To the Graduates of the Department of Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, and the Graduates of the Information Engineering Specialization, Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus:

Congratulations

Congratulations to all the graduates of the Department of Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and the Information Engineering Specialization, Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, in the first year of Reiwa era. I sincerely admire your efforts in pursuing studies in the field of information engineering, leading to this momentous day.

To all the parents, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on celebrating this day with your sons and daughters. I also extend my deep gratitude to all the students for the support you received every day. You have grown remarkably since your enrollment.

This year marked a significant milestone for the Department of Information Engineering as we transitioned from the Heisei to the Reiwa era. Since its establishment in 1994, the Department has produced 1,147 graduates who have ventured into society. However, this year’s graduation ceremony will be the last one for the Department of Information Engineering. From the following year, students will be part of the reorganized Intelligent Information Course. With 60 new graduates from the Department of Information Engineering this time, the total number of alumni will surpass 1,200, making valuable contributions to society. Many of our seniors are already playing significant roles in information and communication-related companies both locally and beyond. Others are excelling in various fields, including non-IT private companies, government agencies, and educational institutions. Some have become renowned researchers on the global stage. Our department, which has been operated with the support of students, staff, and collaborators, has contributed greatly to society.

You, the graduates of this year, will be the “headliner” for the Department of Information Engineering. As in the example of the Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle), the headliner is a true virtuoso. We, the staff, are looking forward to seeing the best performances from the most outstanding graduates in their respective paths.

For those of you graduating from the Information Engineering Specialization, there are even greater expectations. Society highly values the advanced expertise and practical skills you have developed over the two years (five years in the case of doctoral candidates) of research activities. During your studies, you have gained experience presenting your arguments before top researchers at academic conferences. Through the research exchange activities promoted by the Graduate School, you have nurtured an international perspective. Through the enPiT program, you have had the opportunity to learn directly from engineers actively engaged in society, experiencing the methodologies and execution abilities necessary to thrive in companies and other organizations. During the final presentations of your master’s and doctoral theses, we witnessed your significant growth. We truly believe in your capabilities. As IT professionals, I hope that you will create new systems, technologies, products, and more that we, the previous generations, could not have imagined.

Whether you are a graduate or a former student, you will have ample opportunities to demonstrate your skills in this era known as the “Information Age.” You may be able to smoothly integrate into your workplace and achieve remarkable results compared to your peers who entered the workforce at the same time. However, this knowledge will not last forever. As you already know, the field of information engineering is evolving at an astonishing pace. Technologies considered cutting-edge a few years ago might already be obsolete. IT is said to be a domain where the younger generation excels, mastering the field, utilizing technology, and achieving results. Therefore, as information engineering professionals, you must continuously update your skills and knowledge, striving to surpass yourselves every day. Is it a daunting task? Not at all. This university has taught you to always have an interest in new things, actively incorporating them into yourselves. I sincerely hope that each one of you will continue to thrive in your respective paths while taking care of your physical and mental well-being.

Lastly, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot celebrate your new journey with the usual graduation and degree conferral ceremonies, and the staff feels a little sad about it. Nevertheless, the joy of sending out many excellent young talents into society remains unchanged from previous years, and it fills us with pride. To the parents who have supported you throughout this journey, please spend this special day with gratitude in your hearts.

Congratulations on your graduation and completion!

March 24, the second year of Reiwa Head of the Department of Information Engineering, Satoshi Endo