The history of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) goes back to 1874 when it was Agricultural Training Institute and Silkworm Disease Experiment Section in the Ministry of Home Affairs. These two institutions had each own history and they were developed to Tokyo College of Agriculture and Forestry and Tokyo Textile College in 1944. Then, in 1949, under the modern university systems, the two colleges were unified to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. In 2004, TUAT was transformed to National University Corporation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. TUAT has two campuses: Fuchu Campus for Institute of Agriculture (Land area about 28 ha) and Koganei Campus for Institute of Engineering (Land area about 16 ha). Both campuses are easy to access from the central Tokyo.

TUAT has two Undergraduate Schools: Agriculture and Engineering, three Graduate Schools for Master Courses: Agriculture, Engineering and Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering (BASE) and four Graduate Schools for Doctor Courses: United Graduate School of Agriculture Science (united with Ibaraki University and Utsunomiya University), United Graduate School of Veterinary Science (under Gifu University), Graduate School of Engineering and Graduate School of BASE. As of May 1, 2020, the numbers of students in Undergraduate Schools and Graduate Schools including Master and Doctor Courses were 3,789 and 1,911, respectively (not including number of doctor students of Graduate School of Veterinary Science). The numbers of Faculties, and Staffs were 394 and 209, respectively. The number of graduate students per one Faculty is 4.85.

The ethics of TUAT is MORE SENSE, it means Mission Oriented Research and Education giving Synergy in Endeavors toward a Sustainable Earth. As well as stimulating knowledge acquisition in the field of science and technology, TUAT nurtures students' autonomous capabilities to explore knowledge, pursue objectives and resolve problems. TUAT also cultivates and produces preeminent researchers, engineers and highly-skilled professionals who are capable of establishing a symbiotic society and of contributing to human society with deep intelligence, broad cosmopolitanism and high ethics.

TUAT promotes the creation of new first-rate knowledge through “mission-oriented research” varying from basic inquiries to technology applications in the fields of agriculture, engineering and the integration of both as mainstays supporting human society. With high ethics, TUAT fulfills social responsibility in the capacity of transmitting science and technology information towards the construction of a sustainable society where both human beings and nature can thrive in a symbiotic relationship. TUAT contributes to the Japanese advancement of science and technology by promoting cooperation and exchange with research institutions, industries and local communities. It helps to enhance, revitalize and develop industries and local communities by participating in the cultivation of academic culture and the creation of a foundation for scientific training.

Through education and research activities that foster a healthy development of science and technology and by returning such achievements to society, TUAT strengthens academic and cultural exchange with foreign countries to construct a global symbiotic society, with an aim to contributing to maintaining international peace and improving the welfare of the human race.

TUAT has remained highly competitive by winning number of MEXT programs among top universities in Japan. TUAT was ranked top 51-100 by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 - Agriculture & Forestry, which resulted within the best 5 Japanese Universities. In June 2020, TUAT has 163 affiliated universities and institutions in 43 countries. Table 1 and Figure 1 show the situation of international students.

Table 1. Number of international students

Fig 1. International students by country

International Innovative Agricultural Science Course (IIAS), was initially established in 1999. Then, IEAS reorganized as International Innovative Agricultural Science Course (IIAS), established in 2019 provides a multi-disciplinary master's course designed to train students and researchers to be at the forefront in the development of the limited natural resources while maintaining the healthy environment for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In recent years, intense human activities such as rapid industrialization and overexploitation of natural resources have been causing severe global environmental problems. These problems include environmental pollution, global climate change, natural disasters, drought, acid rainfall and desertification, degradation of tropical forests, soil erosion, water pollution, and environmental hormones. In addition, the exponential population growth coupled with global food shortages is the most pressing issue that demands utmost attention. To tackle these problems, a holistic approach to sustainable development is indispensable. We should develop appropriate policies for maximizing food production to improve the quality of human life, while avoiding the degradation of limited natural resources, and maintaining an ecological balance.

Lately, there is an increasing global awareness of environmentally friendly methods of food production. We recognizes that the success of such methods depends on the integration of concepts and technologies from diverse disciplines, and that only a multi-disciplinary approach can ensure such sustainable development.

IIAS consists of three major research and education fields: International Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation, International Biological Production and Resource Science, and International Development on Rural Areas. Their aims are shown in Fig. 2.

In newly introduced IIAS in 2019, we also have strong corroboration with applied animal science and applied life chemistry. IIAS has two Master courses: Regular and Special ones. The regular course starts in April and the special one starts in October. All lectures offered are given in English. IIAS is currently conducting various international programs with collaboration of JICA Partnership Program in agricultural development.

Please see the detailed information in the following website. http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~ieas/

Fig. 2. Three major research and education fields in IIAS

JDS Fellows will be involved in the Special Course of IIAS. The Course primarily focuses at optimization of food production, conservation of the environment, and the restoration of degraded resources. We emphasize on integrating the technical merits of the various disciplines to develop holistic methods of resource development. Ecologically, culturally, and socially effective strategies will then be applied to actual rural problems through international technology transfer.

