Hokkaido University is a leading comprehensive university that places importance on its graduate schools. The university started in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College, the first modern academic institute in Japan. During its long history, the college was promoted to an Imperial University and then flourished after creating the new university system. Over this period, we have declared and cultivated our basic philosophies of education and research, namely the “Frontier Spirit,” “Global Perspectives,” “All-round Education,” and “Practical Learning.” In order to meet the demands of society and to move ahead as a part of the National University Corporation, Hokkaido University needs to formulate a long term goal for developing the basis of knowledge generation, dissemination, and application in the new century while still reconfirming our fundamental philosophies and recognizing our accountability to society.
The phenomena and changes associated with humans, society, and nature, occur against backdrops involving a myriad of diverse conditions. The complexity of these advances cannot be “unlocked,” mainly when they are closely interconnected. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to study or solve such problems in the context of conventional learning because circumstances can change quickly and drastically. Coping with this reality requires an inquisitive mind willing to investigate, understand, and unravel the underlying nature and causes of changes and occurrences. In short, individuals need both the ability to think and act autonomously.
“To think” is to question the existing values and methods and to change or even destroy them if necessary. To honestly think, in other words, one cannot be bound by convention. Universities are unique because they are places where one can freely engage in the act of thinking. In the over 140 years since the 1876 founding of its predecessor, the Sapporo Agricultural College, Hokkaido University has helped students awaken their autonomy and independence. This is achieved by encouraging them to venture into unexplored areas of learning to develop an international mindset and flexible approach to diversity to cultivate themselves in a broad range of areas that will help build character and to pursue meaningful research so they can grasp the essence of things and use their learning for practical purposes. Following in the spirit of its founding, Hokkaido University strives to be a place where all students can find and foster their innate potential and grasp what their real talents are, so they can develop the ability to think and foster an independent spirit to take on the challenges of the future.
Education at Hokkaido University is guided by four basic philosophies: “Frontier Spirit,” “Global Perspectives,” “All-round Education,” and “Practical Learning.” These four guiding principles have been cultivated throughout the institution’s long history, which dates back to 1876 – the year its predecessor, Sapporo Agricultural College, was established. Against this backdrop, the university aims to play a steady role as a global center for education and research. We aim to establish a university open to anyone worldwide, a world-class educational system and strive to continue expanding the depths of our knowledge and its application/utilization. Finally, we work towards strengthening our university’s operations.
We develop international quality curricula so that students may be given an outstanding all-round education and acquire global perspectives. For undergraduate courses, there is more of an emphasis on improving the liberal arts education they receive to become talented as global citizens.
We focus on developing world-class research programs to push our knowledge boundaries and contribute to the sustainable development of humanity and society. At the same time, each student and staff member of the university retains academic freedom and independence to research. Our goals are based on the two concepts of practical learning and the Frontier Spirit. We base our goals on these concepts to return the fruits of research to society and let each student and staff member tackle contemporary issues while laying out the future path.
As a national university, we will positively promote partnerships between universities and industry based on our world-class, leading-edge, and trans-disciplinary research and education. We will serve as a bridge to the world for local communities and industrial agencies.
We will establish the structure necessary to address domestic and overseas challenges promptly and appropriately. We will also promote autonomous top management to fulfill our educational, research, and social goals.
It takes tremendous courage – in addition to an independent mind and autonomous spirit – to venture into an untrodden field. “Boys, be ambitious,” exhorted William S. Clark, the first vice-principal of Sapporo Agricultural College, when he departed Sapporo after a short, 8-month stay. In keeping with the Frontier Spirit espoused by Dr. Clark, I would like to make Hokkaido University an educational hub where students and faculty work together to intensely learn and create new wisdom – with the ultimate goal of solving the world’s problems and contributing to the happiness of humanity through a spirit of independence and autonomy.
VIDEOS
