Ochanomizu University

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Ochanomizu University was founded on November 29, 1875, as Tokyo Women's Normal School, Japan's first higher education institution. In the over 141 years since the university has forged a new path in education for women. Even when it was difficult for women to play a significant role in the workforce, many graduates pursued careers. They became strong performers in various fields, including academic research, education, industry, government, and the media. They continue to earn the deep respect of their peers and have opened up doors to new opportunities for the women who follow.
We continue to foster women who embrace the future by adopting a broad perspective and strong sensitivity, based on the legacy and traditions we have cultivated.
When all of Japan's national universities were turned into national university corporations independent of the government, Ochanomizu University adopted the motto "being a place where all women motivated to learn can realize their most ambitious dreams." To support all women in pursuing their dreams—including women in developing countries who have the desire but not the opportunity to pursue an education—we have provided continuous educational support and research exchange programs for women and infants and toddlers in Asia and Africa, including an educational support program for women in Afghanistan. As of April 1 this year, Ochanomizu University had concluded exchange agreements with 71 universities in 25 countries, creating an environment that promotes study and research across borders. We aim to have young women develop a deep mutual understanding with peers from diverse cultures who have different values and perspectives and benefit from one another while pursuing their growth.
At a time of significant social upheaval and intense challenges, we have built a unique educational system and a productive place of continuous learning that combines liberal arts education, global education, and leadership education to enable young women to find their paths and contribute to the happiness of other people.
Over its 141 years of history, Ochanomizu University has offered a broad and diverse academic and research environment, covering the workings and structures of nature and living organisms, the ways that humans live in society and the institutions that support them, the development of science and technologies that support human lifestyles, and the construction of systems and theories. We train our talented graduates through this education and research. They gain broad knowledge, a deep sense of inquisitiveness, rich imagination, and the sense of commitment as a member of society needed to lead Japan and the world into the future.
In FY2016, the university began working on its third-period midterm plans and goals. We have taken this opportunity to add another goal to our existing mission of "cultivating global female leaders." Based on this new goal—"promoting research and education that enable people to remain physically and mentally happy and healthy throughout their lives"—we have established the Human Life Innovation Development Research Organization. This is one of two outstanding research organizations at our university—the other is the Research Organization for the Promotion of Global Women's Leadership launched in 2015—and integrates liberal arts and science. It includes the Institute for Human Life Innovation and the Institute for Education and Human Development. It promotes research to solve various problems in our aging society with fewer children being born.
Ochanomizu University sincerely hopes that all its students achieve their unique dreams and create prosperous futures for themselves. We also hope they pursue activities that inspire optimism and courage in the people of their community. As an institution of higher education backed by a 141-year legacy of achievement, Ochanomizu University is sure to continue playing a pivotal role in society.
"Ochanomizu University will support all women, regardless of age or nationality, in protecting their dignity and rights, freely developing their unique qualities and capabilities, and pursuing person learning to satisfy their intellectual appetites."
As a pioneer of women's education in Japan, Ochanomizu University offers programs that will develop women capable of being opinion leaders in politics, economics, academia, culture, and other fields on the international stage.
Ochanomizu University's undergraduate courses offer highly specialized education in small class sizes. We have a free learning environment that protects the individual dignity and rights of women to develop women capable of contributing to the realization of a gender-equal society and the empowerment of women around the world.
Graduate research promotes a variety of projects, the outcomes of which are deeply reflected in undergraduate courses. We pursue evolutions in the university's curricula through their link to cutting-edge research in graduate school.
The globalization of society in the 21st century gives rise to current knowledge and technology trends: specialization and diversification. The knowledge that students acquire must be specialized, or it will be useless, and at the same time, it must be communicable to people with different national and cultural backgrounds. In the past, the university offered liberal arts as a preliminary step to specialized education. Whereas at present, we are required to foster in students communication and negotiation skills, a cross-disciplinary viewpoint, and the ability to make judgments in response to change to support and enable full utilization of highly specialized education. Ochanomizu University's 21st-century liberal arts education aims to build on the foundation of knowledge itself, or the general (liberal) skills (arts) that students can use throughout their lifetime.

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