The radical transformation of global society has brought confusion and unrest to our lives. In our global society, problems such as pollution, infectious diseases, financial crisis, and terrorism have been spreading beyond national boundaries in no time. Solving problems concerning energy and the environment, or industrial and economic revitalization, needs to be shared globally. Solutions for the issues above will require innovation that surpasses contemporary convention.
The University of Tsukuba was reborn in 1973 as a comprehensive university based on new educational concepts. It has inherited the traditions of its predecessors, starting with the Normal School, founded by the Meiji government in 1872 as the first institution of higher education in Japan, and continuing over to its history as the Tokyo University of Education. The philosophy of human resource development rooted in our university is expressed with the phrase Shikon rise. Loosely interpreted, it emphasizes the need to be kind-hearted to others, much like parents and teachers, and to have the ability to bring people together and solve problems rationally.
Since its establishment, the University of Tsukuba has aimed to be an open university in every sense. Based on that aim, we have promoted constant reforms to create a flexible education and research organization and a new university system that would meet the needs of the next generation. Dr. Jigoro Kano, who was the principal at the Tokyo Higher Normal School? The predecessor of the University of Tsukuba is known as the Father of Judo. More importantly, however, he was the pioneer who opened up Japanese higher education to the international community. Even as we have advanced specialized areas of expertise, we have actively developed new cross-disciplinary approaches to education and research. Amid this rapidly changing global society, the functions of a university need to be restructured. We realize that it is our responsibility to take the lead role in conducting such a reform.
Universities, in general, are required to contribute to society through education and research activities. The University of Tsukuba was established based on new educational concepts in the heart of Tsukuba Science City. Since then, it came to be a center of cutting-edge research and education, human development, collaboration among industry, government, and academia. It is an international center of intellectual activity. In its capacity as an open university, the University of Tsukuba intends to continuously meet new challenges in order to contribute to the welfare of its region and regional society, Japan and its citizens, and lastly, the world and humanity as a whole.
The University of Tsukuba is located in a rich natural environment and is a university that respects diverse values. Our university intends to contribute to the international society by demonstrating leadership as an innovative, unique, and cosmopolitan center of knowledge with an influential voice on the international scene, under the slogan "IMAGINE THE FUTURE."
The University of Tsukuba aims to establish free exchange and close relationships in both primary and applied sciences with educational and research organizations and academic communities in Japan and overseas. While developing these relationships, we intend to pursue education and research to cultivate men and women with creative intelligence and rich human qualities.
The University of Tsukuba endeavors to contribute to the progress of science and culture.
The University of Tsukuba has decided to function as a university open to all within and outside of Japan. Toward this end, the university has made it its goal to develop an organization better suiting the functions and administration with a new concept of education and research highly international in character, rich in diversity and flexibility, and capable of dealing sensitively with the changes occurring in contemporary society.
The University of Tsukuba aims to be an open university in all aspects, and we are a frontrunner in the university reform in Japan. Our fundamental principle is to create a flexible education and research structure and a university system to meet the needs of the next generation. We aspire to be a comprehensive university, continuously meeting new challenges, and developing new areas. The foremost mission is to provide an environment that allows future leaders to realize their potential in full.
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