IIAS Special Course aims at training engineers and scientists who have broader international view of “Environmental and Agricultural Science” and wider knowledge in several disciplines such as sociology, ecology, agronomy, and engineering. Today, environmental policy is an important subject to the environmental and agricultural technologies of our interest. We particularly focus on the policy-related studies in the fields of human, social and economic sciences with regards to the technological functions.

As of June 2018, Graduate School of Agriculture will be reorganized from the fiscal year 2019. Along with this reorganization, Department of IIAS will also be developed as International Innovation Agricultural Science Course in Department of Agricultural Science, Graduate School of Agriculture.

Additional international programs
1) STEP (Short Term Exchange Program)
This is one-year exchange program for sister schools with the following objectives: 1) to provide international students with opportunities for education and research regarding the latest industry and technology in Japan, 2) to contribute to the development of science and technology through cooperative research and work with international students, 3) to promote the globalization of TUAT by fostering the relationship between TUAT students and international students, and 4) to give a better understanding of Japan to international students, and further develop competent individuals familiar with Japan is to enable them to work in international fields.
http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~icenter/en/exchange_program/step.html

2) ASEAN International Mobility for Students Program (AIMS Program)
This program is specifically offered for Senior and Junior level undergraduate students. ASEAN International Mobility for Students Program (AIMS Program) is a government supported multilateral educational program in the ASEAN region, launched in 2010 by coordination of Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand and in 2013 current members include Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Japan. Please visit the web site below for more information.
http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~intl/aims/index.html

1. Field of International Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation
This field offers the following topics such as: environmental changes in developing areas, ecosystem in agricultural lands, investigation methodology for environmental deterioration, interaction between biological and human activities, and remediation and conservation of regional environment.

2. Field of International Biological Production and Resource Science
Education and research are provided for increasing food production and bio-resource recycling in order to pursue sustainable agriculture for regional and global environmental conservation.

3. Field of International Development on Rural Areas
Education and research are provided for sustainable social development and community planning focused on economic, social, and population studies combined with environmental technology and food production technology.

In addition to the three fields above, IIAS has two additional research areas such as International Applied Animal Science and International Applied Life Science.

The duration of the master's program is 2 years. The prerequisite for admission to master's courses at TUAT is principally 16 years institutional education (from primary school to university).The candidates who have 14 to 15 years of academic background may be accepted after the University Committee evaluated their educational and career backgrounds. Master of Agriculture or Master of Philosophy will be conferred to IEAS students. Students require 32 credits out of the following classes for the s (Table 2).

Table 2. List of curriculum offered in IIAS .

Completion Requirements: Students must obtain and pass 4 or more credits from the General Study Subjects (one and more credit from other course and “21 century agriculture science” is required), 2 or more credit from General Study Exercise, 4 and more credit from the Special Field Subjects (including 2 and more credit from the other subject). Research Subject for Thesis (contains 12 credits) are required subjects. Total of 30 credits or more are required for the completion of IIAS curriculum.

Supervisors for JDS students will be assigned during the application/selecting processes. The following shows the list of faculty members (Name, Position, Course Title/Research topic below).
*Faculty members who can officially supervise JDS students are indicated with *.
Please also see detailed information in the following web site.
http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~ieas/english/staff-e.html

Field of International Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation

*WATANABE Hirozumi, Prof.

Aquatic Environmental Assessment/Non-point source pollution control of the pesticide through field monitoring and computer modeling

*GOMI Takashi, Prof.

Regional Environmental Conservation Planning/Investigation of water and sediment transport and assessment of functions of stream ecosystem for Forest and water resources management and conservation.

*KATO Tasuku, Prof.

Environmental Water Use & Conservation/Conduct research that increases ecological service through watershed management and hydrologic applications in an Asian agriculture irrigation systems.

Field of International Biological Production and Resource Science

*KATSURA Keisuke, Associate Prof.

Regional Sustainable Bio-Production Technology/Ecology in crop production, crop physiology and agronomy, researches on improving crop productivity in developing countries.

*OKAZAKI Shin, Prof.

Improvement of Biological Functions/Investigation of beneficial microbes through genomic analysis and molecular biology.

*OIKAWA Yosei, Lecturer.

Sustainable Utilization of Biological Resources/Sustainable agriculture and forest management in the tropics.

Field of International Development in Rural Areas

*YAMADA Masaaki, Prof.

International Cooperation on Sustainable Agriculture/Development and extension of sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology cooperation in developing region.

*KAWABATA Yoshiko, Associate Prof.

Global Environment/Research in water quality through revealing the problem, finding the solution and rehabilitate the environment in arid land.

NIE Hai-song, Assistant Prof.

Population Sociology/Research in gender issue such as reproductive health and population control in rural area.

This is the reference schedule for the academic years for the Special Course

The first year

October

Entrance Ceremony and course orientation. The fall semester classes are started.
Library training is given for literature survey.
Regular weekly seminar series in IIAS by faculty members are also started.
A field trip is organized for the all first-year students of IIAS special and regular courses

November

University festival (some international programs are performed by IIAS members)

(Winter)

Excise for Geographical Information Systems (GIS)/Charcoal-making/Fallen leaves gathering

April

Regular classes and seminars of the spring semester are started.

