Tohoku University

The Ranking of University of Tohoku, Japan


www.tohoku.ac.jp

Tohoku University (東北大学 (東北大學 prior to 1945) Tōhoku daigaku), abbreviated to Tohokudai (東北大 Tōhokudai), located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese public university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan. The university has 10 faculties and 15 graduate schools with a total of about 17,800 students (2007). The spirits of its foundation are "Research First(研究第一主義)" and "Open-door(門戸開放)" policies.

In 1999, it was ranked no.1 in Asiaweek Magazine as Asia's Best University. In 2000, it was ranked no. 2 in the same magazine's Universities Ranking list In 2008, Tohoku University is internationally ranked 19th in the field of Engineering and Technology, and 35th in Natural science by ARWU. As Tohoku University has been emphasizing on 'practical' research, Tohoku got the top place at the number of patents accepted during 2007 among Japanese Universities.

History

The origin of the university was Meirin-yokendo (明倫養賢堂 Meirin yōkendō), which was founded as a medical school in Sendai in 1736. It was reorganized a few times. Later it became Sendai Medical College (仙台医学専門学校 Sendai igaku senmon gakkō); this was the forerunner of the medical department of the university.

In June 22, 1907, the university was established under the name Tohoku Imperial University (東北帝國大學 Tōhoku teikoku daigaku) by the Meiji government as the third Imperial University of Japan, following the Tokyo Imperial University(1877) and the Kyoto Imperial University(1897). From its start, it has advocated "Open-door" policies. This stems from that it first began to accept female students as well as foreign students in Japan universities, the first in the country to do so.

In September 1907, it set up the faculty of Agriculture in Sapporo; Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農學校 Sapporo nō gakkō) took the lead it. It set up the Science (1911), and the Medical Department (1915); the latter had been Sendai Medical College. In 1918 it ceded the Faculty of Agriculture to Hokkaido Imperial University. It subsequently launched Faculties of Engineering (1919), and Law and Literature (1922).

After World War II the university assumed its current name, Tohoku University (1947) and acquired a new Faculty of Agriculture. Furthermore, the old Faculty of Law and Literature was split up to form new faculties of Law, Literature, and Economics (1949). Further additions: Faculty of Education (1949), Dentistry (1965) and Pharmacy (1972). Tohoku has been a national university corporation since April 2004.

2007 was the centenary of Tohoku University.

Mission of Tohoku University

ohoku University is committed to the "Research First" principle and "Open-Door" policy since its foundation, and is internationally recognized for its outstanding standards in education research useful in the solutions of societal problems and for the education of human resources in the capacities of leadership.

Towards Tohoku University 2016

In order to fulfill this mission, Tohoku University will carry out the following objectives within the following 10 years.
-- Establish an internationally recognized university and research center

• Consistently produce top research in a broad spectrum of fields, including the natural science, humanities and social sciences.
• Create cutting edge research institutions and other forums capable of responding to the rapid dissemination of knowledge and a knowledge-based society.
• Establish the presence and reputation as an international locus in general research by maintaining intimates relationships with major national and international research networks.

-- Nurture human resources capable of leadership contributing to the knowledge and advancement of society.

• The faculty's cutting edge research will be reflected in their teaching.
• Contents and pedagogy of all courses will be that of a top level of educational institutions.
• Establish an educational foundation which enables studies to explore new avenues of human knowledge and become aware of responsibilities in leadership. Develop educational programs and institutions that foster outstanding, internationally minded specialists with theoretical and practical knowledge.

-- Contribution to the community and to the world

• Contribute to the development of community and humanity by making available to the world the benefits of research and of human resources with exceptional leadership abilities.
• Giving out equal opportunity to all capable, highly motivated students and faculty, regardless of nationality, race or religion, age or gender, or any other social standing.
• In keeping with our tradition of practice-oriented research and education, create a science park by further promoting university-industry collaboration.
• Dramatically increase the quality and availability of public education, and the consultative services requiring specialized knowledge.
• Open the campus to the general public and consider ways in which the university's intellectual and material resources such as the libraries, academic materials and facilities can be beneficially utilized.

-- Establish a culture, environment and management system appropriate for an internationally renewed research and education institution

• maintain and further develop a university culture that will stimulate the creation of world-class research and education
• create an atmosphere conductive to intellectual activities by bringing aesthetic unity to its natural surroundings.
• Establish a human, material and financial base in a management system which allows a world-class research and educational institution to develop quickly and flexibly.
  

Campus

Principal five campuses are in the Sendai City, Japan;
Katahira (片平 Katahira)
Administration Unit. and Principal institutes
Kawauchi (川内 Kawauchi)
North-Kawauchi; The freshmen and sophomore of all undergraduates
South-Kawauchi; Law, Education, Economics, Letters
Seiryo (星陵 Seiryō)
Medicine, Dentistry
Aobayama (青葉山 Aobayama)
Science, Engineering, Pharmacy
Amamiya (雨宮 Amamiya)
Agriculture

Amamiya campus and some institutes are planned to transfer from the present place to the New-Aobayama campus.

Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology

This is a Special Coordination Fund which is based upon the strategies of Council for Science and Technology Policy. The Funds are established for and initiate the Promotion of Science and Technology; they are used in coordinating the Comprehensive Areas which arise on the Key issues of Science and Technology. Selected programs, which utilize this Promotion Fund, show and produce results of high effectiveness by government-led supports. These Programs are A）
original and novel efforts found in policies of Offices and Ministries, B）in boundaries areas, having difficulty in proactive approaches in terms of Departmental Policies within existing organizations, C）expected to generate synergy effects, in cooperation with different organizations, D）for rapid and flexible actions, etc.

