From China
Kyoto Campus / Advanced III-4
Passed the Kyoto University, Graduate School of Informatics
Department of System Science
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Ma Chuang. I am from Shandong Province, China. I graduated from the dual degree program of Dalian University of Technology in China and Ritsumeikan University in Japan, majoring in software.
Why did you choose to study in Japan?
Among the approximately 210 undergraduates studying in the same major at the university, 40 of them can study in Japan on a double degree. During my freshman and sophomore years, a professor from Ritsumeikan University came to Dalian University of Science and Technology to teach us. I liked the Japanese teaching style so much that I decided to study at Ritsumeikan University during my junior year.
Please tell us why you decided to enroll in ISI.
To further improve my Japanese language skills. Another major reason was that ISI's admissions counselor was very professional and put us at ease.
Do you have any memorable moments at ISI, or any memories of your school or teachers?
What I like about ISI is that the teachers are kind (especially Mr. Negishi, Mr. Hamada and Mr. Yamaoka are very kind) and the campus is beautiful. Whenever I had a problem, I always consulted with the teachers. Another memory of my school life is that there was a day when it snowed heavily in Kyoto and I was late (haha).
Why did you choose Kyoto University's Master's program?
The major of the master's program is systems science, and I would first like to explain the different definitions of "system" in Japan and China. In China, there is usually a major called "systems" under the Department of Computer Science and Technology, which often refers to PC operator systems and systemic structures. On the other hand, systems science in Japan, especially in Kyoto University, does not refer to PC systems, but is more of a trans-genre, a major that integrates many fields such as mechanical, mathematical, and brain science. In my laboratory, we mainly study information theory and machine learning theory.
You may ask, "Why choose Kyoto University when Chinese AI research is also developing?". There are three main reasons.
First, machine learning theory of AI relies heavily on research in applied mathematics, and Kyoto University has an advantage in mathematical research.
AI research also has cross-disciplinary aspects, with brain science and robotics research, for example, being studied across disciplines in Japan. Academic exchange is very active and an educational system is well established.
Finally, I like the atmosphere of Japanese laboratories.
In Japanese labs, there are fewer mandatory quotas on the number of papers published, and you are more free to do the research you want to do. Japanese professors also do not pursue students' achievements in terms of quantity, but rather value the students' individual research ambitions and what kind of research they specifically want to do. If what you are looking for is to publish as many papers as possible in prestigious journals in a research area where there is a lot of pressure, then you are better off joining a large Chinese laboratory. What I wanted was to be able to do the research I wanted in a free environment.
What are your goals and dreams for the future?
I would like to go on to the doctoral program. （Doctoral program at Kyoto University probably） In the future, I intend to become a university teacher or a researcher.
Please give a message to younger students who are considering studying in Japan.
Please think carefully about 'Why do you want to study in Japan". If you are determined, you can do it.
The method of studying in Japan is very different from that of studying in English-speaking countries. For example, in the case of the Department of Informatics, if you choose to study in Europe, the U.S., or Singapore, you will be required to apply, which requires a different know-how than applying to graduate schools in Japan. Japanese graduate school admissions, at least for my major, tend to focus on written examinations and do not care about Japanese language skills and the world ranking of the university from which you graduated. Different study abroad destinations require different preparation methods, so if you decide to study in Japan, make sure you take the proper steps to prepare accordingly.
