THERS Make New Standards Program for the Next Generation Researchers (hereinafter referred to as the “Program”) aims to develop doctoral human resources who will contribute to future society in various ways, such as taking leading roles in a knowledge-based society or resolving the issues facing the world and Japan. PhD students are already at the forefront of research and supporting the foundation for research at the University. The Program will provide financial support to such excellent students and thereby provide them with an environment in which they can devote themselves to their research. In addition, by providing various activities to help them acquire the skills required by companies, etc., and by providing opportunities to interact with graduates of Leading graduate schools and WISE program graduates who serve as role models, the Program seeks to dispel anxiety about employment, etc., and encourage participants to contribute to society by designing their own careers.
What’s more, by interacting with PhD students with different specialties, overseas researchers, mentors with different values, etc., the participants will gain a multi-faceted perspective, expand their human networks, and encourage the development of new research based on original ideas and creation and progress of interdisciplinary research.
The students selected for this Program are to be called “RESEARDENTs” (RESEARcher + stuDENT) because they are both students and researchers. RESEARDENTs are expected to have the humble attitude of a student toward learning, while also possessing a sense of awareness and pride as a professional researcher.
There are also doctoral programs such as the WISE Program (in principle, a five-year integrated program that integrates master and doctoral programs) that conform to the above objectives. Experience of such programs will be established as one of the assessment criteria for the Program, and selection will be carried out accordingly.

SPRING  (Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generations) for “Japan Science and Technology Agency” and Nagoya University (THERS) jointly implement this system.