Introduction

Kyoto University was established in 1897 as Japan's second imperial university. At that time, the role of science and technology in society was rapidly expanding, and momentum was being gained by the idea that universities should not only be responsible for education, but should also pursue research. Since its establishment, Kyoto University has pursued its core mission of contributing to harmonious coexistence within the global community by promoting original and creative research, creating new intellectual values, and fostering capable human resources who can generate such new values. In its pursuit of that mission, the University has made significant achievements as one of Japan's leading research-oriented universities. Those achievements are testified by the fact that Kyoto University has produced more Nobel Prize- and Fields Medal-winning research than any other university in Asia. The University has also been exploring new avenues of development since its appointment by the Japanese government as a Designated National University in 2017.

Kyoto University's educational undertaking is significant, involving approximately 5,500 faculty and staff members and 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University has a tradition of providing practical education that actively involves students in creative research, promoting a unique form of "self-reliant learning". Students are encouraged to independently identify and address issues to foster a broad range of abilities and a creative spirit founded on robust scientific knowledge. Therefore, all students enrolled at the University are required to take liberal and general education courses provided by the Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS) regardless of their future field of specialization, an approach which promotes their development as healthy and intelligent citizens. Creativity is born from intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness, and I hope that the University's tradition of "teaching through research" will foster a high degree of expertise in our students, and that they will become the next generation of creative researchers.