名古屋大学 | |
Motto | 勇気ある知識人 (courageous intellectual) |
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Type | Public (National) |
Established | Founded 1871, Chartered 1939 |
President | Seiichi Matsuo |
Academic staff | 3,847 (2020) |
Undergraduates | 9,585 (2020) |
Postgraduates | 6,187 (2020) |
Location | , , 35°09′17″N 136°58′01″E / 35.15472°N 136.96694°ECoordinates: 35°09′17″N 136°58′01″E / 35.15472°N 136.96694°E |
Campus | Urban, 3.2 km² |
Colors | Green |
Mascot | None |
Website | www.nagoya-u.ac.jp |
Nagoya University (名古屋大学, Nagoya daigaku), abbreviated to Meidai (名大) or NU,[1] is a Japanese national research university located in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya. It was the seventh Imperial University in Japan, one of the first five Designated National University and selected as a Top Type university of Top Global University Project by the Japanese government. It is the 3rd highest ranked higher education institution in Japan (84th worldwide).[2]
The university is the birthplace of the Sakata School of physics and the Hirata School of chemistry. As of 2021, seven Nobel Prize winners have been associated with Nagoya University, the third most in Japan and Asia behind Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo.[3][4]
Nagoya University traces its roots back to 1871 when it was the Temporary Medical School/Public Hospital. In 1939 it became Nagoya Imperial University (名古屋帝国大学), the last Imperial University of Japanese Empire. In 1947 it was renamed Nagoya University (名古屋大学), and became a Japanese national university. In 2014, according to the reform measures of the MEXT, all Japanese national universities has been incorporated as a National University Corporation. The university has a profound tradition of physics and chemistry. Many world-class scientific research achievements include Sakata model, PMNS matrix, Okazaki fragment, Noyori asymmetric hydrogenation, and Blue LED were born in Nagoya University.
In March 2012, Nagoya University played host to the International Symposium on Innovative Nanobiodevices.[5] Three years later, NU was selected as one of the five champion universities for gender equality by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.[6]
The team under Professor Morishima Kunihiro participated in the Scanpyramids project by using special nuclear emulsion plates. This led to the discovery in 2017 of new chambers in the great pyramid.[7][8]
In March 2018, Nagoya University was selected as one of first five Designated National University. In order to become the largest national higher education corporation in Japan, the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System established by integrating with Gifu University in April 2020, both are major universities in Tōkai region.
In the 20th century, NU's Kuno Yasu and Katsunuma Seizō were nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Yoshio Ohnuki was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics, and Yoshiyuki Toyama was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
In the 21st century, NU people account for half of the total number of Japanese Nobel Prize winners (up to 2014). Among the six winners of Nobel Prize in Natural Science, there are three professors and five alumni. The number of winners is the third among Japanese and Asian universities. The 2021 Nobel laureate Syukuro Manabe engaged as a specially invited professor at Nagoya University from December 2007 to March 2014.[9]
The ideal written in the Nagoya University Academic Charter is to encourage the intelligentsia with courage by providing an education which respects independent thought. Currently, NU's academic style and characteristics are "freedom, openness, and enterprising." When Nagoya Imperial University was just established, the first president was in a passage of the Seventeen-article constitution, and his motto, "Harmony is to be valued," was the basic spirit of the entire university.[10]
While the majority of its students come from Tōkai region, Nagoya University has a good portion of students from all over Japan.
The school also has many students from abroad. As of 2021, the total student enrolment is 15,771, with a total of over 1,900 international students from more than 110 countries.[11] The majority of them are from China (40%) and Korea (8.8%) (as of May 1, 2018).[12] Among other countries and regions, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia and Germany are represented by more than 40 students.[12]
Due to its internationally recognized achievements and established academic standing, Nagoya University is selected as one of the Type A (Top Type) universities under the Top Global University Project by MEXT, and offers international programs designed for international students under the Global 30 (G30) International Program since 2011.[13] The G30 International Programs are full-degree programs taught entirely in English, with a variety of majors in both undergraduate[14] and graduate[15] schools being offered, from the schools of humanities, law, economics, science, engineering, agriculture and medicine. Entrance is in October of each year, with first round of applications for most schools opening around November in the preceding year.[16]
In addition to the major, international undergraduate students are required to take up to one year of Japanese classes according to their respective levels of proficiency during their first year. Intermediate, advanced, and business Japanese classes are also offered to students who wish to take them in order to further hone their language skills. Furthermore, class sizes are small and international students are advised to do research intensively. Humanities and social science students are required to write an independent thesis in the final year, and science and engineering students are required to work in student laboratory for one year and at least one year for thesis research. Each student in the program have assigned academic advisors and can have a tutor if they need or wish.