June

A special field trip on organic farming and rural development is organized to learn about organic tea and paddy cultivation and development of local agriculture systems

July

Intermittent evaluation by poster presentation.

The second year

October

Fall semester is started.
Regular classes and seminars are started.

April

Spring semester is started.

July

Submitting master’s thesis. Final presentations of master’s studies

August

Revising master thesis for final submission

September

Degree ceremony

International Affairs Office of TUAT offers various services to JDS students and other international students and fellows. They include Japanese language courses, medical care, international houses (=dormitories), library services, and IT services.

TUAT has international houses on both Fuchu and Koganei campuses. International students of TUAT can also live in the International Student Dorm of Hitotsubashi University located in Kodaira City, about 5 kilometers from Fuchu campus. The International Affairs Office provides more detailed information. Tenant applications are accepted: every January, March (new students only), and August. The followings are the room types and numbers as of 2018. In addition, the Hinoki Dormitory in Fuchu Campus is also available for both international and Japanese students.

From University:

Visit to an organic tea farm in Fujieda,
Shizuoka

In Vietnam, although great progress of industrialization and modernization in the country has been made recently, agriculture, forestry and fisheries are still main and important industrial sectors that are representing in Southeast Asian countries. Recently, Vietnamese agricultural system is drastically changed by Intensification, mechanization, and introduction of new technologies. However, these modernization of agricultural and related sectors cause many problems that people have never been faced before. These problems need to be solved for its further successful agricultural and rural development at its local level, especially to increase income of workers and improve living conditions in rural areas.

For the purpose and goal, the country first of all needs to solve such urgent problems as its international competitiveness of agricultural products by overcoming its weakness of low agricultural technology as well as of food safety management. In particular, by promoting some vital tasks which are closely related to those in its technical and institutional aspects, the country needs to foster a greater number of skillful and well-learned development leaders who contribute greatly to its technological and institutional improvement much more efficiently at the local level. Some crucial constraints of the use of rural resources and farming skills should be avoided. The country finally aims at fully utilize the whole potentials of its countryside for further successful agricultural and rural development.

International Innovative Agricultural Science Course (IIAS) aims at improvement, restoration, and conservation of the environment for developing high level agricultural production. The goal of education in IIAS is to establish a long-term comprehensive view of agricultural and environmental issues. Using the international collaboration network, members of the program carry out individual or group research projects related to the fields of agricultural and environmental science in a holistically interconnected way. At the same time, we will take the outcomes of researches and apply them to find solutions that are ecologically, culturally, and socially applicable in practical ways in developing regions. This IIAS program aims to train not only specialized technicians in their fields, but also a new type of human resources who profoundly understand importance of holistic, interconnected approach among agriculture, rural development, and environmental sustainability.

Field Trip to Fukushima

Since IIAS Department was established in 1999, we have hosted many international students from Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kenya, Ghana, Brazil, etc. Our university has strong international network of sister universities. Many alumni of IIAS (including 96 JDS fellows) have been playing active roles related with agriculture and environmental fields. We train students to serve as leaders with “field-oriented” mind and skill sets so that they can identify environmental issues and propose effective measures for achieving sustainable development while cooperating with local and global stakeholders in the world.

From JDS Alumni/Fellow:

Mr. Thai Van Tinh, JDS 2018 – 2020, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Colorful Autumn in Japan

“Becoming a JDSer has given me the opportunity to explore and learn at a mighty country, but there are many similarities in culture and development history with Vietnam. I have been studying in an internationally advanced educational environment, experiencing cultural heritage, typical economic models that have created a unique Japan. In every corner of life, I admire the featured beauty mixed but not dissolved between tradition and modernity, preserving culture and development, discipline, dedication and quality of life. In particular, the Vietnamese community here is wonderful; together, we share each joy, each sorrow and promise one day will contribute a small part to bring the Japanese essence to our country.”

Ms. Le Thi Tram, JDS 2019 – 2021, People’s Committee of Ba To District, People’s Committee of Quang Ngai Province

“At TUAT, I have chances to experience many school activities, such as 1) The field trip for visiting institutes to learn a variety of areas about water quality, agricultural environment, rural and agricultural engineering; 2) TUAT school’s festival with lots of national cuisines, snacks prepared and sold by international students in mini shops, Vietnamese students also contribute a Phở’s shop; 3) Year-end event with “Makizushi-rolls making session” guiding how to make makizushi-rolls (sushi rolls) and “Informal lunch gathering” with many international students gather and enjoy an informal lunch at the end of the year; 4) Fieldwork event "Gathering fallen leaves for making leaf compost in a secondary forest"; and 5) International Students Ski Program, students are instructed to ski by TUAT's professors with professional skiing skills; starting with continuous falls on snowboards, I am now able to ski smoothly on undulating hills. I can enjoy many other activities in the community and with friends, too. All will leave me with experiences and memories as a JDSer in Japan.”