優秀な学生にPh.D.（学位）を授与し、各分野の後継者として社会に巣立たせることは、理工系大学院の重要な責務です。しかし、博士前期課程（修士）に進学する学生は多いものの、学位取得を目指して博士後期課程（博士）に進む学生が長期的に見ると減っています。（※）本プロジェクトではこの減少の原因を次の「Ph.D.の5つの壁」と捉え、これらの障壁を乗り越え、取り除いていく活動を展開していきます。
*Reference: Science and Technology Indicators 2019 3.2 Status of students in higher education institutions, 3.3 Career paths of science and engineering students
1. キャリアパスの壁
これまで博士課程修了者のキャリアパスは大学などのアカデミアが主流と考えられてきました。一方、多様な人材を受け入れながらイノベーションを推進する企業では、高度な専門性を持った博士課程修了者が活躍しており、そのキャリアパスは多様化しています。本プロジェクトでは、博士課程修了者に期待する多くの企業の声を伝え、「博士の就職は難しい」といった誤解を払拭していきます。
In addition, for companies that have never accepted doctoral course graduates, we will increase opportunities to convey the advantages of doctoral course graduates and expand the possibilities of career paths for students.
2. 意識の壁
Along with the diversification of career paths, students are now required to have various abilities in addition to research ability. Therefore, in graduate school education, we have enhanced educational programs that go beyond the boundaries of laboratories and specialized fields to acquire problem-discovery skills, communication skills, and expressiveness. Hokkaido University 's ALP (*) is one of them. On the other hand, it is also true that there is a deep-rooted belief that "the duty of graduate students is to focus solely on research," and that there is a tendency to hesitate to actively participate in educational programs. For this reason, we believe that it is essential for the activities of this project to change the awareness of the students themselves and the people around them in response to the changing times.
*ALP: Program for Leading Graduate Schools "Ambitious Leader's Program Fostering Future Leaders to Open New Frontiers in Materials Science"
3. お金の壁
Compared to paying the tuition and living expenses for a four-year undergraduate program, a two-year master's program, and a three-year doctoral program, it is more difficult for people who cannot see the social value of obtaining a degree in the long term, or who have given up on going on to higher education for financial reasons. There are many people who have no choice but to do so, and it is a worrying situation. Therefore, we will encourage the creation of various financial support, including scholarships, to reduce the number of people who hesitate to go on to higher education due to financial concerns.
In addition, we aim to raise awareness of the advantages of doctoral course graduates and create a society in which rewards are commensurate with their abilities.
4. 社会が持つイメージの壁
「高学歴ワーキングプア」という言葉に象徴されるような、博士学位を取っても思うような仕事が見つからず、極端に低い年収で暮らしているというイメージを持っていませんか？メディアによる衝撃的な事件の報道によって、「博士の将来には希望が持てない」といった印象が増幅され、博士課程への進学を心配する学生や家族が増えています。このように負の一面は広がりやすい一方で、多くの博士課程修了者がその高い能力を生かして企業を支え、社会で広く活躍している事実はなかなか伝わりません。本プロジェクトでは、進学を考える高校生や学生と先輩たちとの対話の場を増やし、博士課程進学に明るい未来を描いてもらいたいと考えています。
5. 支援制度の壁
Compared to Europe and the United States, there is a lack of support systems that allow students to devote themselves to research and study at universities without worrying about money, life, or the future. Therefore, in this project, in collaboration with organizations inside and outside the university, we will provide doctoral course students with a multifaceted approach, such as economic support centered on donations, employment support for doctoral course students, and a review of the educational curriculum according to various life plans. We will do our best to put in place a support system.