オンライン入学式（仮）での祝辞 at キリロム工科大学 by 釜我昌武 2021年3月15日
キリロム工科大学（Kirirom Institute of Technology）の学務担当副学長の釜我昌武（KAMAGA Masamu）です。
本日、2021年3月15日は、私が副学長になってから初めて、新入生の受け入れを行いました！
2014年に始まったキリロム工科大学も、今回は9期生の受け入れです。学科別としては、先端技術IT学科9期生、観光経営学科3期生、そして新規に開設された建築学科1期生が入学しました。
元々は昨年の11月に新入生が入学するはずでした。しかし、新型コロナウィルスの影響による、高校の卒業時期の遅れに伴い、大学の入学時期も遅れに遅れてしまいました。キリロム工科大学だけではなく、カンボジアの大学は同じ状況です。
しかし、キリロム工科大学は、カンボジア政府の教育・青少年・スポーツ省と適切にコミュニケーションを取り続け、本日ようやく新入生を受け入れることができました。
ただ、「2月20日コミュニティイベント」と呼ばれている、カンボジアにおける新型コロナウィルスの市内感染の発生により、新入生はキリロムに物理的に来ることが大変困難になってしまいました。そのため、本日はオンラインで新入生のオリエンテーションを行いました。
本日はオリエンテーションだったので、入学式ではありませんでした。しかし、難関の試験に合格した優秀な新入生たちとのファーストタッチでしたので、学長や他の副学長と共に、私からもWelcome Remarksということで、入学の祝辞を10分程度で、述べさせていただきました。
実際に話した内容は以下の原稿のドラフトとは多少異なりますが、共有します。
Welcome Remarks to New KITIAN!
Good morning, everyone!!
First of all, congratulations for passing the entrance exam of Kirirom Institute of Technology, Cambodia! It is my very big pleasure to meet you all today even through online!
And, I would like to extend my congratulations to the families who have supported the great students to this day!
KIT under Current Context of COVID-19 Pandemic
All of you were enrolled during the serious spread of the COVID-19. Not only you, but all of us are now facing very challenging situations that we have never been experienced before. The impact of the COVID-19 and the related issues are widespread in our society. However, drastic countermeasures have not been found yet.
Under these circumstances, most of universities are facing big difficulties, I mean, not only universities in Cambodia or Japan, but also universities all over the world.
However, at Kirirom Institute of Technology, there are less issues, because all the education here is based on the latest technology. And, we have amazing experts in education, information technology, management and leadership.
That is why, right after the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, around March 2020, we could adapt to the "New Normal" very smoothly.
For example, the transition from the physical lectures to online-based lectures including online-based examination was very smooth, and there were no big issues.
KIT is willing to lead the new era of the "Post COVID-19".
KIT as the Institution of Change
I would like to share the message from the family of a senior student from Japan.
One of the family members of the student is studying at a private university in Japan. Therefore, the student's family could compare the online education of Kirirom Institute of Technology and that of the private university in Japan. Then, amazingly, according to the family's observation, our online-based education and the quality of teaching are much better than those of the private university in Japan.
When I heard this, I was really happy!
And, as one of the KITIANs, I am always proud of KIT!
From my observation and understanding, the reasons are,
(1) KIT is providing laptops in the beginning and needed supports in a timely manner to all students
(2) KIT is utilizing the latest technology in our education system
(3) KIT lecturers, staff and managers have been familiar with the online-based working environment
(4) from the above three reasons, KIT students have been used to utilize the online-based environment before COVID-19
Of course, we are always struggling to make KIT much better institute which leads the era of the Industry 4.0 with Digital Transformation. Therefore, KIT always keeps changing rapidly.
I hope that all new students can catch up the rapid changes at KIT, and lead the Industry 4.0.
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| ある日のキリロム工科大学のキャンパス（2021年） |
Expectation through Foundation Year Program
Now, I would like to tell a little about the education that I am thinking of.
There are many issues in the real world. Those issues are not the exercises which are given by schools or universities. Most of the issues can NOT be solved only with one specialized knowledge or skill. Real issues are not that simple, but quite complicated.
Therefore, each issue requires cross-technical and/or interdisciplinary problem-solving.
In order to develop human resources who can deal with such real issues, KIT is providing the project based learning to all students. The project based learning at KIT is really hard, however, at the same time, it is very practical and useful. We are calling this project based learning "Internship" at KIT.
The principles of the "Internship" at KIT are,
(1) to think on their own
(2) to collaborate with the people with different background
(3) to break through strong barriers as a team by demonstrating high and intercultural communication skills
Therefore, I would like all students to acquire three competencies through the Foundation Year Program that is provided in the 1st year at KIT.
(1) Self-learning skill
(2) Team work
(3) Communication skills
With these three competencies, it will be much more efficient to learn many things at KIT. That is why, please do not forget to learn these three competencies in the 1st year at KIT.
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| ある日のキリロム工科大学のキャンパス（2021年） |
In the End
It is about time to close my welcome remarks.
If you have an ambitious motivation, you have many opportunities to have new challenges at KIT. Then, you will learn many things through the challenges.
If you have an ambitious goal, KIT will provide the opportunity to learn the needed knowledge and skill to you. After four years at KIT, you will get many outstanding knowledge and skill that you may be able to learn only at KIT.
So, I can say, if you have an ambitious dream, KIT is the best university for you!
Kirirom Institute of Technology is very new, but an excellent higher education institution with amazingly professional human resources as well as being in the rich environment both with ONLINE and OFFLINE.
Please remember your original intentions that you have now, and do your best at KIT for four years.
Again, congratulations on your enrollment to KIT.
Thank you!!
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| キリロム工科大学で祝辞を述べている釜我昌武（のイメージ） |
いち早く、カンボジアにおける新型コロナウィルスの状況が改善され、新入生がキリロムに物理的に来られるようになることを祈っています。それから、正式に入学式ができたら良いと思います。
posted by
KAMAGA Masamu Ph.D. (釜我昌武)
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kirirom Institute of Technology, CAMBODIA (キリロム工科大学)
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※本記事に記載されている内容は釜我昌武の個人的見解であり、所属する組織（キリロム工科大学、A2A town Cambodiaなど）とは関係ありません。
