The University of Tokyo Hosts the 9th Completion Ceremony of the GLP‑GEfIL Program Congratulations to the 44 students who completed the program!

The University of Tokyo Hosts the 9th Completion Ceremony of the GLP‑GEfIL Program
 

The University of Tokyo held the 9th and final completion ceremony of the Global Leadership Program – Global Education for Innovation and Leadership (GLP‑GEfIL) on Friday, January 30, 2026. This selective program for senior undergraduate students celebrated the completion of 44 students, bringing the total number of participants who successfully completed the GEfIL program to 426 since the program’s inception.

The ceremony commenced with opening remarks by Professor Kensuke Fukushi, Chairperson of the GLP‑GEfIL Implementation Committee. Professor Yujin Yaguchi, Vice President and Director of the Center for Global Education, then presented each successful participant with a certificate issued in the name of the President of the University of Tokyo, followed by his formal address. Congratulatory remarks were also delivered by Professor Kaori Hayashi, Executive Vice President (in charge of international affairs and diversity & inclusion).

To mark this final milestone for GLP‑GEfIL, Professor Emeritus Kiichi Fujiwara, former Director of Center for Development of Global Leadership Education, delivered a keynote lecture titled “Global Education in a Time of Deglobalization.”

Representatives from seven companies and a foundation that have long supported the program were in attendance, with twelve guests joining the ceremony. Dr. Kazuhiro Kaneko, Director of the Business Integrity and External Affairs at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., offered congratulatory speech on behalf of the program’s corporate and organizational supporters.

The valedictory address was delivered by Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura (Faculty of Economics), who reflected on four essential qualities of global leadership: the courage to embrace the unknown, the capacity for empathy, a strong sense of commitment to goals, and the willingness to challenge personal limits.

A get-together party followed the formal ceremony. President Teruo Fujii expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication of faculty, staff, and the organizations that have supported GLP‑GEfIL over the years, and conveyed his hopes for the successful participants’ continued success and contributions to society. A toast was then offered by Professor Atsushi Tsuda, Executive Vice President (in charge of industry‑academia‑government collaboration).

The final completion ceremony of GLP‑GEfIL brought together more than 100 attendees, including successful participants, sponsoring companies and foundation, university executives, faculty and staff, as well as former faculty and staff members who have supported the program since its launch and members of the ALUMNI GROUP. The party provided a meaningful opportunity for successful participants to reconnect, engage with faculty and supporters, and reflect on the program’s achievements and legacy.

The latter part of the event featured a video message from Professor Emeritus Shunya Yoshimi, the founding Director of Center for Development of Global Leadership Education, followed by congratulatory remarks from Mr. Kyota Takada, President of the ALUMNI GROUP. The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude and closing remarks from Professor Kensuke Fukushi.

The 44 successful participants will now advance to new academic and professional endeavors. The University of Tokyo looks forward to their continued growth and leadership as they apply the knowledge and experience gained through GEfIL to contribute to the global community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all members of the final cohort.

With this ceremony, GLP‑GEfIL marks a significant transition. Its mission and achievements will be carried forward through its successor initiative, the Global Leadership Program‑I (GLP‑I).