This program is the culmination of our education policy – achievement in applied research through basic studies; the purpose of this program is to train technological researchers in fuel cell engineering who can conduct the most advanced research in the future and be active internationally.

People working in this field need to have basic knowledge and development ability in various fields such as physical chemistry (especially electrochemistry and catalytic chemistry), high polymer chemistry, system engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical and electronic engineering.  However, no other graduate school program in the world is covering all of these areas, from basic science to applied fuel cell engineering. 

 

Achieving a 100% employment rate, we train international-level fuel cell researchers.  The pillars of this program consist of the following three unique curricula.

 

Synchronized fuel cell education consisting of basic and practical science (fusion of basic and applied research)

The coursework in this new fuel cell program is mainly conducted by faculty members in the Clean Energy Research Center and the new Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center. This group of educators consists of cooperate researchers with experience in advanced fuel cell development and foreign instructors (including top level visiting professors from Europe and the US), in addition to faculty members in related basic science and engineering fields. Developing systematic curricula covering basic and advanced science through the preparation of new subjects, such as the unique Fuel Cell Design Science, synchronized fuel cell education consisting of basic and practical science (fusion of basic and applied research) will be conducted. In addition, international ways of thinking will be obtained through education in English.

International practical education

In the Master’s programs, in order to enhance the students’ incentive and experience, short-term overseas education or/and internship at domestic fuel cell-related companies such as Panasonic is required (and is also applicable to first-year PhD students). The specific locations for overseas education include institutions with exchange agreements, such as the University of Illinois, Case Western Reserve University, the Technical University of Munich, Seoul National University and the Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The most advanced researchers in the fuel cell area are ready and waiting for our students to visit and learn. The researchers in these institutions also give special lectures as visiting professors at UY, providing continuous relationships between them and our students.

Leadership training education

As a summary of the practical graduate school education program, we have established the following requirements.
（1）Presentation in English at international conferences on fuel cell research
（2）A foreign professor from one of the aforementioned institutions is selected as a second reviewer of the PhD thesis. The thesis is required to be written in English, and the defense should be conducted in English.
（3）Students will participate in the planning of international fuel cell workshops, held every three years, and international fuel cell summer schools, held every year, as organizing or program committee members. Through these international-level academic activities, students will obtain qualification as international leaders of the future generation in fuel cell technology. By conducting an unparalleled program of systematic and comprehensive international education in fuel cell engineering, we aim to produce the following types of professionals.
（1）People who can show achievement in advanced subjects utilizing basic science
（2）International leaders in fuel cell research
（3）People who can educate the next generation of fuel cell researchers
Characteristics of newly developed Advanced Education Program for International Fuel Cell Engineers High-quality research education by two groups of instructors with different specialties

 

• First year students are required to participate in short-term overseas research projects at institutions with exchange agreements and/or internship at domestic fuel cell-related companies.
• Students can attend unique lectures regarding fuel cells (Clean Energy Conversion Engineering, Fuel Cell Design Science, etc.).
• Students can select their Master’s thesis topic from a broad range of fuel cell research areas (for example, fuel cell materials such as metal catalysts, ceramics, and high polymers) .
• Students will make a midterm presentation, with the top presenters receiving awards as encouragement (for example, the Applied Chemistry Prize).

 

• Students will take part in a multidisciplinary research education program in fuel cell engineering covering the whole range from basic to applied fuel cell technology, conducted by faculty members of the Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center and the Clean Energy Research Center, as well as foreign instructors, and corporate researchers.
• Students will attend special fuel cell lectures stressing English (Fuel Cell System Design, English Communication, etc.).
• Students will participate in the planning of international fuel cell workshops held every three years and international fuel cell summer schools held every year.
• All students are required to make an oral presentation in English at an international conference and to conduct their PhD thesis defense in English.