#Japan #Okayama #Okayama University #TC College #Technical Staff

Okayama University Enhances Technical Training in 2025

On April 14-15, 2025, Okayama University will host the hybrid entrance ceremony for the 2025 Technical Conductor (TC) College at Tokyo Institute of Technology's Ookayama Campus. This year, two members from the university's General Technical Division, Miki Iwao and Masahiro Fujii, have been accepted into the medical and engineering TC course. They have expanded their professional skills by participating in the Core Facility Center (CFC) site visit.

During the entrance ceremony, Shingo Ebata, the TC College Director, and Keiko Nakayama, Director of the Research Infrastructure Management Organization, shared their congratulatory thoughts with attendees. The TC College is an innovative initiative led by Tokyo Institute of Technology aimed at training highly skilled technical professionals, including university staff and research engineers from various companies.

Currently, the program offers eight courses, covering diverse fields. Okayama University joined the TC college as a satellite school in 2022, launching the medical-engineering TC course in 2023, which has now had its first formal enrollment this year with a record 28 participants from ten universities and one organization. Among them is Yoshihiko Hagiwara, a professional technician from Gunma University's Center for Research Support.

The CFC site visit showcased valuable equipment owned by Tokyo Tech, providing insights into the advanced capabilities of the technical staff, who aim to utilize these resources not only within the university but also for the community and globally. The experience highlighted the wide-ranging responsibilities of technical staff in developing appropriate educational offerings for students, community members, and specialists.

Professional technician Miki Iwao noted, “My aim is to contribute to the evolution of technical staff at Okayama University and across Japan through my studies at the TC College.” Meanwhile, Masahiro Fujii expressed the desire to utilize his biological expertise in tandem with engineering knowledge to enhance research support at Okayama University.

Deputy Director and Senior URA Masahito Sato emphasized the importance of the ongoing 'Elevation of Personnel' initiative under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to empower technical staff. He stated, “The capacity of technical personnel to think critically and act effectively is essential. Producing many highly skilled professionals will lead to the revitalization of our organization. I sincerely thank all who contributed to this entrance ceremony and CFC site visit.”

Moving forward, the General Technical Division at Okayama University is committed to utilizing TC College as part of its strategic development to enhance the skills of technical staff. The aim is to contribute significantly to the creation of sustainable communities and the advancement of research and social transformation at Okayama University.

The involved technical staff members from Okayama University participating in the TC College include various skilled professionals across multiple departments, all focused on enhancing their expertise and capabilities. Their participation is expected to yield professional growth, continuously elevating the standard and quality of research support throughout the university.

Through these advanced training initiatives, Okayama University reaffirms its commitment to fostering a robust research environment while supporting the broader community and promoting innovation and development in scientific research.