Year 1 is designed to obtain an understanding of Research Ethics, to orient students to life in Okinawa and Japan, to introduce students career options, and to develop professional skills such as communication and coding through group projects, online training, and workshops. Students' well-being is highly prioritized at OIST, and our internal mental health center professionals provide workshops on how to cope with stress during their PhD program. Year 2 further develops professional skills required in both academia and industry. From Year 3 to 5, the range of activities and training help students specializing in different career paths such as academia, industry and entrepreneurship. 

The PCD Group Project is one of the requirements of PCD course during Year 1-2. Students work in mixed-discipline groups to design and carry out their chosen projects. This is a student-centered project in which the content of activities will be decided by student groups. Students completing this program will be able to design and present science information to a targeted audience effectively, plan collaboratively, and execute a team project. All projects require students to engage with local Okinawan community members.

A dedicated Career Development Coordinator provides career guidance and training to launch your career. As the hub of a highly international network, OIST provides many opportunities for individual students to achieve visibility and develop contacts with future employers, including renowned speakers who bring students a chance to talk face-to-face with world leaders in science, technology, industry, and science communication.