Tohoku University, Industry-University-Government Cooperation Policy

Tohoku University has been committed to the "Research First" principle and the "Open-Door" policy since its date of foundation, and has been internationally recognised for its outstanding standards in the field of education and research. The university contributes to the peace and prosperity of human society by devoting itself to research useful in the solutions of societal problems and for the education of human resources in the capacities of leadership.The university aims to become a "World-class university" which contributes to human society by applying the knowledge it has been accumulated over the past century, and by devoting itself to continuous research and education for the next century. Under the plan of "Being an open university to the world and region," the university contributes to the development of human society through its collective strength, and its human and intellectual resources, and by collaborating with our region and international society. The Industry-University-Government coope ation is our core to social contribution; it is the third mission of the university followed by education and research, and is one important means of delivering the benefits of knowledge to society. The university is actively committed to Industry-University-Government cooperation on the basis of the "Industry-University-Government Cooperation Policy" and is as follows:

• Increase the added social value of the University's research and education by actively transferring their scientific and technological achievements to industry and the other sectors, steadfast to the University's founding principles of"Research First" and "Practical-Oriented Research and Education."
• Build an organizational structure for utilizing products of intellectual activity at the University and contributing to global competitiveness of Japanese industry through university-industry partnerships.
• Effectively promote activities oriented in the collaboration with industry which contributes to society and the development of Japan's economy.
• Develop the ongoing partnerships with local industry and local government.
  
  

Faculties and Graduate Schools

Faculties (10)
Arts and Letters
Education
Law
Economics
Science
Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Engineering
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Information and Intelligent Systems
Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biomolecular Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Agriculture

Graduate Schools (15)
Arts and Letters
Education
Law
Economics and Management
Science
Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Engineering
Agricultural Sciences
International Cultural Studies
Information Sciences
Life Sciences
Environmental Studies
Educational Informatics Research Division / Education Division
Professional graduate schools (3)
Law School
School of Public Policy
Accounting School

Research Institutes

• Institute for Materials Research,IMR (金属材料研究所,金研 Kinzoku Zairyō Kenkyūsyo, Kinken)
• National Collaborative Research Institute
• Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (加齢医学研究所 Karei Igaku Kenkyūsyo)
• Institute of Fluid Science (流体科学研究所 Ryūtai Kagaku Kenkyūsyo)
• Research Institute of Electoric Communication (電気通信研究所 Denki Tsūshin Kenkyūsyo)
• National Collaborative Research Institute
• Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (多元物質科学研究所 Tagen Busshitsu Kagaku Kenkyūsyo)
  
  
  

Tohoku University was ranked 112th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Kobe University

The Ranking of Kobe University, Japan

www.kobe-u.ac.jp

Kobe University (神戸大学 Kōbe daigaku), also known in the Kansai region as Shindai (神大), is a leading national university located in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

It was established in 1949, and comprises nine graduate schools and eleven faculties. The university holds a total of about 15,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. As Kobe is an extremely cosmopolitan city, the institution welcomes oversea students, which accounted for a total of 963 students, as of 2005. It also has 2,800 staff members, including professors, associate professors and administrative officials.

Located beside the foothills of lush green of Mount Rokko, the university provides a splendid view to the city and port of Kobe, providing a serene and ideal environment for the pursuit of academic studies, especially social science areas. Kobe University is one of the oldest and largest national universities in Japan.

The academic origins of Kobe University trace back to the establishment of Kobe Higher Commercial School in 1902, which was renamed as Kobe University of Commerce, and Kobe University of Economics.

Unique Features, Benefits: Kobe Higher Commercial School was one of the oldest institution with business and economics majors in Japan. Especially, the Graduate School of Economics benefits fully from a century of the history and the tradition. Kobe is also the first collegiate business school in Japan. Therefore, Kobe is called the birth place of Japanese higher education in economics and business administration, and it has always been the center of Japanese business studies.

Furthermore, the Graduate School of Law was also established with the legal studies section of the former Kobe University of Economics. It has become a leading institution of high academic institution in the field of legal and political studies, and has been successful in becoming a reputable academic center.

The Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, founded in 1919, has a history as a high-level research institution for international economics and international management. The Institute has been highly regarded internationally for its outstanding achievements in theoretical, historical, empirical, and quantitative research.

In 1990 they made new changes as one of the major universities specializing in graduate research and education. Under the Japanese Ministry of Education and Science, it has started a new Center of Excellence (COE) projects, the "Research and Education Center of New Japanese Economic Paradigms", "Development and Education Center for Advanced Business Systems", and "Research Center for Dynamic Legal Processes of Advanced Market Societies".

Brief history

Kobe University's inception can be traced back to March 1902 with the establishment of Kobe Higher Commercial School. In April 1929, the School was renamed Kobe University of Commerce, and in October 1944, it became Kobe University of Economics. In May 1949, Hyogo Normal School, Hyogo Junior Normal School, Kobe Technical College, Himeji High School, and Kobe University of Economics were brought together to form Kobe University. In the initial stage, Kobe University began with six faculties. Since then, new faculties and graduate schools were added, as well as reorganized for the enhancement of its academic environment.

