About the Joint Degree Doctoral Program in Informatics
Establishment and background
As we head towards the fourth industrial revolution, which is having a tremendous impact the way industry is structured through artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the internet of things, and other technological innovations, governments and companies all over the world are striving to develop innovative solutions. Amidst this revolution, Japan is promoting a variety of initiatives with the aim of leading the world in the creation of a “super smart society” characterized by a high degree of integration between cyberspace and the physical (real) world.
Creating super smart societies during the age of Industry 4.0 demands the presence of scientists and engineers with the sophisticated knowledge and skills to drive innovation in core technical fields—artificial intelligence, big data, IoT, and other information sciences. Our institutions of higher learning will be increasingly called upon to develop these industry leaders.
In order to meet this demand, the Nagoya Institute of Technology is teaming up with the University of Wollongong to develop a long-term joint education and research program in informatics, with a focus on AI and multi-agent systems. This joint degree program will take advantage of the educational and research resources at both institutions in order to establish the Joint Degree Doctoral Program in Informatics. (Joint degree doctoral programs are partnerships between Japanese and overseas universities whereby a joint educational program is established. Students who complete the program are given a joint degree from both institutions).
Program overview
| Host universities | Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) and University of Wollongong (UOW) |
| Program | Doctoral Program (3 years) |
| Degree conferred | Doctor of Philosophy (joint degree) |
| Enrollment capacity | 2 (one student each through NITech and UOW) |
| Admission period | Through UOW: March (in principle) Through NITech: April/October |
| Program established | March 2018 |
About University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong (UOW) is a public university located in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1951, it is made up of four faculties: Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, Faculty of Business and Law, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; and Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health. It is a fully-fledged university that boasts a student body of nearly 34,000. It is also thoroughly global in character, with some 40% of its students participating in foreign study programs. University of Wollongong ranks among the top 200 universities in the world (184th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings) and has gained an international reputation for quality.
About City of Wollongong
City of Wollongong is a city in New South Wales located in southeastern part of Australia and it is roughly 80 kilometers south of Sydney. It is with a population of approximately 220,000 (2024). It takes about one and a half hours by train from the Sydney Airport. With Tasman Sea to the east and Illawarra escarpment to the west, the city enjoys rich nature including beautiful coastal lines.
