Sunday, October 6th, 2019
Education, Science and Technology

MEXT Minister HAGIUDA Koichi attended the 2019 STS Forum 16th Annual Meeting on October 6th. The international conference gathers government officials, scientists, policymakers, businessmen and journalists from around the world to hold discussions on the topics of science and technology and the future of humanity. More than 1,000 people from around 80 countries and regions participate in the annual conference. This is the second consecutive year for Prime Minister ABE Shinzo to make a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

At the forum chaired by the University College of London President Michael Arthur on ”Science and Technology in Society”, Minister Hagiuda took to the stage discussion along with Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Suvit Maesincee, and the University of Tokyo President GONOKAMI Makoto.

Minister Hagiuda said rapid advances in AI and robots has an enormous potential to revolutionize the current social structure and working environment. The minister said MEXT must correspond to the Society 5.0 era by helping to correspond to such changes and to foster human resources capable of creating new technological innovations.

The minister introduced measures advanced by MEXT including enhancements made in ICT environments and the effective utilization of cutting-edge technology in elementary and junior high schools. He also introduced technical colleges known to foreigners as “Ko-sen”, which aim to foster practical and creative engineers.

Minister Hagiuda also held meetings with various officials visiting Japan to attend the STS Forum.


Photo 1    [Session on “Role of Science and Technology Education that benefits Society”]

 

 

 

 

Photo 2    [Opening Session, General Conference]

 

 

Photo 3    [Meeting with European Commission Research Innovation Commission Director-General Jean-Eric Paquet]

 

 

Photo 4    [Meeting with Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Education, Science and Sport Valdemaras Razumas]

 

 

Photo 5    [Meeting with Sweden’s Minister of Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans]

 

 

Photo 6    [Meeting with the University College of London President Michael Arthur]