February 2021
Adopted year: FY2014

京都大学ジャパンゲートウェイ構想

Japan Gateway:
Kyoto University Top Global Program
Program Summary

The Japan Gateway: Kyoto University Top Global Program comprises international joint graduate school programs (called Top Global Courses) inresearch areas in which the university has signiﬁcant international competitiveness. The Top Global Courses are implemented in collaboration withinternational partner universities that are world leaders in their respective ﬁelds, providing joint guidance and joint dissertation assessment. Joint and double degree programs are alsoprovided. Through these programs, the internationalization of graduate school education combines synergistically with other aspects of university reform, such as admissions reform, anincreased number of international instructors, increased inbound and outbound student mobility, and a greater number of classes provided in English, to further strengthen theuniversityʼ s research and education capabilities and cultivate the next generation of world-leading researchers.

A 10-year vision combining internationalization with education reform, spanning the admission process tograduate school education, and aiming to cultivate the next generation of world-leading researchers
Top Global Courses（International（Internationon
nal joint
j nt education programs)
joiprogrpg ams)
Social Sciences andHumanities

Human Biosciences

Chemistry and ChemicalEngineering

Mathematics

EnvironmentalStudies

Public HealthDeveloping joint and double degree programs
Jointly operated courses, joint guidance, joint assessment of dissertations, etc.
Recruitment of International Faculty
aculty Members
Inbound International Students

Overseas Programs
Ov

Admissions Reform

Undergraduate Education

Graduate Education

S oc i al Sci e nce s an d Hu ma nities

H um an B ios c ie nc e s

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

In the social sciences and humanities fields, the Universityʼs Graduate
Schools of Economics, Letters, and Agriculture collaborate to jointly provide
international education programs that focus on sustainability and transculturalstudies. Through existing departmental ties with partner universities
from around the world and the combined capabilities of each of the unit
members, the Graduate School of Letters provides the “Joint Degree Masterof Arts Program in Transcultural Studies” (in collaboration with Heidelberg
University), and the Graduate School of Economics offers the “InternationalJoint Master Degree Program in Global Markets, Local Creativities” (inpartnership with the University of Glasgow and the University of Barcelona).
Besides, the Social Sciences and Humanities unit has developed other double
degree and cotutelle programs to contribute to the Universityʼs objective tofurther establish itself as a hub for education and research exchange. These
programs offer students mobility
opportunities and the chance tolearn from leading researchers in
Europe and Asia, thus contributing
to the development of tomorrowʼsinternationally-minded leaders
and innovators.

In the field of human biosciences, Kyoto University researchers have garnerednumerous internationally recognized accolades, including the Nobel Prize inPhysiology or Medicine, the Robert Koch Prize, and the Albert Lasker Awardfor Basic Medical Research. In order to thoroughly internationalize its graduate
school education, Kyoto University has developed a system of institutional
collaboration that maximizes the unique characteristics and strengths ofboth Kyoto University and its partners, and is pursuing collaboration withinstitutions at the vanguard of international research, particularly in thefield of genomic medicine. The JGP initiatives seek to further strengthen theuniversityʼs research capabilities and international presence through thedevelopment of world-leading international education and research projects
that represent a new model for international education networking, promoteresearcher and student exchange, and cultivate internationally competitive
human capital. Initiatives include
a joint degree program offeredin collaboration with McGill
University, the establishment of
an international joint research unit
with the Pasteur Institute, and theimplementation of joint research
projects with Bordeaux University.

The six chemistry-based departments of the Graduate School of Engineering,which make up the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering section of thisprogram, constitute one of the worldʼs largest graduate schools in thefield of chemistry. The school covers a broad spectrum of education andresearch, from molecular-level theoretical analysis through responses toglobal environmental and energy issues. The faculty members include
several recipients of major international awards, including the Nobel Prizein Chemistry and the Humboldt Prize. Taking full advantage of the strengthsof these departments, this section aims to establish an education system ofinternational caliber by introducing programs that are mainly (or, in the caseof doctoral programs, entirely) conducted in English. The programs include
intensive lecture courses provided by faculty members from overseas partner
institutions, such as MIT, which aim
to encourage graduate students
to develop broad perspectives andan international mindset, while
increasing the number of highquality international students at theuniversity.

Mat h e matics

Env ir onm e nt al St udie s

Public H e alt h

In the field of mathematics, Kyoto University boasts a group of researchers

The Environmental Studies section, comprising the Hall of Global
Environmental Research, the Graduate School of Global Environmental
Studies, and the Graduate School of Agriculture, covers a number of fields,
including natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The section
conducts interdisciplinary and practical education and research activities
that seek to address environmental issues. In addition to presenting casesof pioneering endeavors in environmental fields through invited lecturesby renowned scholars such as Professor Rattan Lal from the Ohio State
University and Professor Denis Petitprez from Lille University, the educational
curricula includes double-degree programs in collaboration with Mahidol
University, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), and Tsinghua
University. Opportunities such as international internship programs at partner
universities, are provided to promote the internationalization of education
programs. New environmental technologies produced through research
activities have received high recognition, as evidenced by the receipt of
the JSPS Prize (Takeshi Katsumi), theExcellence Award in the Nikkei Global
Environmental Technology Awards(Hitoshi Shinjo, et al.), and the Japan
Prize of Agricultural Science (NaoshiKondo).

Within the universityʼs School of Public Health, the Internationalizationof the highest international caliber, who have made a significant number ofpioneering research achievements in a wide range of mathematical science
subjects and been acknowledged by numerous world-renowned accolades,
including the Fields Medal. Under the joint guidance and supervision of these
distinguished faculty members and top researchers from overseas, graduate
students can pursue their doctoral dissertation research in an international
environment that is designed to equip them with superior research skills
in mathematics, as well as foreign language proficiency. Between 2015
and 2020, 32 graduate students earned doctoral degrees with overseas
researchers serving as co-supervisors. By building their own international
research networks whilst making theirdissertations available to the international
research community, students will have more
opportunities to play an active role on theinternational stage.

Promotion Office was established to actively promote interdisciplinary andinternational approaches to education and degree programs in collaboration
with leading universities in the ASEAN region, East Asia, the United States,and Europe. These efforts seek to promote international exchange focusedon early-career researchers and establish a world-premium public healthgraduate school that can lead global healthcare in the 21st century. To
improve the provision of English language education and public relations,the teaching materials for required courses and certain elective courses areavailable in English, and an English language website has been launched.
An international conference was held for early-career researchers frommajor public health graduate schools in Taiwan, the ASEAN region, and theUK. Various opportunities are also provided for exchange (dispatching andinviting) between students and faculty members from Kyoto University andthose of its overseas partner
institutions in order toencourage international
research collaboration.

HP：https://www.jgp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/