Initiatives of Doctoral Human Resource Development Unit
S-cubic
In fiscal 2006, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology launched the "Project to Promote Diversification of Career Paths for Science and Technology-Related Human Resources," and began supporting projects to enable people with advanced expertise and broad perspectives, such as those with Ph.D., to pursue a variety of careers outside of universities and other research institutions and demonstrate their abilities.
「北海道大学基礎科学人材社会活躍推進計画」はこの事業として採択されたプロジェクトです（H18年度～20年度）。このプロジェクトは、国からの委託を受けて 北海道大学が産業技術総合研究所と連携して、博士研究員(PD)や大学院博士課程学生(DC)等の若手研究者のキャリアパス多様化に関する組織的な支援と環境整備を実施するものでした。北海道大学は、主に基礎科学領域のPD、DCを対象としており、大学院理学研究科（当時）に本プロジェクトの拠点組織となる 「基礎科学上級スキル人材ステーション(Superior Skill Station of natural science):基礎科学S-cubic」を設置し、H21年度からは、事務局の人材育成本部・上級人材育成ステーションの中の、S-cubicとして理学・生命科学・総合化学・工学・農学・情報科学・医学・歯学・薬学・獣医学・環境科学・保健科学・水産科学等、 全学にわたって展開し、若手研究者がより一層広い世界で活躍できるようにキャリアパス構築等の支援活動を続けていきます。上級人材育成ステーションにはS-cubicと連携して外国人研究者のキャリアデザイン支援を行うI-HoPと、同じく博士人材育成を連携12大学で協働して行うCOFReの３チームの協力体制が構築されています。本プロジェクトに対する皆様のご理解とご協力をどうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。
[Overall evaluation (S) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology] (JST: January 23, 2015)
Following the mid-term evaluation, Hokkaido University 's "Hokkaido University Pioneer Human Resources Collaborative Development System" project (HoP-Station; currently succeeded by S-cubic) received the results of the highest evaluation in the overall evaluation, "Category S of evaluation" (efforts beyond the intended plan).
Background of the birth of S-cubic
Currently, Hokkaido University is conducting research and educational activities with the mission of cultivating scientists who will be leaders in the next generation while achieving results in cutting-edge research. Meanwhile, in the industrial world, globalization is progressing in various fields, and companies are raising their expectations of Ph.D. holders, such as seeking problem-posing talent with advanced scientific knowledge and technology, with the aim of Japan becoming a front-runner in this field. In response to this social situation, Ph.D. holders are certainly needed by the industrial world, but the advancement into companies is not accelerating as expected. In addition to the awareness of the researchers themselves, the reasons for the delay in the advancement of PDs and DCs into companies have been revealed to be organizational problems such as the awareness of research supervisors and the lack of information from companies about job information and the type of talent that companies are looking for. PDs and DCs who have both cutting-edge scientific knowledge and technology and the ability to demonstrate excellent leadership are people who should be active in society (including companies) more broadly, and a system that can accurately capture opportunities for them is essential.
Therefore, Hokkaido University is based on S-cubic.
- A registration-based web system for information exchange (Hi-System)
- Career Counseling Service (J-window)
- MOT course (Career Management Seminar) to learn corporate knowledge
- Learn about various future possibilities (Career Path Diversification Seminar)
- Learn about the actual state of corporate research and development (Advanced COSA)
- A place for interaction between companies and doctoral researchers (Akaiito-Kai)
- Visiting companies in person (Company/R&D Office Visit)
- Practical experience in a company (Internship)
With a focus on these programs, we will continue to support young researchers so that they can play an active role on the world stage, by expanding the programs across the university and covering areas including science, life science, comprehensive chemistry, engineering, agriculture, information science, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, environmental science, health science, and fisheries science.
I-HoP
Young researchers from overseas
What kind of career do you plan to pursue after graduating from Hokkaido University? Some of you may want to find employment in Japan, some may return to your home country, and some may want to pursue a career in another country.
While you may not have much time to think about your future as you are busy with research and daily life at graduate school, it is important to start thinking about what you will do after graduating from Hokkaido University right after you enroll. By doing so, you will be able to steadily accumulate the necessary steps from an early stage in your studies, making your university life more fulfilling and greatly expanding the range of career options you can choose.
If you are looking to find work in Japan, please be aware that there is a set time for job hunting in Japan, and it starts very early, so by the time you are ready to apply, the deadline for the company you want to apply to may have already passed. In order to get the job you want, please start gathering information early.
The International Human Resource Development Program I-HoP offers a program in English to support the career development of young foreign researchers (Doctoral students (DC) and postdocs) at Hokkaido University. Please take advantage of this program to improve your skills and spread your wings and wings from Hokkaido University to Japan and the world.
- Holding seminars to improve transferable research skills
- Providing opportunities for interaction with researchers active in society and Japanese companies
- Individual Career Consultation
- Japanese Language Acquisition Support
- Various surveys aimed at supporting the career development of young foreign researchers
Consortium for Career Development of Ph.D.
3大学が開発してきた若手研究者（ポストドクター、博士後期課程学生等）に関する独自の博士人材育成プログラム（データベース、企業を知るためのセミナーや企業等との密接なマッチングシステム等）を連携させ、コンソーシアム内で若手研究者が自由に参加できる仕組みの構築を推進してきました。
現在は12大学で「博士人材育成コンソーシアム」を形成し、各大学が持つプログラムの共有、共催、参加枠提供など、これらのプログラムへの参加機会を与えて若手研究者を支援します。