In view of the agreement between National University Corporation Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and National University Corporation Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) to merge and form one national university corporation and one university by the end of fiscal year 2024, Tokyo Tech’s President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee has decided to petition for the extension of President Kazuya Masu’s term of office to March 31, 2025. The one-year extension to the current term, which ends on March 31, 2024, would allow Masu to smoothly facilitate the integration to completion.
A decision was made on the extension of the president’s term of office after special provisions regarding National University Corporation Tokyo Institute of Technology regulations on the presidential term of office were established. A petition regarding the extension was then submitted to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the appointing authority. The integration between TMDU and Tokyo Tech will be subject to the amendment of the National University Corporation Act. If the integration is set for a date that precedes the expiration date of the President Masu’s extended term of office, then the additional term will end on the day before the integration date.
Candidate for extended term of office
Kazuya Masu
Period of extended term of office
April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
Reasons for decision regarding extension
Since assuming office, President Kazuya Masu has steadily implemented educational, research, and governance reforms, in addition to management reforms that enhance a virtuous cycle of university administration and measures to strengthen the establishment of the Tokyo Tech brand.
Particularly since the summer of 2022, the president has demonstrated strong leadership, negotiating an agreement regarding integration between TMDU and Tokyo Tech, establishing the Integration Preparatory Committee, holding repeated discussions with the TMDU administration, and actively exchanging opinions across Tokyo Tech. Masu has actively communicated details regarding the integration to Tokyo Tech students, faculty, and staff, and responded to questions and concerns raised by the community regarding the matter. He has also spearheaded various preparatory actions regarding the integration, including the formulation of basic policies for integration and the determination of tentative names for the newly formed national university corporation and university. In view of the future integration between TMDU and Tokyo Tech, Tokyo Tech’s President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee views Kazuya Masu as the person most capable of laying strong foundations for the newly formed university in order to make rapid, far-reaching strides forward based on a relationship of trust not only with Tokyo Tech executives and employees, but also with those of TMDU. Therefore, the President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee has decided to recommend Masu as president of Tokyo Tech for another year.
While facilitating a smooth integration that takes advantage of the traditions and innovative spirits of both universities, President Masu is expected to maintain close communication with members of both TMDU and Tokyo Tech so that all constituents can work towards shared goals and create a completely new type of university yet to be seen in Japan.
Process leading up to decision regarding extension
Monday, November 28, 2022
Tokyo Institute of Technology President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee meeting held to discuss the future direction of the presidential selection procedure at the Institute
Monday, January 23, 2023
Tokyo Institute of Technology President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee meeting held to:
- Discuss future presidential selection procedures
- Decide on the extension of the term of office of the current president, trusting in his qualifications and abilities, so that he can continue to serve as president of Tokyo Tech
- Decide on the creation of special provisions without the need to amend National University Corporation Tokyo Institute of Technology regulations on the presidential term of office to facilitate action appropriately
- Decide on the one-year extension of the president’s term of office to March 31, 2025
Friday, March 10, 2023
Tokyo Institute of Technology President Nomination and Scrutiny Committee meeting held to:
- Conduct a hearing on the president’s convictions regarding integration between TMDU and Tokyo Tech
- Approve the special provisions regarding National University Corporation Tokyo Institute of Technology regulations on the presidential term of office, and request Tokyo Tech to enact these special provisions
Friday, April 21, 2023
Special provisions regarding National University Corporation Tokyo Institute of Technology regulations on the presidential term of office enacted (effective from the date of enactment)
