Diversity
and Super Global Training Program
for Female and Young Faculty

Kick-Off Meeting was held on 15 January, 2020 (from 10:20 to 12:00) at Inamori Hall on Ito Campus of Kyushu University to announce the implementation of “Diversity and Super Global Training Program for Female and Young Faculty (SENTAN-Q)”. The aim of SENTAN-Q is to identify and nurture outstanding female and young faculty to be attractive and competitive in the world’s academic research. The program has been selected for funding under MEXT’s 2019 Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment, which is the part of Human Resource Development Program.

The Kick-Off Meeting was held to raise awareness about the objectives and contents of SENTAN-Q as the first generation of trainees start their curriculum from the afternoon of that day, after being selected through the screening process in December 2019.

President Chiharu Kubo opened the proceedings with a welcome speech, in which he expressed his gratitude for guests and expectations for trainees’ future success. Greetings were then extended to the trainees by Professor Andrew T. S. Wee, a former Vice President for Globalization and Cooperation of National University of Singapore (NUS) giving a congratulatory address for trainees and introducing the research environment of NUS as one of the lecturers of SENTAN-Q program. Then Dr. Miawako Waga, International Outreach Director of University of California San Diego (UCSD) congratulated trainees and made a brief introduction of UCSD. The attendees then watched a video of Sandra Brown, a Vice Chancellor for Research of UCSD, delivering her message. Following the video, Dr. Toyoki Kunitake, University Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of KU, introduced the selection process and wished the candidates success.

Next up to the podium were two of the first-generation trainees (both associate professors at the university), who delivered an English-language presentation introducing their research and outlining what they hope to achieve through the program. The final part of the event consisted of briefings about the program delivered by program organizer Professor Toshiya Naito (executive VP and secretary general, KU), program coordinator Professor Kaoru Tamada (VP, KU), and Professor Eriko Jotaki (Office for the Promotion of Gender Equality, KU).

The Kick-Off Meeting was attended by the trainees themselves and 70 other people, including people from outside the university. SENTAN-Q will run for six years, with six generations of trainees. Throughout the program, trainees are expected to acquire research and educational skills that meet the global highest standards and contribute to the university becoming a global hub of world’s top class research and education.

Release : January 15 0:00, 2020