Students in the first-term program were appointed on October 1, 2014. A recruitment examination was administered in August for first-year master students from 5 related majors. Therefore, 20 students were certified. Program director/executive vice-president Takahiko Nitta gave words of encouragement by telling students that “Hokkaido University has been dedicated to fostering future world leaders throughout its 150 years of history.” Program coordinator, Professor Koichiro Ishimori, further addressed the need for students to raise their own awareness while participating in this advanced program by emphasizing that “the purpose of holding an official appointment ceremony at Conference Hall is to remind all of you that you are no longer just graduate students from different academic fields but program students representing this university.”