In October 1992, the Division of Liberal Arts and the Faculty of Education were reformed, resulting in the creation of the Faculty of Intercultural Studies, the Faculty of Human Development, and the Research Institute for Higher Education. At the same time, the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies was newly established. In October 2003, Kobe University of Mercantile Marine (KUMM) was integrated into Kobe University. In April 2004, Kobe University was incorporated in accordance with the Japanese government's National University Corporation Bill.

Today, each faculty has its own graduate program, which promotes a better academic environment for students and researchers.

Campuses

The university is formed by four campuses: Rokkodai, Kusunoki, Myodani, and Fukae. Rokkodai Campus is considered the main campus, and it comprises nine out of eleven faculties.

Rokkodai area
Faculty of Human Development Campus
Human Development (3-11, Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe)
Faculty of Intercultural Studies Campus
Intercultural Studies (1-2-1, Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe)
Rokkodai (六甲台 Rokkōdai) Campus
Law, Economics, Business Administration (2-1, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe)
The Second Rokkodai (六甲台第2 Rokkōdai Daini) Campus
Engineering, Letters, Science, Agriculture (1-1, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe)

Kusunoki area
Kusunoki (楠 Kusunoki) Campus
Medicine (7-5-1, Kusunoki, Chūō-ku, Kobe)

Myodani area
Myodani (名谷 Myōdani) Campus
Health Sciences (7-10-2, Tomogaoka, Suma-ku, Kobe)

Fukae area
Fukae (深江 Fukae) Campus
Maritime Sciences

Library

Kobe University Library has collected about 3,400,000 bibliographical materials. The Library is comprised of General Library and 9 branches divided in accordance with subjects. (But General Library and Library for Intercultural Studies are sharing the same space.) 1 of these at Kusunoki, 1 at Myodani, 1 at Fukae and others at Rokkodai as follows.

General Library

Library for Human Development Sciences
Library for Social Sciences

Library of Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration
Library for Science and Technology

Library for Medical Sciences
Library for Humanities

Library for Health Sciences
Library for Intercultural Studies

Library for Maritime Science

Each library provides a wide range of books and journals to the students and staff to promote their education and assist their research. The libraries also collect audio-visual and CD-ROM materials to complement these written materials. Computerization of the library system in cooperation with the Information Science and Technology Center and the establishment of networks with non-university institutions, such as the National Institute of Informatics, is extending the library network, helping to provide a better service for all users.

In 1999, "Kobe Digital Library" system launched its service. It provides digitized collections for users inside and outside the campus via the Worldwide Web (www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/dlib/e-index).

The Library for Social Sciences stores 40,000 materials related to the Great Hanshin Earthquake. "The Earthquake Library" discloses them, and aims to contribute to boosting the emergency restoration, earthquake researches, and disaster-prevention measures.

University Hospital

The origin of Kobe University Hospital is the establishment of a hospital affiliated with Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Medical School in 1869. The hospital was the first to provide medical service in the Kobe area. In 1967, it was transferred to Kobe University School of Medicine.
The Hospital consists of 29 medical divisions with 920 beds. It is today one of the leading hospitals in Hyogo Prefecture, playing an important role in educating medical doctors as well as advancing medical standards through its activities. The Hospital is also responsible for providing preventive medicine, sanitation education, and advisory service on medical procedures in the University and other general hospitals in the Kobe area.

Moreover, Kobe University Hospital has a distinguished feature that it is playing an important role as a base hospital for disaster and emergency medicine as well as for serving to international patients. The International Patient Center was established in October 2001 for the purpose of accepting international patients who wish to receive medical consultation, treatment, and second opinions.

The International Patient Center offers besides consultation, examination, and hospitalization, an interpretation service with the cooperation of the staff and the international doctors who are training at the Hospital. The new ward, completed in September 2001 and relocated in February 2002, has ample space and a heliport, which can accommodate many sick and/or injured people even in case of a catastrophic disaster. This new ward also makes the Hospital a disaster-base hospital, supporting the local residents' emergency care activities.

Since April 2007, for both outpatients and inpatients, the medical examination system has been classified by internal-organ function into 4 areas (29 clinical divisions): Internal Medicine, Internal Related, Surgery, and Surgery Related.

Research Fields

Faculty of Letters / Graduate School of Humanities
Faculty of Intercultural Studies / Graduate School of Intercultural Studies
Faculty of Human Development / Graduate School of Human Development and Environment
Faculty of Law / Graduate School of Law
Faculty of Economics / Graduate School of Economics
School of Business Administration / Graduate School of Business Administration
Faculty of Science / Graduate School of Science
School of Medicine / Graduate School of Medicine (Faculty of Medicine)
School of Medicine / Graduate School of Health Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Faculty of Engineering / Graduate School of Engineering
Faculty of Agriculture / Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Faculty of Maritime Sciences / Graduate School of Maritime Sciences
Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies
Organization of Advanced Science and Technology (OAST)
Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration (RIEB)
Centers

Kobe University was ranked 199th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Waseda University

The Ranking of Waseda University, Japan

www.waseda.jp

Waseda University (早稲田大学 Waseda daigaku), often abbreviated to Sōdai (早大 Sōdai), is a private university located in Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko (College), the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by its motto Independence of Learning.

Six postwar Prime Ministers are Waseda alumni: Tanzan Ishibashi (1956–1957), Noboru Takeshita (1987–1989), Toshiki Kaifu (1989–1991), Keizo Obuchi (1998–2000), Yoshiro Mori (2000–2001), and Yasuo Fukuda (2007–2008). Waseda's literature program is particularly famous, and counts Haruki Murakami and Tawara Machi among its graduates, as well as Shuji Terayama among its drop-outs.

