Japan’s First Autonomous Driving Major to Be Launched by Technology Institute

The Saitama Institute of Technology (SIT) is set to launch Japan’s first autonomous driving major starting in April, with the goal of developing engineers who are knowledgeable in the field of self-driving vehicles. The information systems department at SIT will be accepting 40 new students for the autonomous driving course.

As part of the university’s plans to restructure its faculty of engineering, SIT will also introduce four other majors – IT applied machinery, artificial intelligence robotics, bioscience, and environment/clean energy. The aim is to train students to meet the increasing demand for workers skilled in digital transformation.

The IT applied machinery course will concentrate on integrating IT with machinery, exploring internet-connected devices and digital twin technologies. This involves creating and learning from a virtual copy of a physical object. The AI robotics major will cover the merging of AI and robotics, offering a comprehensive education from fundamental principles to advanced applications.

In addition, the bioscience major at SIT will include various life sciences and biochemistry topics. The environment and clean energy course will specifically focus on environmental science to address energy and sustainability challenges.

Founded in 1976 in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture, SIT currently has 2,182 undergraduate and 91 graduate students enrolled in its programs. The university’s new majors reflect its commitment to adapting to the evolving needs of the technological landscape and preparing future professionals in cutting-edge fields.