Overview of the UTRIP 2023 program

UTRIP 2023 was implemented from 28 June to 8 August, 2023. The program consisted of six-week sessions. We received 310 applications from 131 universities in 25 countries. The competition was as severe as in previous years. After the application materials had been examined, 11 candidates were selected. Lab placements were made based on matching prior research experiences and areas of interests. The selected students were all highly motivated and were seriously considering the pursuit of higher education in scientific areas.

Generally, many undergraduate students spend hours in the classrooms with little practical experience such as designing a research plan and conducting research in a standalone way, whereas the recent job market requires people with the ability to work with flexibility and diverse points of view. It is also so in scientific research areas. We expected the students to broaden their views and open their eyes to new experiences and become more culturally aware during the program. The underlying policy of the program is shared by associations which provide the school with financial support — Daiwa Securities Group Inc., Friends of UTokyo, Inc. (FUTI) and International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU).

At the reception hosted by the school, a representative of Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Mr. Takuya Kikuchi (Executive Director and Head of Planning Section, Corporate Planning Dept. and Corporate Planning Dept. of Daiwa Security Co. Ltd.) and a representative of Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Dr. Shig Matsushita (Director and Chairman of Scholarship Committee) gave a wonderful speech to celebrate the UTRIP students for their successful participation and encouraged them for their future challenges and careers based on their valuable experience they have gained from UTRIP.
To ensure the long-term success of the program, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. sponsored all of our UTRIP participants.

The UTRIP program includes laboratory work mentored by lead researchers and postdoctoral fellows, along with literature reviews, participation in lab meetings, and attendance at research workshops and seminars. At the closing of the program, the participants presented findings from their own scientific research over six weeks. They also wrote up research reports.

Voices of UTRIP 2023 participants:

• I really enjoyed the research I was working on during UTRIP and meeting other undergraduate and graduate students in Physics. I also loved the Japanese Cultural field trip to the bonsai garden!
• I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of the program and the chance to interact with students at the University of Tokyo as well as fellow UTRIP participants from around the world - I think this sets it apart from other research programs.
• I appreciate the connections I made with other students from across the world and the lab I worked in.
• What I liked the most about the program were the freedom to explore Tokyo and opportunities to meet University of Tokyo students.
• What I liked the most about the program was the opportunity to experience from firsthand how it is to work in a lab there. It was an incredibly enriching experience and to have the supporters students as well as different activities inside the university to meet with other Japanese students.
• UTRIP is an amazing program; I had such a fun experience. You have the freedom to explore Tokyo and surrounding areas whilst engaging in really engaging and well supported research.
• UTRIP has been an incredible experience! I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in getting academic experience while expanding cultural horizons.

Thank you for supporting UTRIP.