Search the Community

At the Akita University of Art, students strive to create new artistic fields unbound by preexisting concepts in response to the modern world's needs. We pursue the potential and commonality of art by taking advantage of Akita's cultural resources, a land blessed by nature and rich traditions, to foster talented individuals who use their artistic sensibilities and creativity to make a difference in Japanese and global society. It is the philosophy that art exists only for its own sake and is only valuable because it is not constrained by contemporary society. Until recently, this philosophy has engaged the hearts and minds of artists. However, this philosophy is now a relic of the past, a folk tale. Artists today realize that the value of art is only generated by society. Art is about to change dramatically. The Akita University of Art will promote cooperation between art and the larger society. Our university is pioneering the "decentralization of art" by promoting artistic talent and production in Akita Prefecture, resisting the trend towards over-concentration of people, products, and culture in Japan's major population centers. This principle is based on a belief in the creation of new values through the rediscovery of local identities and a belief that the richness of global culture lies precisely in the diversity of its communities. AUA aims to promote a regional renaissance through the rediscovery of Akita's historical cultures, lifestyles, and technologies, the re-evaluation of their artistic value, and their utilization in both modern Akita and as newly added dimensions to the larger fields of art and design. By providing our students with a deep understanding of reconstructed art fields and local cultures and exposure to and interaction with the larger world, AUA molds open-minded individuals who can play an active role on the global stage. Students encounter various artistic roots while learning to accept and share a diversity of values, giving them the flexible thinking necessary, as artists and designers, to keep pace with constantly changing trends. To fulfill their responsibilities as scholars of a public university, each faculty member of the Akita University of Art is involved in social work related to their specialty. The university likewise aims to instill in its students a sense of community involvement by encouraging them to make meaningful contributions towards promoting local brands and industries and developing local artistic activities. AUA also actively seeks collaboration with universities both inside and outside the prefecture and private businesses, elementary, junior, and senior high schools, art museums, and other social, educational institutions. Once you focus on society, you will realize that among the fields of art, "fine art" – in which the Akita University of Art specializes – is taught in schools throughout Japan in a uniform manner. This is the result of political measures necessary for Japan to demonstrate to Western countries its integration of the subject. However, such integration is hindering the globalization of Japanese art. On the global stage, the value of art is beginning to make a transition from expressions of national pride to expressions of bonds between communities and the people in them. The Akita University of Art has set the goal of participating in the global art scene by creating art steeped in the local culture's traditions. With this goal, Akita University of Art has established five majors: "Course of Arts & Roots" "Course of Multidisciplinary Arts" "Course of Creative Manufacturing Design" "Course of Communication Design" "Course of Landscape Design" The common bond among these majors is an intense curiosity about local history and culture. Without this curiosity, there can be no nurturing of businesspersons who can take advantage of their artistic knowledge, let alone the artists or designers needed by modern society. The Akita University of Art is resolved to contribute to society by cultivating such human resources. View full university

Here at Akita University, we have set out on a new beginning as an organization offering four faculties: the Faculty of International Resource Sciences, the Faculty of Education and Human Studies, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Engineering Science. W are also organized as an integrated research facility into four graduate schools: Graduate School of International Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Medicine, and Graduate School of Engineering Science. Hence our organization has become more robust and a bastion entirely focused on innovative research and education, which is the university's mission as expected by society. Akita University's foundational principle is to develop with the region through the growth of knowledge, on a shared path with the community as a core university of the resource-rich northern Tohoku region. This is the mission we look to fulfill through our research and education. We are pursuing a flexible research and education organization, collaborating with regional and international institutions to cultivate outstanding talent, taking in ambitious young students, Japanese and foreign alike, and presenting their innovative achievements to the world. We have achieved this after a two-year journey, in line with our vision: To develop far-sighted leaders both for the world and the community. To create a future with an outlook on both the community and the wider world. To build a plentiful society, existing in tandem with the community. To aspire to a world with strong ties to the community. The foundation of this is an innovative research, contributing to the world and the community, and developing the talent that can carry out this research. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, is reforming university management expense grants and has divided the National University Corporation into three groups university groups aiming to develop international-level educational and research bases university groups aiming to develop national educational and research bases university groups aiming to develop core bases for regional reinvigoration. The policy has been outlined based on an assessment of these different objectives. Akita University is selecting the third objective - university groups aiming to develop core bases for regional reinvigoration. More than ever, there is a need for innovative research and education, which makes a significant contribution to the region and the community. This year, we have launched the Center for Regional Development because it was set up to help further the regional regeneration of Akita Prefecture; it is no exaggeration to say that the Center's activities make a critical contribution to the local community. To this end, in terms of the "reform of approach and a sense of purpose" required, I think there are two critical points to be made. Firstly, the Faculty of Education and Human Studies and the Regional Culture Department forms part of the Regional Co-operation Department, within the Regional Development Center. The teachers and students of the Regional Culture Department should be in no doubt of the significance of their contribution to the region by studying regional culture and increasing their knowledge of Akita. The second point is the importance of the activities and workings of the Faculty of Engineering Science. Thus far, the university's priority on innovative research is evident from results concerning everyone's field of research and education. Suppose we draw strength from the results achieved by each faculty and strive to be a university befitting our community as the regional base of learning. In that case, our conviction that we can build Akita University as the cornerstone of the community follows on naturally from this. Let us now work towards the flawless implementation of the Mid Term Objectives and Plan. View full university

