Nagoya University

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Nagoya University has a 144-year history, dating from when the Temporary Medical School/Public Hospital -- the forerunner of today's Nagoya University -- was established in 1871. The University became the last Imperial University of Japan in 1939, and the educational reforms in 1949 led to the beginning of Nagoya University under the new education system. From that time to this day, the University has been pursuing steady development.
With its free and vibrant academic culture, which has been passed down since its foundation, Nagoya University has been stepping up efforts to achieve two fundamental objectives stated in the Nagoya University Academic Charter established in 2000: "Nagoya University, through creative research activity, shall pursue the truth and produce results of scholastic distinction on the international stage," and "Nagoya University, through an education that values initiative, shall cultivate courageous intellectuals endowed with powers of rational thought and creativity." Our ability in world-class research has been proved by the fact that 6 out of the 13 Japanese people being awarded the Nobel Prize in the 21st century are our faculty members. Throughout its long history, Nagoya University has sent many people who can play a leading role in various fields of society out into the world, thus contributing to Japan and the world's development.
With "contribution to society" as its primary goal, Nagoya University's faculty members are exercising their ingenuity to foster "human resources matching social needs that change with the times" and "those able to play a leading role in a wide range of fields in society." We aim to cultivate talented people who can exercise strong leadership in a rapidly changing world with great wisdom and reliable knowledge and skills.
While working to strengthen research and educational abilities further, Nagoya University is also making university-wide internationalization efforts, gender equality, and social contribution. Regarding internationalization, Nagoya University has three perspectives:
The first perspective is a shift from a unilateral perspective focusing on the West to multiple points of view. In particular, the Asian region, in which Japan is located, has a considerable potential to lead the world. Without cooperation and harmonious relationships with other Asian countries, Japan would have no future. Nagoya University has already expanded the number of projects to countries in Asia and other parts of the world and advanced in international collaboration year after year.
The second perspective is the revitalization of interactive human exchange. Nagoya University currently has approximately 2,200 overseas students, which accounts for 14 percent of approximately 16,000 total students in the University. Meanwhile, the percentage of Japanese students who have studied abroad while enrolled at Nagoya University (regardless of the length of the study) is also increasing every year. In this way, we are actively promoting interactive human exchange both "from the world to Nagoya University" and "from Nagoya University to the world," to cultivate talented people with a global perspective and develop a network for them.
The third perspective is the intensification of English-language education, which helps students internationalize themselves. While Nagoya University provides various kinds of English language programs for Japanese students, it also offers as many as 1,140 lecture courses in English. Further, the number of curricula that can be completed only in English is also on the rise. Nagoya University's campuses serve as a meeting ground for students and researchers in Japan and worldwide, where they can interact with one another daily.
Nagoya University is also actively engaged in promoting gender equality. To assist faculty members with children, the University has prepared nursery schools and an after-school childcare center, putting it ahead of other national universities in Japan. We have also increased the employment and support of female researchers, attracting talented female researchers around Japan. Female faculty members actively participate in international exchange programs and are highly valued by society. I believe their remarkable work will be a significant force to support Japan's future.
Meanwhile, as a core university located in a region where the manufacturing industry is among the most advanced in Japan, Nagoya University receives high expectations from society. I think "contribution to local regions" and "internationalization" are not contradictory concepts but rather produce synergistic effects. In close cooperation with the nation, local governments, industry, academia, and citizens, Nagoya University is developing a wide range of partnership programs to create a vital region for the future and promote interaction with the world.
Nagoya University is a future-oriented academic institution. There are no doubt many challenges, and difficulties in the future. However, I sincerely hope that our University members can step forward with courage and contribute, in cooperation with many different people in society, to Japan's development and a world filled with liveliness and hope.
The University Libraries, consisting of the Central Library, Medical Library, and libraries in each school/graduate school, provide services as centers for academic information to support education and research activities.

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