Japan Backs Grad Schools in AI, SDG Research
In a bid to bridge the gap between academia and practical societal needs, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology has announced plans to strengthen support for graduate schools focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative aims to cultivate globally competitive talent with expertise in the humanities and social sciences, fostering individuals capable of applying their knowledge to real-world challenges.
Recent years have witnessed a growing demand for research in areas such as legal systems, ethics, AI, well-being, and ethical consumption. Issues like ethical shopping and the development of sustainable products have highlighted the need for experts well-versed in the humanities and social sciences.
To address this, the Ministry began collaborating with Japanese graduate schools and industries in the current academic year, offering support for liberal arts programs addressing societal challenges. In a significant move, graduate schools affiliated with Ryukoku University, the University of the Ryukyus, and Kyoto Bunkyo University will launch a joint educational and research program starting in the 2025 academic year, focusing on solving local issues.
Starting in the 2024 academic year, the ministry will extend support to graduate schools by establishing partnerships with overseas universities and international organizations to explore the latest global challenges. The support includes facilitating student and teacher exchanges, organizing joint presentations at international conferences, and encouraging the publication of research papers in foreign languages. The initiative will offer yearly subsidies of up to ¥40 million over a six-year period, with plans to recruit four schools for the upcoming academic year.
The push to bolster graduate schools in the humanities and social sciences stems from the observation that a disproportionately low number of students in these fields pursue postgraduate programs. While approximately 40% of science or engineering students advance to graduate school, only 4% of humanities students and 2% of social sciences majors pursue a master's or PhD.
These figures are considerably lower than their international counterparts, resulting in a scarcity of Japanese professionals working for international organizations like the United Nations, where a master's degree is often a prerequisite.
A ministry official emphasized, "We want to improve the research environment so that Japan's knowledge can be utilized to address the complex issues facing the international community today." The move reflects a commitment to aligning academic endeavors with global challenges and fostering a new generation of professionals equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world