Its alumni also include various corporate leaders such as Masaru Ibuka, co-founder of Sony; Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung; Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda; Atsutoshi Nishida, CEO of Toshiba; Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors; Tetsuro Toyoda, CEO of Toyota Industries; Tadashi Yanai, CEO of UNIQLO; Kenichi Ohmae, founder/ ex-Senior Partner of McKinsey & Co Japan; and many others. Currently, seven of the Fortune Global 2007's CEOs are Waseda University graduates. Waseda University is a member of Universitas 21, an international network of 21 leading research-intensive universities.

History

The university was founded by samurai scholar and Meiji-era politician and former prime minister Okuma Shigenobu in 1882, and was designated a full university in 1902. It started as a college with three departments under the old Japanese system of higher education. In 1882, there were the departments of political science and economics, department of law, and department of physical science. At the same time, along with these departments, an English language course was also established, where the students of all the departments could learn English.

Three years later, the department of physical science was closed due to too few applicants. The Department of science and engineering was newly established in 1908. The Department of literature was established in 1890. The Department of education was established in 1903, and the department of commerce in 1904.

Much of the campus was destroyed in the firebombings of Tokyo during World War II, but the university was rebuilt and reopened by 1949. It has grown to become a comprehensive university with two senior high schools and a School of Art and Architecture.

Waseda University started its life as 'Tokyo Senmon Gakko (College)' on October 21, 1882. Before the name 'Waseda' was selected, it was known variously as 'Waseda Gakko' or 'Totsuka Gakko', after the location of the founder's villa in Waseda Village and the school's location in Totsuka Village respectively. Around 1892, people started to call it 'Waseda Gakko'. It was renamed 'Waseda University' on September 2, 1902, upon acquiring University status.

On October 21, 2007 Waseda University celebrated the 125th anniversary of its founding by Shigenobu Okuma, scholar and government leader. Shigenobu Okuma, often talked about the "125 years of life" theory: "The lifespan of a human being can be as long as 125 years. He will be able to live out his natural lifespan as long as he takes proper care of his health". The logic behind this is: "Physiologists say that every animal has the ability to live 5 times as long as its growth period. Since a man is said to require about 25 years to become fully mature, it follows that he can live up to 125 years of age." This theory propounded by Shigenobu Okuma was very popular and often referred to in the media of the time.


Campuses

Waseda University's main campus is located in the Nishi-Waseda district of Shinjuku, though Waseda is generally associated with the Yamanote Line station, Takadanobaba Station. Apart from the main campus in Shinjuku, other campuses are located in Chuo and Nishitōkyō of Tokyo, Tokorozawa-shi and Honjo-shi of Saitama, and Kitakyushu-shi of Fukuoka Prefecture.

Waseda Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo

Nishi-Waseda Campus was renamed Waseda Campus in spring 2008.
Toyama Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Okubo Campus: Shinjuku, Tokyo

Okubo Campus will be renamed Nishi-Waseda Campus in spring 2009.
Nihonbashi Campus: Chuo, Tokyo
Higashifushimi Campus: Nishitōkyō, Tokyo
Tokorozawa Campus: Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken
Honjo Campus: Honjo-shi, Saitama-ken
Kitakyushu Campus: Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka-ken

Researchers

At Waseda University, we are constantly working to establish a state-of-the-art, organizational research framework that will lead Asia and the world through an emphasis on collaborative research activities between the private sector, government, and academia. In addition to project research institutes employing diversified approaches in their academic research strategies, Waseda operates the Tokyo Women's Medical University - Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns), as well as the Waseda Research Park located in Honjo City. Additionally, in order to produce the world's highest research standards, Waseda has adopted programs such as the Global COE and Super COE, both programs are designed to cultivate creative human resources.

Libraries & Museums

The Waseda University Library, designed by Tachu Naito, Kenji Imai and Kin-ichi Kiriyama, was completed in 1925. This 5-story building, with a total area of 1,195 tsubo (about 3,944 square meters), was used initially as the University Library. The reading room was housed in a separate 2-story building, and had a seating capacity of 500. One of the prominent libraries established at the end of the Taisho period, it has been a symbol of Waseda University to this day, along with the Okuma Auditorium and the Theatre Museum.

The Old Library and the administration building were extended in 1934 and 1955 respectively. However, the Old Library relinquished its role after the New Central Library (located where the Abe Stadium used to be) was completed in 1990. It now serves as Sanae Takata Memorial Research Library, the University Archives, and Yaichi Aizu Museum. Sanae Takata Memorial Research Library was launched in 1994. It is named after former President Sanae Takata. Historical and cultural materials on Waseda University are exhibited in the University Archives, where in the Ōkuma Memorial Room are also exhibited the materials related with Shigenobu Ōkuma. Yaichi Aizu Memorial Museum was founded in 1998.

In the front hall, visitors are greeted by the masterpiece "Meian", which dates back to 1927. It is painted on the world's largest hand-made washi (Japanese paper), which is 4.45 meters in diameter and weighs about 12 kilograms (manufactured by Heisaburo Iwano, the founder of the Echizen paper works in Imadachi-cho, Fukui Prefecture). The masterpiece was painted free of charge by Taikan Yokoyama and Kanzan Shimomura, two artists who represented the modern Japanese style of painting. President Sanae Takata asked them to paint a picture for the Library.

