Introduction

Seen as the precursors of the fourth industrial revolution, new technologies such as Al and big data analysis are evolving rapidly and bringing major changes not only to academia and industry, but also to our everyday lives. A basic understanding of the information science, statistics, and mathematical science that underpins these technological innovations is becoming a fundamental requisite for a broad range of talented individuals who support society, in both the arts and sciences.

Kyoto University is home to many faculty members with track records in top-class research on information, statistical, and mathematical sciences, whose knowledge has traditionally been utilized in education within their own faculties. The Center for Innovative Research and Education in Data Science is developing systems that enable these faculty members to work collaboratively on the effective, university-wide delivery of foundational education in information, statistical, and mathematical sciences as basic 21st-century knowledge realms with a focus on development of logical capabilities at all levels-from undergraduate liberal arts and science courses through to advanced specialist education-in its graduate schools. The Center aims thereby to cultivate data scientists and personnel to support at the highest levels the fourth industrial revolution that is progressing simultaneously across all spheres of industry.

The Center has been selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a core institution for the strengthening of education in mathematical and data sciences, and receives special allocations from the budget for addressing common policy challenges in this area. In the 2017 academic year, in addition to Introductory Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, and other courses already offered, the Center began to develop new courses and design curricular structures, taking into account the needs of faculties and graduate schools in regard to foundational specialist education, specialist education, and advanced specialist education. It also developed e-learning materials for courses expected to attract especially large numbers of students. Furthermore, starting in the 2018 academic year, it is pursuing a systematized approach to education on information, statistical, and mathematical sciences.

The Center has also formed a consortium of six core universities with the five other core institutions, and through pro-active information provision and role allocation in the course of developing collaborative structures in the consortium, it will contribute to the creation of standard curricular models for use throughout Japan.