#Japan #Okayama #OkayamaUniversity #TCCollege #TechnicalMaster

Okayama University Celebrates Certification Milestone

On March 10, 2026, Okayama University participated in the 2026 TC College Certification Ceremony, held as a hybrid event at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Ookayama Campus. As a satellite school for the TC College initiative, Okayama University made significant strides this year.

During the ceremony, Masahiro Narasaki, head of the Medical Engineering Division at the university’s General Technology Department, and Moemi Tsukano, a technical supervisor, became the first individuals certified as Technical Conductors (TC) in the medical engineering TC course. This event marked a pivotal moment, with the university's first TC certifications being awarded. Additionally, five technical professionals from various sections of the Technology Department were certified as Technical Masters (TM). Among those recognized were Yuko Hojo, Sumire Ishihara, Hideo Ueki, Isamu Yamane, and Yuri Nakamura. This achievement brought the total number of TM certified professionals at Okayama University to eight, introducing new areas of management and materials analysis.

The ceremony featured congratulatory messages and words of encouragement from distinguished guests, including Mutsuko Hatano, Vice President of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Shingo Ebata, Director of TC College, and Shigeomi Shimizu, head of the Research Infrastructure Management Organization. After the certification ceremony, Yamane addressed the attendees on behalf of the TM recipients, reflecting on the learning experience in workshops, technical presentations, manufacturer visits, and explorations at JAXA. His insights highlighted the importance of observing and understanding the nuances between university and industry practices. He committed to applying the knowledge and connections gained to enhance the university's research capabilities in his role as a technical professional.

In their remarks, Narasaki expressed motivation to continue improving, Tsukano committed to upholding the responsibilities of a TC with sincerity in daily tasks, and Nakamura looked forward to further developing as a high-level professional. Sato Nobuhito, Vice President and Senior URA of the General Technology Department, emphasized the university's efforts to elevate staff qualifications and to leverage external resources for knowledge creation.

The General Technology Department at Okayama University aims to strategically enhance the qualifications of its technical staff through venues like TC College, fostering the development of significant research resources. As a regional core institution with unique research characteristics, Okayama University encourages anticipation for the ongoing activities of its technical staff.

This announcement was made public by Okayama University on April 2, 2026.

About TC College

The TC College initiative led by the Tokyo Institute of Technology aims to cultivate advanced technical professionals. It accommodates numerous participants, including university technical staff and engineers engaged in research and development across various enterprises. Currently, nine courses are available, two of which commenced this year. Okayama University's General Technology Department became a satellite school in the 2021 academic year, launching the medical engineering TC course in the following year. As of the 2024 academic year, students from other universities will also partake in this course.

This milestone by Okayama University reflects the institution's commitment to advancing technical expertise in research settings and underscores its essential role in academia and industry collaboration.