The library possesses a unique collection which survived the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II unlike many of its counterparts. Therefore, its collection is an important resource in the study of pre-war Japanese history and literature.

In April 1999, the Old Library was designated as one of the first of the "Tokyo Metropolitan Historic Buildings” along with the Okuma Auditorium.

Central Library
Faculty Libraries
Research Institute Libraries
Science and Engineering Library
Senior High School Libraries
S. Takata Memorial Research Library
Student Reading Rooms
Tokorozawa Library
Toyama Library

Undergraduate Schools and Graduate Schools

Undergraduate Schools:
School of Political Science and Economics
School of Law
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Culture, Media and Society
School of Education
School of Commerce
School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
School of Creative Science and Engineering
School of Advanced Science and Engineering
School of Social Sciences
School of Human Sciences
School of Sports Sciences
School of International Liberal Studies

Graduate Schools:
Graduate School of Political Science
Graduate School of Economics
Graduate School of Law
Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Commerce
Graduate School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Education
Graduate School of Human Sciences
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies
Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunication Studies
Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics
Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems
Graduate School of Sports Sciences
Business School
The Okuma School of Public Management
Law School
Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law
Graduate School of Accountancy
Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering

Waseda University was ranked 180th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Hokkaido University

The Ranking of Hokkaido University, Japan

www.hokudai.ac.jp/en

Hokkaido University (北海道大学 Hokkaidō daigaku?), or Hokudai (北大), is a leading national university of Japan. It is considered as a member of the National Seven Universities. It is situated in downtown Sapporo, just north of Sapporo Station, and stretching approximately 2.4 kilometers northward.

Hokkaido University upholds "The Frontier Spirit," "Global Perspectives," "All-round Education" and "Practical Learning" -- concepts that have been developed over its history of more than 130 years as the basic philosophies of education and research. Currently, all the faculty members, students and graduates are making concerted efforts to transform their campus into a global base for education and research.

History

Hokkaido University (Hokudai for short) was originally founded in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農學校 Sapporo nōgakkō?) by William S. Clark with the help of five faculty members and a first class size of 24 students. It became Hokkaido Imperial University (北海道帝國大學 Hokkaidō teikoku daigaku?) on April 1, 1918, during the Taishō period. It was one of nine Imperial Universities. The School of Medicine was established in 1919, at which time the Agricultural College became the Faculty of Agriculture. This was followed by the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science, and finally in 1947, the Faculty of Law and Literature. The current name of Hokkaido University also came into use in 1947. In 1953, the Graduate School was established.

Since 2004 the university has been incorporated as a National University Corporation under a new law which applies to all national universities. Although the incorporation has led to increased financial independence and autonomy, Hokkaido University is still partially controlled by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

International Expansion of Educational Activities

Hokkaido University (HU) developed an international initiative utilizing its strength as a global research university in 2005 in response to a call from the international community to realize a sustainable society. HU promotes “Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)” for not only HU students, but also for students, specialists, educators, and citizens all over the world. HU activities include:

• building international networks of education and research with universities and research institutes overseas as well as international organizations
• international cooperation through human resource development
• holding international symposia to discuss various issues concerning sustainable societies
• making policy recommendations to promote ESD
  
  

Sustainability of the global environment and human society is the most important theme for international and academic society today. For over one hundred thirty years, HU’s basic philosophies of education and research have been: “Frontier Spirit”, “Global Perspectives”, “All-round Education”, and “Practical Learning.” Now HU is pursuing universal and present-day meanings of these philosophies for today’s international society.

Improvement and Internationalization of Education

Hokkaido University has been developing internationally minded all-rounders by having them acquire expertise and make proactive and comprehensive personal development through general and specialized teaching as well as graduate education.

In addition, while stepping up efforts to offer attractive educational and research programs, we are striving to become a global educational and research center by realizing the "strict evaluation of learning results" and "courses respecting the requirements for credits more strictly," promoting education in foreign languages, and building an advanced human-resource development system that can compete in the international arena.

Internationalization of Research

Hokkaido University is strengthening the foundation of education and research by placing an increased emphasis on graduate education. At the same time, we are making our educational and research organizations more efficient by promoting further flexibility in the organizational structure of graduate schools and advancing a faculty and graduate school framework that is aimed at conducting pioneering and interdisciplinary research and education.

Through such initiatives, we strive to create new research bases with interdisciplinary projects, provide lectures in foreign languages and accept competent international students to further our development into a university open to the world and a global center for education and research.

Partnership with Society

Hokkaido University is developing a host of projects intended to enhance public awareness of this university: the utilization of the Tokyo and Beijing Offices as the bases for transmitting information to society and promoting exchange activities with local communities; the improvement of its websites and public relations magazines; public relations activities, including the Open Campus for high school students and the dissemination of information on entrance examinations; the organization of the Extension Lecture Programs; and the improvement of the Open Course Ware, in which course materials are made available to the world.

In addition, we plan to further enhance and utilize bases for joint projects and research with local communities and industries, including the Creative Research Initiative "Sousei" and the Management Center for Intellectual Property and Innovation, to share the fruits of our research activities and strengthen cooperation with society.

Challenges in the 130th Anniversary of the University's Foundation

Aiming to take more initiative and become more self-reliant than ever, Hokkaido University established the "Hokkaido University Frontier Foundation" on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of its foundation in 2006, so that the university would not only redouble its efforts but also receive extensive support from enterprises, individuals and alumni.
The Hokkaido University Frontier Foundation aims to make the university contributable to local communities and the international society. To this end, the Foundation will strive to improve educational and research bases and, among other things, conduct student support activities for the purpose of developing excellent human resources.

