The making of an engineering management leader in China’s no. 1 university

From the five keys to success to the seven Cs of success, everyone has, at one point or another, asked this question: how to have success?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but if you’re wondering how you can do well at university and find a career you love, Takaya Inoue might be able to help.

After all, you don’t become the youngest Japanese student in a master’s engineering management programme out of sheer luck, let alone one at China’s #1 university.

And Inoue was only 22 when he joined Tsinghua University’s engineering management programme, which is usually taken by professionals several years older, often in their mid to late twenties.

How to have success in engineering management? For Inoue, it’s giving it your all and more. Source: Takaya Inoue

Unplanned but unstoppable

Growing up in Kyoto, Japan, Inoue didn’t always know he’d end up studying engineering management. When he was a high school student, he wasn’t even sure what computer science, biology, or chemistry was about.

“I didn’t understand the fields at all,” says Inoue. “But I joined Kyoto University‘s competitive STEM programme anyway.”

That choice changed everything.

“It was a great experience to interact with university students and professors,” he says. “They were very knowledgeable, and watching how they worked motivated me to study harder.”

Following this experience, he enrolled in Soka University to pursue a bachelor’s in engineering. During his third year, he even participated in an exchange programme at Tsinghua University in China, consistently ranked the best university in the country.

“I took a strategic management course even though I had no background in business,” he says. “I was surprised by how much I enjoyed analysing companies and figuring out how they operate. That’s when I realised I wanted to focus on engineering management.”

Inoue aims to lead engineering management in East Asia as a project manager after graduation. Source: Takaya Inoue

The Tsinghua effect

When Inoue first landed at Tsinghua University during his exchange, he didn’t think it would lead to anything long-term.

“Most Japanese students who study at Tsinghua either have Chinese roots or spent time in China growing up. I had none of that,” he says.

But his experience at Tsinghua made such an impression that he eventually returned, this time for the International Master of Engineering Management (IMEM) programme.

“Being part of that exchange programme there helped me realise just how much I could gain by pushing myself outside my comfort zone, both personally and professionally,” says Inoue, and it couldn’t be more true.

1. #1 in China

What first drew Inoue to Tsinghua was the university’s prestige. Ranked #1 in China, #12 globally by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, and #20 in QS World University Rankings, Tsinghua has produced its fair share of high-profile people, including the current president of China, Xi Jinping.

“At the time, I didn’t know anything about the university,” admits Inoue. “But when I looked into the rankings, I thought, ‘this university must be something special.’”

2. Strong in STEM

It wasn’t just about rankings, though. Tsinghua is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading institutions for STEM education and research.

According to US News & World Report, the university holds the top spot in several fields, including artificial intelligence, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computer science, engineering, and materials science.

“They call it China’s MIT, and after seeing those rankings, it makes sense,” says Inoue. “That’s why I felt Tsinghua would be a great place for me to continue my studies.”

3. International community

In 2023, 64,421 Japanese students studied abroad, while 66,007 joined online programmes at universities abroad, according to the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) Survey Report 2023.

Most headed to familiar places: the US welcomed 14,444 students, Australia hosted 12,221 students, and Canada had 9,485 students join its ranks.

Some wanted a feel for life outside Japan, while others wanted to improve their English. That was Inoue’s goal too, but he chose China instead.

“You’re constantly meeting people from all over the world, so English is the main language of communication,” shares Inoue. “But outside of class, daily life is communicated in Chinese, so it really pushed me to improve both languages.”

4. Real-world learning

For Inoue, the most fulfilling part of his master’s journey was the opportunity to keep learning outside of textbooks.

“I love gaining new knowledge, picking up new skills, and meeting people from different backgrounds,” he says. “And my engineering management programme let me do all of that. It was a really enjoyable experience.”

Adding on to the overall experience were the field trips to places like Inner Mongolia and China’s Shandong Province.

“These trips helped us understand how things actually work in the real world,” explains Inoue. “If you only sit in lectures, it’s hard to connect what you’re learning with how things operate outside. Field trips made everything feel more real.”

New country, new major, new future in engineering management

When Inoue began his master’s studies, he quickly realised he stood out in more ways than one. Not only was he the first Japanese engineering management student, but he was also one of the youngest international students enrolled.

“I suspected I might be the first Japanese student, since very few choose Tsinghua’s English-taught programmes,” he says. “But I didn’t expect to be the youngest.”

Most of his classmates had already started working. Inoue, on the other hand, was a fresh undergrad and just 22.

“I felt the pressure,” he recalls. “Everyone else had experience in engineering management and knew the industry while I had none. Plus, I’d switched majors to industrial engineering and management; I was learning everything from scratch. In a different country. In English.”

Despite the challenges, Inoue pushed through.

“It wasn’t easy,” he says. “But that’s how I grew.”

Inoue enjoys volunteering. He has led a week-long teaching trip to Gansu Province, where he and his team taught children in rural schools. Source: Takaya Inoue

Academics weren’t the only thing keeping Inoue busy during his time at Tsinghua; he was actively involved in extracurricular activities too. For many, managing such a demanding schedule might feel overwhelming, but not for him.

“Everything I do comes from genuine interest,” says Inoue. “I want to try things I’ve never experienced before. That way, I know I’ll gain something meaningful from each activity, be it knowledge, growth, or a new skill.”

It’s the same mindset that guided him when choosing where to study.

“When I make decisions, I always think about what I can gain,” he says. “Let’s say there’s University A in Japan and University B, like Tsinghua, overseas. If both offer the same engineering management degree and education, I’d still choose the one that gives me more opportunities — like exposure to different cultures or the chance to learn a new language.”

He treats this approach as a blueprint for how to have success. “It’s like playing a game where you’re up against really strong opponents,” says Inoue. “The tougher the competition, the more you grow.”

Inoue credits his strong work ethic and mental resilience to his past as a competitive middle-distance runner. “Running taught me to keep going, even when things got really hard,” he says. “It was painful, but it was also something I truly enjoyed.”

That mix of struggle and passion shaped the way he tackles challenges today. “I don’t run competitively anymore, but that spirit is still in me. It always will be.”

Inoue was among 60 global youth leaders invited to speak at the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue initiative. Source: Takaya Inoue

‘I want to be in a place where opportunities are abundant’

Learning how to have success isn’t always about having a perfect plan. Sometimes, it starts with simply figuring things out as you go.

That’s where Inoue is right now.

“I haven’t fully decided on my next step yet,” he says. “That said, I know I want to be in a place where opportunities are abundant; somewhere dynamic and fast-paced, where I can grow both personally and professionally.

In Japan, that place would be Tokyo. In China, it would be Shenzhen, a city located right next ot bustling Hong Kong and one of the country’s most innovative cities of today.

“Unlike cities with long histories, Shenzhen is relatively young, but that’s exactly what makes it exciting,” says Inoue. “It’s constantly evolving, full of start-ups and tech companies, and offers so much potential for someone like me.”

Ultimately, Inoue just wants to be somewhere that challenges him and gives him room to explore.

“That’s how I can discover my own version of how to have success: by putting myself in the right place, with the right energy.”