The "Initiatives for Attractive Education at Graduate Schools" is a project organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that started in 2005. The project focuses on encouraging ambitious and original educational initiatives in graduate schools (attractive education at graduate schools), in order to strengthen the function of fostering highly creative young researches able to respond to the new needs of modern society.

Goals

The following things are demanded from future graduate schools: 1. To substantiate graduate school education (to strengthen the systematic development of the educational curriculum); 2. By improving international acceptance and reliability and considering the important perspective of reinforcing competitive ability on a global scale, to promote the enhancement of education and research functions.

In order to strengthen the function of fostering highly creative young researchers who are able to respond to the new needs of modern society, and by giving focused assistance to educational initiatives in graduate schools aiming at fostering ambitious and creative researchers, the goal of the "Initiatives for Attractive Education at Graduate Schools" project is to substantiate graduate school education (to strengthen the systematic development of the educational curriculum).

Please refer to the website of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Independent Administrative Agency) for more information regarding the "Initiatives for Attractive Education at Graduate Schools".
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

The educational program proposed by Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Graduate School

Outline of the research results and the reason for selection of "The oceanographic observation, the reinforcement of practical education in marine bioprospecting and the training of ship engineers and researchers active on the world's oceans"

1. Does the fact that "the plan regarding the specific educational initiatives for the substantiation of the graduate school education will be established and developed from now on" look promising?
2. Does the plan of the program lead to its progressive development into an ambitious and creative educational program?

As for the results of the inspection done based on the two points above, it was considered that this educational program meets the purpose of MEXT's project, its feasibility, certain results and future development look promising, therefore it was selected.

Furthermore, the following points can be mentioned regarding the particularly excellent points:

Particularly excellent points:

• The initiative that uses Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology's accomplishments in contributions to society as well as the university's special characteristics, realized through comprehensive education and research focused on oceans, was highly appreciated.
• The goal of this educational program of strengthening the practical education through oceanographic observation and marine bioprospecting using the training ships, which is one of the university's resources, is excellent.

Selected for "Initiatives for Attractive Education at Graduate Schools" 2006, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Strengthen practical education through oceanographic observation and marine bioprospecting
Train ship engineers and researchers active on the world's oceans