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 Faculty of Agriculture at Kyushu University has adopted an educational system consisting of four courses and 11 fields under the Department of Biological Resources and Environment to cultivate diverse human resources with problem-solving skills and a sense of balance, as well as internationally accepted expertise in related fields such as biological production, biological functions, and the bioenvironment. The academic foundations of these 11 fields are diverse, including biology, chemistry, mathematical and physical sciences, and social sciences, providing students with a comprehensive education from a wide range of perspectives. 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. In recent years, the school has focused on DX (Digital Transformation) education to nurture talents who can play a key role in the DX of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, and biotechnology-related 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 launched a pioneering interactive double degree program in collaboration with Northern Arizona University in the United States and Kasetsart University in Thailand. Furthermore, the school actively 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 program, each of the education courses 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. In the doctoral program, the school aim to foster outstanding researchers with rich humanity and creativity by further enhancing their expertise and internationality, as well as educators like university faculty members who play leading roles in pioneering the next generation of bioresource and environmental sciences. Furthermore, the Graduate School is actively involved in promoting enrollment of working adults and accepting outstanding international students through its "International Course," which offers a complete English curriculum for obtaining degrees.

The Faculty of Agriculture at Kyushu University has four divisions: Biological Resource Sciences, Environmental Agriculture, Agricultural Resource Economics, and Bioscience and Biotechnology, with chairs including several research fields under the divisions. Under the mission of " 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" the school contribute to the stable supply of food and living resources, the conservation of biodiversity, and the health and welfare of humanity through education and research on bioresources and the environment, international cooperation, and social collaboration. To achieve this, innovative research and educational activities are being conducted in four major research areas.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Kyushu University aims to be "a university leading social transformation with comprehensive knowledge" in its Vision 2030, and has identified three priority areas: decarbonization, medicine and health, and environment and food. The Faculty of Agriculture, which encompasses diverse academic disciplines, is expected to play a central role in solving social issues in these fields. In particular, as we address global food and environmental issues, we continue to take on innovative challenges in the areas of education, research, and social contribution with the aim of protecting biodiversity, preserving the environment, providing a sustainable, safe and secure food supply, and improving the health and welfare of humanity. Through these activities, The Faculty of Agriculture continue to play a pioneering role in realizing a sustainable society not only in local communities but also from a global perspective.

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

KUSAKABE Takahiro