Campus

Sapporo Campus

The main Sapporo campus is located just north of Sapporo Station, and holds every programs available in Hokkaido University except its Faculty of Fisheries Science, and also Graduate School of Fisheries Science.

Hakodate Campus

The campus is located in Hakodate, the city located in southern part of Hokkaidō. Faculty and Graduate School of Fisheries Science are practiced in this campus. However, the students of Fisheries Science start their education in Hakodate campus from the second semester of their sophomore year, due to the fact that it is required for all freshmen and sophomores at their first semester to take courses in liberal arts at Sapporo campus.

Faculties and graduate schools

Faculties

Letters
Education
Law
Economics
Medicine
Dental Medicine
Engineering
Veterinary Medicine
Fisheries Sciences
Agriculture
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Science

Graduate schools

Letters
Education
Law
Economics and Business Administration
Medicine
Dental Medicine
Engineering
Veterinary Medicine
International Media and Communication
Information Science and Technology
Fisheries Sciences
Environmental Earth Science
Science
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Agriculture
Life Science
Public Policy

Hokkaido University was ranked 174th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Kyushu University

The Ranking of Kyushu University, Japan

www.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Kyushu University (九州大学 Kyūshū Daigaku), abbreviated to Kyudai (九大 Kyūdai), is the largest public university on the island of Kyūshū. It is located in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka. Despite the incorporation which has led to increased financial independence and autonomy, Kyushu University is still partly controlled by the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbukagakusho, or Monkasho).

There are a total of 1,292 foreign students (as of May 1, 2008) enrolled in the University. Easily among the top 3 (after Tokyo University and Osaka University) destination of foreign students.

The Faculty of Law, Kyushu University initiated Japan's first English language LL.M program in October 1994. Taught from a Japanese perspective, the one year program offers students the opportunity to study international economic and business law, and Japanese and comparative law in a Japanese law faculty. A three-year LL.D. program and another one-year Master’s course in Comparative Studies of Politics and Administration in Asia (CSPA) were launched in October 1999. As a result of the success of these programs, in 2001, Kyushu University was invited by the Ministry of Education to host the Young Leader's Program in Law, a program which, among others, seeks to foster good relations among future national leaders in Asia and other countries.

History

After initially being founded as Fukuoka Medical College in 1903, a campus associated with Kyoto Imperial University, Kyūshū Imperial University was established as a separate entity in 1911.

Following World War II, Kyūshū Imperial University gained infamy as officials acknowledged that eight American POWs (Crew of B-29 Superfortress) had been vivisected at Kyūshū Imperial University Hospital in May and June, 1945 under the direction of the Japanese military and Professor Fukujiro Ishiyama. In 1947, Kyūshū Imperial University was renamed to Kyushu University.

On October, 2003, Kyushu University and Kyūshū Institute of Design officially amalgamated into a single university, with Kyushu Institute of Design becoming Kyushu University's Ohashi Campus.

In 2004 Kuyushu University was incorporated as a national university corporation under a new law which applies to all national universities.

Library

The University Library provides comprehensive academic resources to support Kyushu University’s diverse studying, teaching and research activities. It also extends its services to neighboring universities and communities in the Kyushu region.

The Library consists of six general libraries - the Central Library on Hakozaki Campus, the Medical Library on the Hospital Campus, the Design Library on Ohashi Campus, the Chikushi Library on Chikushi Campus, the Ropponmatsu Library on Ropponmatsu Campus and the Science and Technology Library on Ito Campus.

One characteristic feature of the University Library is the Medical Library’s collection of domestically rare foreign periodicals in the fields of Medicine and Life Science. It has been developed since the Medical Library was designated as a member of the National Center for Overseas Periodicals (NCOP) in 1977. After 2000 the library has been cooperating with the reorganized Computing & Communications Center in promoting the function of the electronic resources center. In addition to the Library’s variety of databases and e-journals, information literacy programs are also offered to the Library users.

The latest library technologies can be seen in the Chikushi Library, which was established in April 2001, unifying all the library facilities at Chikushi Campus.

In April 2004, it was moved to the new building, where the automated storage and retrieval system and the RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) system have been working to provide users with higher quality services.

In October 2005, The Science and Technology Library began its service on Ito Campus. Kyushu University Library is now seeking to take a new step as an academic resources center which links the university to the surrounding communities.

Research Instruction

• Medical Institute of Bioregulation
• Research Institute for Applied Mechanics
• Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering
• Institute of Health Science
  

User Science Institute

The User Science Institute (USI) of Kyushu University was established in 2004 in response to the Strategic Research Center Development Program developed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. This program is funded by the government’s Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology.

The 21st Century Program

In 2001, Kyushu University launched the 21st Century Program with the intention that it would be an unprecedented, and very creative, education system. In accordance with the Education Charter of Kyushu University, the program aims to train students to acquire outstanding decision making and problem solving skills in order to lead our global society in the 21st century. For this purpose, the students are expected to maintain a general interest in arts and sciences throughout their university life, while searching for their own specialties.

