AY 2019 Entrance Ceremony was held

The university of Aizu AY 2019 entrance ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

The ceremony was held in a warm yet dignified manner. Esteemed guests at the ceremony including Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori delivered congratulatory messages to the new students. A total of 318 new students, 255 to the undergraduate school, 53 to master' s program, and 10 to the doctoral program were admitted by President Oka after their names were called at the ceremony.

In his welcome address, the President stated; "The revitalization of Fukushima can be thought of as a pioneering example for the revitalization of Japan as a whole, in which young people like yourselves are expected to play a significant role. In particular, your contributions through ICT (Information and Communication Technology), which you will gain a mastery of here at this university, are greatly expected. "

Ms. Abe Hitomi and Mr. Jomen Kazuya each made an oath on behalf of the new students admitted to the undergraduate school and the graduate school respectively.

Following the ceremony, a commemorative group photo was taken and UoA students handed out flyers to invite new students to join their clubs. The campus was filled with a celebratory atmosphere in the spring sun.　

As the season of snow comes to a close in Aizu, the arrival of spring brings a renewed sense of calm. Today we welcome the 318 new students who have gathered here in Aizu to the University of Aizu, including 255 new undergraduates, 53 new master's students, and 10 new doctoral students. Here with us to celebrate are the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, the Chairperson of the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly, the Mayor of Aizuwakamatsu City, and other esteemed guests. On their behalf, and on behalf of the faculty and administrative staff, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you, your families, and those who have supported you until now. I hope that the confidence each of you new students has gained by making it into the University of Aizu will power the efforts you make here at this university in order to become a trusted member of society after graduation. Today, Japan faces a great number of difficulties including a declining birth rate and an aging population. One such difficulty is the need for the industrial revitalization of Fukushima and Japan, something for which the contributions of young people such as yourselves are greatly expected. Expectations are especially high for your contributions through the field of information and communications technology, the subject you will be studying at this university. In fact, these expectations are much higher than you can imagine.

The University of Aizu, having increased its domestic and global reputation and attracted world-class talents, is now at the stage where it is capable of talent development and research and development at a level higher than ever before.
Through your daily studies, each of you will likely come to the realization that you have entered a world with values and rules different from those of the world you knew until graduating high school. What's more, you will have opportunities to grow in a number of aspects as long as you have spontaneity. Your own growth is not something you will be fully aware of as it is happening. Rather, it is something that you become aware of five or ten years later.

This growth includes intellectual growth, growth in relationships, and gaining the ability to form your own views on society. Intellectually, you will encounter knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking that were unimaginable during your high school days. As for relationships, you will encounter new friends raised in different environments. As for views on society, you will have chances to think deeply about thinking behind various events occurring in Japan and in the world now from various angles including historical perspectives. Through this process, you are certain to realize that the social sciences and cultural backgrounds are more intrinsically related to technological development than they appear.

Through these various encounters, what assures your growth is an awareness that "I might be overlooking something important", and to keep asking this question to yourself.
By doing this, you will become aware of your ignorance and just how narrow your thinking has been. More important than anything is that you form your own identity. Without an identity, you will be unable to achieve the qualifications and the self-confidence you will need as a member of society after you graduate. The ability to undergo this hard struggle in pursuit of an identity is the privilege of the young.

The University of Aizu specializes in computer science and engineering. I assume that this field is completely new to most of you at this point. However, something you will come to understand about the role and value of ICT as you study at this university is that it is not just an elemental technology. Rather, it plays a core part in our society and the economy to an extent beyond your wildest imagination.
We, the faculty and staff of the University of Aizu, will support your future growth. I would like to close my address by saying that I have high expectations that your efforts will bear fruit and that you will be able to go out into the world with confidence after graduating from this university. Once again, congratulations on your admission to the University of Aizu.

April 2, 2019
Ryuichi Oka
President,
The University of Aizu