Greetings from the Dean

Agriculture-related education and research institutions at Kyushu University consist of the Faculty of Agriculture (research body comprising faculty members), the Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences (graduate education body), and the School of Agriculture (undergraduate education body).

The School of Agriculture at Kyushu University, under the Department of Bioresource and Bioenvironment, has an educational system consisting of 11 fields across 4 courses. These fields are diverse, covering biological, chemical, mathematical, physical, and social sciences, providing comprehensive education likened to a "mini-university." Entrance examinations are in various formats such as written test, writing essays, and interviews, attracting diverse talents. The school adopts a unified admission system for the undergraduate program, allowing students to choose their courses and fields in the first 1 year and half after gaining a broad overview of agriculture, thus enabling them to consider their aptitudes carefully. Recently, the school has focused on DX (Digital Transformation) education to nurture talents who can lead the DX of future agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, and biological industries. Additionally, the "International Undergraduate Course," where students can obtain a degree through English-taught classes, has been attracting both international and Japanese students. This international course has pioneered a dual-degree program with the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences at Northern Arizona University in the United States. Furthermore, the school promotes short-term inbound and outbound study programs and collaborative online international learning (COIL) with overseas universities, fostering leaders with a global perspective.

The Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences offers nine educational courses under four majors: Bioresource Sciences, Agro-environmental Sciences, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Bioscience and Biotechnology. In the master's course, each of the education courses t aims to nurture researchers with high expertise, problem-solving abilities, and strategic planning skills, as well as highly skilled professionals with excellent balance and flexible thinking. The doctoral program further enhances specialization and internationality, aiming to cultivate outstanding researchers with rich humanity and creativity, as well as educators like university faculty members who play leading roles in pioneering the next generation of bioresource and environmental sciences. The graduate school also promotes adult education and attracts excellent international students through its "International Course," which offers a complete English curriculum for obtaining degrees.

The Facultyl of Agriculture at Kyushu University aims to "bring together the wisdom learned from life, water, soil, forests, and the Earth, pass it on to the next generation as the heritage of humanity, and achieve evolving agriculture for the rich coexistence of humanity and the global environment." Through education and research related to bioresources and the environment, international cooperation, and social collaboration, it aims to contribute to the stable supply of food and living materials, the conservation of the biological environment, and human health and welfare. To achieve this, it focuses on four main research pillars: (1) the new field of agro-life science, which aims at elucidating, utilizing, and creating biological functions on the basis of the rapid development of life science research; (2) the field of environmental science, which aims at building sustainable biologically harmonious and material-cyclical biological production and rural space systems that take biodiversity into consideration from the perspective of global environmental conservation; (3) the field of international agri-food systems, including biological resources, biological use, environmental conservation, and rural development, focusing on potential food productivity in the Asian monsoon region from the perspective of increasing food productivity in the medium to long term; and (4) the field of food science, which promotes the functionality and safety of food and the construction of reliable food supply systems based on social needs for food safety and security. The Faculty consists of four departments: Bioresource Sciences, Agro-environmental Sciences, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Bioscience and Biotechnology. Each department includes several research devisions, actively engaging in education and research activities to achieve the aforementioned goals and contributing to society and international cooperation.

Kyushu University aims to become a "university leading social transformation with comprehensive knowledge" as part of its Vision 2030. As entry points toward this goal, specialized fields where Kyushu University excels, such as decarbonization, healthcare, and the environment and food, are highlighted. The diversity and challenges within agricultural sciences are expected to contribute not only to the environment and food entry points but also to the progress of all entry points. The Faculty of Agriculture continues to challenge itself in education, research, and social contribution, aiming to overcome global food and environmental issues, which are 21st-century challenges, and contribute to the stable supply of food and living materials, the conservation of the biological environment, and human health and welfare at a high level.

Dean of Faculty of Agriculture
Dean of Graduate School of Bioresource
and Bioenvironmental Sciences
Dean of School of Agriculture
Kyushu University
(Professor, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology)

Miki Nakao