Graduate School/Graduate Fuculty

Graduate School of Humanities, Faculty of Humanities, School of Letters
Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies
Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Faculty of Human-Environment Studies
Graduate School of Law, Faculty of Law, School of Law
Law School (Professional Graduate School)
Graduate School of Economics, Faculty of Economics, School of Economics
Graduate School of Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, School of Sciences
Graduate School of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics
Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences
Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine
Graduate School of Dental Science, Faculty of Dental Science, School of Dentistry
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Graduate School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, School of Engineering
Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering
Graduate School of Design, Faculty of Design, School of Design
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Engineering Sciences
Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, School of Agriculture
Faculty of Languages and Cultures
School of Education

Kyushu University was ranked 158th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Nagoya University

The Ranking of Nagoya University, Japan

www.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Nagoya University (名古屋大学 Nagoya daigaku), abbreviated to Meidai (名大), is a Japanese national university headquartered in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, and is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan.

As the forth-largest city in Japan, the city of Nagoya is the prefectural capital of Aichi Prefecture, which is located in the southwest of the Chubu region, literally meaning the central Japan. The city has a station for the Shinkansen or the so-called Bullet Train, which runs east and west along the Pacific Ocean and is conveniently used for people to visit Japan’s well-known sightseeing places such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Since the ancient times, the city has been playing an important role as a key region for transportation in an environment marked by the rich Nobi Plains.

History

Nagoya University began its history in 1871 with its temporary hospital standing on a site where the conference chamber for the former Nagoya clan once stood, and the temporary medical school standing on a site where the magistrate's office for the former Nagoya clan once stood. Thereafter, many transitions took place, and the Aichi Medical College was established in 1920. In 1931, the management of the Aichi Medical College was transferred to the national government and the Nagoya Medical College was newly established in the same year. In 1939, the Nagoya Imperial University was established with the addition of the School of Science and Engineering and the School of Medicine, thus absorbing the Nagoya Medical College.

In 1942, the School of Science and Engineering was divided into the School of Engineering and the School of Science, and the name of the university was changed to Nagoya University in 1947. With the educational reform, the former Nagoya University, the attached medical school, the Eighth Higher School, the Nagoya Commercial College and the Okazaki Higher Normal School were integrated in 1949, and Nagoya University commenced under a new system of 6 Schools: the School of Letters, School of Education, School of Law & Economics, School of Science, School of Medicine and School of Engineering. Thereafter, the School of Law & Economics became independent schools in 1950 and the School of Agricultural Science was established in 1951, totaling 8 Schools, evolving into a larger comprehensive university.

In 1993, an extensive educational reform took place in line with the reorganization of the general education program, and the School of Informatics and Sciences was established as the 9th School responding to the demands of the age, as well as introducing a 4-year continuous education system for all schools (6-year continuous education for the School of Medicine) abolishing the College of General Education.
Graduate schools also went through system reforms after WWII, establishing 2-year masters and 3-year doctorate programs in the Schools of Letter, Education, Law, Economics, Science and Engineering in 1953. Graduate School was also established in the Schools of Medicine and Agricultural Science, and all eight schools, at the time, offered continuous education into graduate programs.

Stand-alone graduate schools without undergraduate programs were also established; International Development in 1991, Human Information Science in 1992, Mathematics in 1995, Language and Culture in 1998, Environmental Science in 2001 and Information Science in 2003 (abolishingHuman Information Science). Currently, there are 13 graduate schools.Other facilities include 3 subsidiary research institutes, 2 facilities open to the public and 16 research centers.
In 2004, Nagoya University became a national university with a new governing structure.

Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Programs

The Global COE (Center of Excellence) Program provides funding support for establishing education and research centers that perform at the apex of global excellence to elevate the international competitiveness of Japanese universities. The program will strengthen and enhance the education and research functions of graduate schools, to foster highly creative researchers who will go on to become world leaders in their respective fields through experiencing and practicing research of the highest world standard in an international exposed environment. Furthermore the program will enhance the attractiveness of Nagoya University to young global researchers and will promote global and interdisciplinary collaborations and exchange.

Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology

Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology is utilized in the following particulars as policy-driven competitive funds managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to promote important matters comprehensively required for the advancement of science and technology in line with the policy of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office.

• Strengthening the functions of the command of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office
• Reforming the science and technology system for developing one's imagination and creativity and creating innovation
• Promoting strategic research and development to meet the needs of the people
• Promoting strategic internationalization of the technological activity

Institute for Advanced Research

The Institute for Advanced Research was established by the University in April 2002 as a research base for achieving an advanced level of academic research that the University could be proud of internationally. In recognizing the value of creative research for providing intellectual assets for the future, the Institute intensively promotes highly creative research in all academic disciplines.

The Institute accommodates approximately 1% of the University faculty members, whose research projects have been carefully selected. In principle, to allow these project-focused faculty members to concentrate completely on their research, they are either exempted from their teaching and administrative duties, or have had such duties greatly reduced during the project's duration (the maximum project duration is five years.) Fifteen associate professors (tenure-track positions) adopted under the Special Rearing Plan for Researchers also conduct research at the Institute.
Five core faculty members have been assigned to the Institute to handle administrative matters, to maintain and improve the research environment, and to disseminate research results widely outside the University. Important matters related to the Institute, including management and planning, and the selection and evaluation of projects, are decided by the Institute for Advanced Research Committee (IAR Committee), which comprises the five core faculty members and seven of the steering committee members.
Up to now twenty-nine research projects have been successfully completed at the Institute, all of them carefully evaluated by the IAR Committee. They have been used to energize other research activities throughout the University and have been disseminated widely throughout the society.

Library

The University Library is an organization which provides information resources and services to support the university's educational and research activities and is in the process of assuming the role of a regional center for nationwide science information systems coordinating throughout the university and broader scholarly communities.

