researchers and students, the East Asian Academy for New Liberal Arts (EAA) joint research and education program organized collaboratively by our two institutions, and other topics.
I also met with the university’s President Gong Qihuang, with whom I talked about Beijing Forum, which was being held from the following day, and exchanged ideas about possible further collaborations between our universities going forward.
Following the discussions, I toured the facilities of the university’s Yuanpei College, which houses the part of the EAA program operated by Peking University.
UTokyo PLog #2023-G-17
Date & Time: November 2, 2023
Location: Tsinghua University, Beijing
Latitude/Longitude: 39°59'58.9"N / 116°19'35.2"E Open in Google Maps
I visited Tsinghua University located in the Haidian District of China’s capital Beijing and met with the university’s President Wang Xiqin. Among the topics we discussed were how we as academic institutions positioned in East Asia can contribute globally, the importance of nurturing human resources drawing on East Asian culture, and possible further collaborations between our universities in the future.
Following our talk, we held a signing ceremony to extend our university-level agreement and memorandum of understanding on the strategic partnership between our two institutions.