Akita Prefectural University was inaugurated in 1999 with the philosophy of“Developing a new generation of leaders for the 21st Century” and“Contributing, as an open university, to the continued development of Akita Prefecture.”We continue to follow this philosophy as we celebrate our fourteenth year. Akita Prefectural University is a university of science and technology which consists of two faculties: Systems Science and Technology and Bioresource Sciences. This nationally top rank pedagogy leads the way in human resource development. It provides uniquely specialized individuals in engineering and agriculture, specialized fields indispensable for realizing a sustainable society. Educational emphasis is on achieving the ability to identify and to solve their problems. An example is a “Student Independent Research Program” which targets first and second-year students, allowing them a chance to select a research theme on their own, organize the group, then design and conduct the research. The University provides all the necessary aspects, including research space, equipment, funds, and exceptional supervisor advice to bolster student research. Yet, the main emphasis is on maximizing student potential. Akita Prefectural University has produced over three thousand graduates with a near 100% employment rate. Our graduates are active and contribute to the community in various essential roles. We request your continued support and cooperation for Akita Prefectural University. We aim to develop individuals who have the potential to respond to the new challenges of an ever-changing world and who also have the capacity for self-improvement. At Akita Prefectural University, we are therefore committed to educating and nurturing researchers and engineers who have both problem-discovering and problem-solving capabilities so that they can respond to the evolving scientific and technological needs of the future. To ensure that students can rise to these challenges and thereby improve their abilities, our education system places a priority on developing the students’ capacities to process information, to learn foreign languages, and acquire self-expression skills which, together with other necessary skills, will allow them to develop a culture of learning and so help them become independent-minded members of society. As a higher education institution, we are expected by the local community to educate and nurture highly-skilled professionals who will serve as invaluable human resources for the community. The greater emphasis placed on education and research in our doctoral program ensures that we raise highly-trained researchers that can be employed in more advanced and specialized professions. Our collaborations with public experimental and research agencies, which reinforce local industrial technology expertise and competitiveness, enable us to provide our students with a broader and deeper level of education and research experience. With the increasing numbers of undergraduates and members of society throughout the country seeking admission into postgraduate education programs, we are actively responding to the requirements of Akita Prefecture, which is faced with the need to develop its science and technology base through collaborations between industry, academia, and government. View full university

Akita International University, AIU, is a four-year liberal arts university located in Akita prefecture in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Public university corporation established in April 2004 by the local prefectural government. Offers bachelor's degrees in Global Business and Global Studies, and master's degrees in Japanese Language Teaching, English Language Teaching, and Global Communication Practices. Since its foundation, the University, which celebrated its 13th anniversary in April 2017, has been communicating the idea of International Liberal Arts from Akita to the whole world as the leading institution developing global human resources in Japan. International Liberal Arts, which has been highly esteemed by all quarters, including educators, is the trend of the 21st century that universities across the world are aiming to incorporate. The global knowledge-based society of the 21st century requires human resources equipped with all human qualities such as intelligence, physical strength, and moral values. International Liberal Arts is a comprehensive education on methods and arts of liberating ourselves from the values and customs that have shaped us and create our new selves to gain different abilities necessary to achieve success in the global society. AIU is the leading University in International Liberal Arts in Japan. In this global era, we can instantly connect with 7 billion people worldwide by merely touching the keyboard of electronic equipment using Information and Communication Technology and exchanging messages with each other, creating the fundamental composition of an individual versus the world anywhere in the world. Graduates of our University become the individual in this composition, depart from Akita, and achieve global success. Some of them decide to base their activities in Akita as the center of the world. You may question what individuality is, who you are, and how you want to live your life. It would help if you had plenty of questions to ask yourself, but continually asking yourself questions, finding answers, and achieving self-realization is the very process of becoming an individual. Just as many of our graduates have accomplished, each current and prospective students at AIU will become an individual in the global society by taking on new challenges through challenging educational programs provided entirely in English, discussions with teaching staff and fellow students, and their year abroad. Based on this recognition, Akita International University has established its educational philosophy of International Liberal Arts to develop highly cultured, internationally-minded individuals with global knowledge and excellent foreign language skills capable of working globally. Unlike specialized education aimed at the acquisition of in-depth knowledge of specific specialized fields, International Liberal Arts are aimed at the acquisition of broad knowledge and understanding through learning and experience, skills to solve problems, and a multifaceted perspective capable of making appropriate judgment through newly developed inquisitiveness and the ability to think creatively without relying excessively on expertise in this increasingly complex and changing modern society. For our International Liberal Arts, with elements such as small-group instruction, critical study abroad, multicultural campus environment, and trilingualism (native language, English, second foreign language) in addition to lectures on a wide range of fields and discussed entirely in English, students develop knowledge, morals, and foreign language communication skills based on their understanding of different cultures necessary for global leaders bearing the future of Japan. View full university