The University Library is composed of the Central Library, the Medical Library, and departmental libraries within the faculties, institutes, and other research centers. The library holds 3,006,777 volumes of books and currently subscribes to 3,352 journals. Each library is connected by an integrated library computer system at the Central Library via campus LAN. The Library also provides digital information services such as Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), Institutional Repository (NAGOYA Repository) database services, and 15,482 electronic journals which are accessible both from computer terminals in the library and remotely 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Central Library provides open access to a huge range of books and journals, holds workshops, and exhibits special collections and archives to students for study and to the general public as a part of the social service program of the university.


Schools and Graduate Schools

Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Institute for Advanced Research
University Library
University Hospital
Graduate Schools / Schools
Graduate School of Letters / School of Letters
Graduate School of Education and Human Development / School of Education
Graduate School of Law / School of Law
Graduate School of Economics / School of Economics
School of Informatics and Sciences
Graduate School of Science / School of Science
Graduate School of Medicine / School of Medicine
Graduate School of Engineering / School of Engineering
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences / School of Agricultural Sciences
Graduate School of International Development
Graduate School of Mathematics
Graduate School of Languages and Cultures
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Graduate School of Information Science

Nagoya University was ranked 120th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.

Tokyo Institute of Technology

The Ranking of Institute of Technology, Japan

www.titech.ac.jp

Tokyo Institute of Technology (東京工業大学 Tōkyō Kōgyō Daigaku), usually called Tokodai (東工大 Tōkōdai?) or Tokyo Tech, is the largest institution of higher learning in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Institute of Technology is recognized as a leading university, especially in natural science and engineering field. The university was ranked the 61st in overall performance (4th best Japanese University), the 21st in technology, and the 57th in natural science among the world's best universities in 2008, according to the TIMES-QS World University Rankings.

The institute has three campuses, the Ookayama campus in Ookayama, Meguro being the main campus. The other two campuses are the Tamachi campus, located in Shibaura, Minato and the Suzukakedai campus, located in Nagatsuta-cho, Midori, Yokohama.

The university is a member of LAOTSE, an international network of leading universities in Europe and Asia exchanging students and senior scholars.

History

Tokyo Institute of Technology was founded as the Tokyo Vocational School on May 26, 1881, 14 years after the Meiji Restoration. To accomplish the quick catch-up to the West, Meiji government expected this school of the cultivating of new modernized craftmen or engineers. In early days, the school located in Kuramae, eastern area of Tokyo, where many craftmen's workshops were since the old Shogun's era. But its campus was ruined by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. In 1929, moved to Ookayama, a south suburb of Tokyo, it was elevated to the status of national university. After the World War II, the new educational system was promulgated in 1949 and Tokyo Institute of Technology was reorganized. Throughout the post-war reconstruction of 1950s, high economic growth era of 1960s, and the aggressive economic animal's era marching to the Bubble Economy of 1980's, it kept providing the Japan's leading engineers, researchers, business persons. Since April 2004, it has been semi-privatized into the National University Incorporation of Tokyo Institute of Technology under a new law which applies to all national universities.

Library

The institute libraries, boasting the foremost collection in Japan of science and technological journals, have served as one of the government-appointed Naitonal Center for Overseas Periodical in these fields since 1977. The libraries annually collect in excess of 30,000 journals worldwide with e-journals and conference proceeding to support and facilitate users both on the off the campus. In addition, an electronic library service has been available since 1998 with the establishment of e-library sysytem (TDL).

Office of Industry Liaison (OIL)

Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) is one of the world's leading research universities in the pursuit of advanced science and technology. It encompasses a broad range of studies, consisting of six graduate schools, three undergraduate schools, four research laboratories, and many research/service centers.

Tokyo Tech aims to contribute to society by producing excellent research and people, and shares its research results with society. For this purpose, Tokyo Tech established the "Office of Industry Liaison (OIL)" in January 2004 to promote the utilization of knowledge generated on campus. The OIL has worked quite effectively and helped create new business and innovation bridging academia and industry.Consequently, the OIL is also required to implement the acquisition and protection of Intellectual Property Rights Having IPRs management as its primary charge, it promotes further collaboration in response to the growing demands of society.

The OIL, headed by the vice-president for research, is comprised of four sections: Planning & International Collaboration (PIC), Intellectual Property Managing (IPM), Technology Transfer (TT), and Contract & Management (CM). The PIC secion facilitates collaborations, both domestic and international, and establishes new collaborative schemes . The IPM section identifies, protects, and administers IRRs. Coordination of research alliances and IPRs licensing activities is conducted by the TT section, and conclusions of contracts and their implementations by the CM section.

Institute profile in 2008

July 2008 The Gender Equality Center was established. The Productive Leader Incubation Platform was established.

May 2008 The Inter-departmental Organization for Informatics was established. The Asia-Africa Biology Research Center was established.

April 2008 The Secure Device Research Center affiliated to the Precision and Intelligence Laboratory was established. The Photovoltaics Research Center was established.

Schools and laboratories

Undergraduate schools

School of Science
School of Engineering
School of Bioscience and Biotechnology

Graduate schools
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology
Graduate School of Innovation Management

Research laboratories
Chemical Resources Laboratory
Precision and Intelligence Laboratory
Materials and Structures Laboratory
Research Laboratory for Nuclear Reactors
Quantum Nano Electronics Research Center

Tokyo Institute of Technology was ranked 61 in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.