Osaka University is recognized as one of the leading research universities in the world and at the forefront of technological innovation in Japan. Its strong orientation toward innovation, partnership with the local community and industry, and pioneering efforts in interdisciplinary research and education, all reflect the universitys unique history and characteristics. Osaka University traces its beginnings to the Edo Period, to the foundation of Tekijuku in Osaka in 1838. Reaching further back, scientific and educational development in Osaka was enhanced by the establishment of Kaitokudo in 1724 by five local merchants. Osaka University takes pride and inspiration from these two educational institutions, not founded by Japanese feudal lords but by local citizens. Both Tekijuku and Kaitokudo pursued scientific truth and knowledge while cultivating virtue and socio-cultural awareness in students. In 1931, the University was established as Osaka Imperial University and it has grown rapidly, not only in size but also in terms of its contributions to the scholarly community. Osaka University merged with Osaka University of Foreign Studies in October 2007 and created the synergy to enhance international cooperation, research on global issues and education in foreign languages. It is now a comprehensive research university with 16 graduate schools, 11 undergraduate schools / faculties, 5 research institutes, 25 joint-use facilities, 2 hospitals, and 4 libraries on 3 campuses of Suita, Toyonaka, and Minoh. Presently, about 2,000 out of a total of 25,000 are international students. Osaka University takes pride in being a first-class university in both domestic and international settings and is committed to make contributions to society, based on the Universitys motto Live Locally, Grow Globally. Education Osaka University strengthens liberal arts education for junior-and senior-year undergraduate students and promotes minor programs for graduate students that integrate graduate courses and specialty fields. The university has focused on cultivating the ability to comprehensively deal with problems and their solutions through the development of Comprehensive Understanding (the ability to make sound social judgments with broad perspectives), Synthetic Imagination (the free play of imagination and the ability to create a network linking people from different fields and social standings), and Transcultural Communicability (the ability to communicate with and understand people from various backgrounds and cultures), and through the incorporation of on-site field work in curricula. Research Osaka University is striving to open a new scientific era through groundbreaking research, while respecting fundamental studies, and placing great importance on ideas that are basic, exciting and responsible. The university also believes that it should fulfill its responsibilities by confronting the difficulties that modern day society faces. Since its foundation, Osaka University has aimed to demonstrate the highest level of vitality in research and raise its international presence as a world-class institution through active cooperation with domestic and overseas scientific institutions, industries and governments. At Osaka University, the WPI (World Premier Initiative) Program and the Global COE (Center of Excellence) Program are some examples of the many large-scale programs awarded by the government that showcase its top-level research. The WPI Program, established by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), provides intensive support for projects aimed at forming world-class research centers, staffed at their core with world-leading researchers. Research on immunology is one of the fields in which Japan has taken the lead. Osaka University is particularly well known in this field thanks to two very successful pioneers and former presidents, Dr. Yuichi Yamamura and Dr. Tadamitsu Kishimoto. The Osaka University Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) was selected as a project under the WPI Program on October 1st, 2007 and is directed by Prof. Shizuo Akira. Prof. Akira was chosen as the worlds hottest researcher by Thomson Scientific Research, meaning that he is the author of the highest number of cited papers in all research fields in 2006 and 2007. IFReC conducts immunology research through employing imaging technologies developed by one of the leading experts in the field of biosciences, Prof. Toshio Yanagida. The dynamic immune system in vivo, its rapid development in the diagnosis, and treatment of immune diseases (infection, autoimmune disease and allergies) and cancer are being studied at this center. The Global COE Program was launched in 2007 by MEXT to further strengthen and enrich Japanese universities education and research functions and to raise creative professionals capable of playing an active international role in the worlds highest level of research. Between 2007 and 2009, a total of 12 centers were selected in the fields of Future Engineering based on Understanding of Cognitive Brain, Frontier Biomedical Sciences Underlying Organelle Network Biology, Core Research and Engineering of Advanced Materials Science, Atomically Controlled Fabrication Technology, Human Behavior and Socioeconomic Dynamics, System Dynamics of Biological Function, Bio-Environmental Chemistry, Advanced Structural and Functional Materials Design, Ambient Information Society Infrastructure, Electronic Devices Innovation, Conflict Studies in the Humanities, and In Silico Medicine-Oriented Worldwide Open Platform. From cutting-edge to multi-disciplinary research, Osaka University has implemented these programs in a systematic and coherent way. It is expected that their outcomes will greatly contribute to solving the problems humanity faces today. Support System The Support Office for International Students and Scholars is designed to assist international students and visiting scholars with visa applications and housing, and to provide them with information and services from before their arrival in Japan to their departure from Japan. With the cooperation of counselors and special academic advisors, the Center for International Education and Exchange provides international students with various types of advisory services related to living and studying in Japan. Some of the schools / graduate schools also have independent advising rooms for international students. In addition, international students can attend a variety of Japanese Language and Culture Programs and participate in a number of exchange activities to broaden friendship and communication with both international and Japanese students, as well as with faculty, staff and local residents. Tutor Programs for new students are also arranged. The tutors are mainly graduate students majoring in a discipline related to the major of the respective international student and help improve his or her Japanese skills and assist with matters outside classes. Osaka University Style Osaka University Style is characterized by: (1) cutting-edge research, (2) the creation of, in the Universitys tradition, new research fields by amalgamating previously unknown fields, (3) an atmosphere that reveres study and research, (4) respect for a liberal arts education at our graduate schools, and (5) active contributions to society encouraged through university-industry cooperation. We are a research university that is also called a university of education. We welcome international students of all nationalities with aspiration and commitment to excel.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 00:54:48 +0000
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