東京工業大学は9月20日、大岡山キャンパス70周年記念講堂で、令和6（2024）年度９月学位記授与式を執り行いました。
10月に東京医科歯科大学と統合し東京科学大学（Science Tokyo）となるため、「東京工業大学」として最後の学位記授与式となりました。
学士課程では92人（うち留学生10人）が卒業し、大学院課程では修士課程210人（うち留学生150人）、専門職学位課程6人（うち留学生1人）、博士後期課程115人（うち留学生79人）が修了し、総計423人に学位が授与されました。
卒業生・修了生にメッセージを贈る益一哉学長
式には、卒業生・修了生およびその家族など約 約600人と、学長、理事・副学長、監事、部局長、来賓が出席し、卒業生・修了生の新たな門出を祝いました。
式典では益一哉学長が式辞を述べ、卒業生・修了生やご家族へのお祝いの言葉とともに、門出のメッセージを贈りました。
益学長は式辞の中で、東工大から最後に卒業・修了する学生に向けて、専門技術だけでなく多様な分野を探求しつつ独自の世界観を形成し、仲間と協力し新しい価値を生み出すことで、東工大の143年の歴史に新たな1ページを加えてくれたことに感謝を述べました。また、東工大を卒業し東京医科歯科大学で歯科医療を革新した増原英一先生と中林宣男先生を例に挙げて、「広範に影響を及ぼす力を持っている学生の皆さんが、広い視野と情熱を持ち、今後の活動で成功を追い求めてほしい」と呼びかけました。
お祝いの言葉を述べる大竹尚登科学技術創成研究院長
祝辞を述べる井戸清人蔵前工業会理事長
続いて、部局長を代表して、大竹尚登科学技術創成研究院長がお祝いの言葉を述べました。
また、本学同窓会「一般社団法人蔵前工業会」の井戸清人理事長（1973年理学部数学科卒）が来賓として祝辞を贈りました。
謝辞を述べるWIJAYA Tegar Nurwahyuさん
来賓祝辞に続き、卒業生・修了生への学位記授与が行われ、博士後期課程では、出席者全員に学長から学位記が手交されました。式の最後には、卒業生・修了生を代表して生命理工学院 生命理工学系 博士後期課程修了生のWIJAYA Tegar Nurwahyu（ウィジャヤ・テガル・ヌルワヒュ）さんが謝辞を述べました。
卒業生、修了生の皆さん、ならびにご家族のご健康とますますのご活躍を心よりお祈りいたします。
なお、益学長が述べた式辞は以下のとおりです。
- ※
- 令和6年度9月学位記授与式式辞は英語で行われました。
Good morning, everyone.
The Tokyo Tech community is pleased to welcome students, parents, family members, staff, and friends to the 2024 Fall Graduation Ceremony for all graduating students. To begin with, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding graduates completing their degrees today. You have attained successfully an important milestone in your lives. In the face of rapid change and uncertainty, your determination, creativity, and resilience have been truly remarkable, and we celebrate together the culmination of your hard work. I want you to take pride in being members of Tokyo Tech's tenacious Class of 2024.
To the families, friends, and loved ones who have tirelessly offered their comfort and support: Thank you, on behalf of everyone at Tokyo Tech, for entrusting these individuals to us, and for everything you have done during these demanding times.
On this special day, 92 Tokyo Tech students graduate with bachelor's degrees, 210 students receive their master's degrees, 6 students complete their professional master's degrees, and 115 students earn their doctoral degrees. Graduates: Throughout your time at the Institute, you have explored not only your technical specializations, but also the liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences, in order to formulate your own distinctive vision of the world. You have collaborated with your peers and trusted mentors to generate fresh, innovative ideas and new value. You have sought the questions and answers that define your path to new discoveries and a better, brighter future. I want to congratulate you for these efforts, and thank you for adding another page to the 143-year history of Tokyo Tech.
And what a truly unique page it is. You, the fall cohort of the Class of 2024, will be the last students to graduate from Tokyo Institute of Technology. In October, Tokyo Tech will merge with Tokyo Medical and Dental University, TMDU, to form Institute of Science Tokyo, or simply, Science Tokyo. This integration will fortify and diversify our abilities to search for truth and reason, and push the boundaries of technology for the betterment of humankind. It will not, however, change the fact that you are all lifelong members of this deep-rooted community. Regardless of our evolution and continuous pursuit of new challenges, we will always welcome you here with open arms. The people who form Tokyo Tech, the Tokyo Tech Alumni Association, and soon, Science Tokyo, are always here to engage with you. I encourage you to reach out to us when you can, share the impact you have created, and explore how our community — your community — has expanded and evolved.
Graduates: Take a look around you for a moment. It is the people around you, the people of Tokyo Tech who have made the Institute what it is year after year. During my time as president, I have formed a habit of introducing to graduating students some of the leaders and innovators who passed through our campuses in the past. I would like to continue this tradition one final time. As the merger of the esteemed TMDU and Tokyo Tech communities is almost upon us, it seems fitting to introduce Dr. Eiichi Masuhara and Dr. Nobuo Nakabayashi, two men who spent significant amounts of time at both universities.
Masuhara joined Tokyo Tech in 1941, but only after he had graduated from Tokyo National School of Dentistry, which is now the Faculty of Dentistry at TMDU. He firmly believed that a strong background in science and engineering was required to truly develop dental care. After graduating from Tokyo Tech’s Department of Electrochemistry, Masuhara returned to TMDU to dedicate himself to dentistry education and research.
Nakabayashi also studied at Tokyo Tech. He earned his degree in chemical engineering in 1959 and then completed his doctorate in 1964. After this, he also moved to TMDU to work as an assistant professor.
Masuhara and Nakabayashi revolutionized dental care during their heyday. Until the 1970s, amalgam commonly used in cavity fillings was problematic due to a lack of adhesive strength between the enamel and the filling, creating unwanted gaps which often led to reoccurring cavities. This changed thanks to the creativity of the two Tokyo Tech graduates. By combining their understanding of dentistry and polymer chemistry, Masuhara and Nakabayashi developed a dental adhesive resin cement that was a safe, effective solution in a wide range of dental applications. This innovation remains a wonderful example of convergence science that has bettered the lives of countless people.
Just as it did in your Tokyo Tech forerunners, I believe the ability to create this kind of far-reaching impact also lies within each of you. You are the graduates who complete the Tokyo Tech saga, and I have no doubt that you will seek and find success in your future endeavors. Regardless of the path you choose, I urge you to strive to maintain a broad perspective, an openness to new ideas, and a strong resolve to pursue your passions ― the three key qualities that have brought you this far.
With feelings of gratitude, nostalgia, and excitement, I would like to conclude by drawing your attention to the Tokyo Tech Seal, the swallow by the window, one last time. This seal symbolizes the Institute as a hub of technical innovation from which the windows of the world open up to its members. You entered this window seeking knowledge, guidance, motivation, and excitement. Today, as you gaze out of this window and face the world, the Tokyo Tech swallow stands next to you, prepares its wings, and takes to the skies together. To celebrate and eternalize this final flight, my colleagues and I would like to take some commemorative photos with you, so please remain seated for a few minutes at the end of the ceremony.
Tokyo Tech's Class of 2024: Continue to seek new challenges and opportunities with resilience, persistence, and passion. Continue to pursue your own path while sharing your knowledge to create a better, brighter future!