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Formerly known as Otemae Women's University, Otemae University took its first steps as a coeducational tertiary institution in 2000. On the occasion of the university's 60th-anniversary celebration in 2006 and in consideration of its original founding philosophy of providing young women with a rich, comprehensive education, the university decided to adopt its long-advocated motto of "STUDY FOR LIFE" as the new founding philosophy in order to develop and evolve as a provider of higher education. Our mission is to help students move on successfully in their lives irrespective of career choice or life path. To this end, Otemae University focuses on liberal arts as well as specialized education. Although liberal arts education is sometimes misunderstood in Japan and considered as useless in the ever-changing world, we believe genuine liberal arts education enables students to develop the essential skills, or more specifically, "problem-solving ability" that is indispensable to function and succeed in society, whether they are in the realm of academics, business or any other field of human life. In order to offer the best educational environment for students, Otemae has carried out various educational reforms. First of all, we established our original educational framework. This innovative system clarifies what kind of competencies students should acquire, break down the learning processes, and grasp the whole picture of competency development. We have also introduced PBL(Problem-based learning) and SDL(Self-directed learning) methods. Rather than merely listening to lectures, students teach themselves. Students choose topics, gather information, collect data, analyze and think logically, and find conclusions or solutions, followed by a presentation and a discussion in class under the teacher's guidance. These learning processes help students develop such necessary skills as communication, logical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and social responsibility, which we believe are most required in society. We also offer a wide range of liberal arts and specialized programs conducted in English. The faculty come from around the world. Students from around the world study English as a universal language. Students from different cultures learn from each other and nurture mutual understanding in an international environment. The campus is located in a prestigious residential area between Osaka, the largest business center, and Kobe, the most beautiful harbor city in Western Japan, allowing students to enjoy a quiet educational environment and a bit of modern Japan. Kyoto and Nara, the most popular sightseeing places to learn Japanese history and old culture, are less than one hour away by local train. The faculty and staff are looking forward to seeing students from home and abroad. They hope that they maximize their potentials, deepen cross-cultural understanding, and expand their fields of activities in Japan and overseas. We at Otemae University want to help our students grow their potential to realize their dreams. And we have a curriculum of which we are immensely proud. Otemae University has three campuses in Nishinomiya City (Faculty of Cultural and Historical Studies, Faculty of Modern Social Studies, and Faculty of Media and Arts), Itami City (Basic / Liberal Arts Education), and Osaka City (Faculty of Health and Nutrition). They are relatively close to the station, and the location is ideal for students to access. When you visit the university's open campus, you will notice the friendly atmosphere. You will discover a place that you can fit in, together with the other students' welcoming brightness. Otemae University welcomes you with open arms. View full university