Graduate programs are research-based, and applicants are required to know their research topic and find professors who share the same research interests before applying for the program. [17]
Many graduates from the G30 program continue to further their studies in various renowned universities worldwide, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, ETH Zürich, University of Tokyo, University of Melbourne, and more, including Nagoya University. [18] A substantial number of graduates also seek employment in Japan, obtaining jobs in companies that are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The University's Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster mitigation is represented on the national Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction.[19]
Toyo Keizai National[20] | General | 21 | |
---|---|---|---|
Kawaijuku[21] | NationalGeneral | 8 | |
T. Reuters National[22] | Research | 5 | |
WE[23] | NationalEmployment | 38 | |
NBP Hokuriku/Tokai[24] | Reputation | 1 | |
Shimano National[25] | Selectivity | SA | |
QS Asia (Asian Ranking version)[26] | General | 14 | |
ARWU Asia[27] | Research | 7 | |
QS World[28] | General | 80 | |
ARWU World[27] | Research | 84 |
Social Sciences & Humanities | ||
---|---|---|
LAW | ||
Asahi National[29] | Research | 4 |
BE Success National[30] | Qualification | 12 |
BE Pass rate National[31] | Qualification | 10 |
ECONOMICS | ||
RePec National[32] | Research | 13 |
Natural Sciences & Technology | ||
Engineering | ||
Kawaijuku[33] | NationalGeneral | 6~7 |
QS World[34] | General | 96 |
PHYSICS | ||
T.Reuters National[35] | Research | 6 |
T.Reuters World[35] | Research | 61 |
CHEMISTRY | ||
T.Reuters National[35] | Research | 7 |
T.Reuters World[35] | Research | 43 |
BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY | ||
T.Reuters National[35] | Research | 5 |
T.Reuters World[35] | Research | 97 |
* T. Reuters World rankings include non-educational institutions |
Nagoya University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. This can be seen in several rankings such as the ones shown below.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2021 ranks Nagoya University as third in Japan and 84th worldwide.[36] Nagoya University is ranked 118th globally by the 2022 QS World University Rankings, and 28th by the 2022 QS Asian University rankings.[37] Meanwhile, Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranks Nagoya University as seventh in Japan, and 351–400th globally.[38] The university has been maintaining its high rank within Japan for many years, having been ranked 15th in 2009 and 21st in 2010 in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.[20] In another ranking, Japanese prep school Kawaijuku ranked Nagoya as the 8th best university in Japan.[21]
Nagoya University is one of the top research institutions in Japan. It has obtained the 6th place in general rankings for scientific research in Japan, with 1.3% of publications being highly cited.[39] Furthermore, Nagoya had the 5th highest number of patents accepted (111) in 2019 among Japanese universities.[40] According to a ranking released by Thomson Reuters in 2011, Nagoya is the 5th best research university in Japan.[22] Its research standard is especially high in Physics (6th in Japan, 61st in the world), Chemistry (7th in Japan, 43rd in the world), and Biology & Biochemistry (5th in Japan, 97th in the world).[41]
Weekly Diamond reported that Nagoya has the 6th highest research standard in Japan in research funding per researchers in COE Program.[42] In the same article, it is also ranked 6th in terms of the quality of education by GP funds per student.
In addition, Nikkei Shimbun on 16 February 2004 surveyed the research standards in Engineering studies based on Thomson Reuters, Grants in Aid for Scientific Research and questionnaires to heads of 93 leading Japanese research centers, and Nagoya was placed 9th (research planning ability 5th//informative ability of research outcome 9th/ability of business-academia collaboration 6th) in this ranking.[43] Nagoya University also has a high research standard in Social Science & Humanities. Asahi Shimbun summarized the number of academic papers in Japanese major legal journals by university, and Nagoya University was ranked 4th during 2005–2009.[29] RePEc in January 2011 ranked Nagoya's Economic department as Japan's 13th best economic research university.[44]
Nagoya Law School is considered one of the top law schools in Japan, as it was ranked 10th in the pass rate of the Japanese Bar Examination in 2010.[45]
According to Toyo Keizai's "Ranking of the 200 Best Universities with Graduates Employed at Major Companies" in 2020, graduates from Nagoya University have the 12th best employment rate in 400 major companies in Japan,[46] compared to the 2010's rankings where Nagoya University was ranked 38th.[47]
Nagoya is one of the most selective universities in Japan. Its entrance difficulty is usually considered one of the highest in Japan.[48][49]
Ranking | |
---|---|
all universities in Japan | 15th[50] out of all the 744[51] universities which existed as of 2006 |
Source | 2006 Survey[50] by Weekly Diamond 〈ja〉 on the ranking of the universities which produced the high ratio of the graduates who hold the position of "president and chief executive officer of listed company" to all the graduates of each university |
Ranking | |
---|---|
all universities in Japan | 12th[52] out of all the 778[53] universities which existed as of 2010 |
Source | 2010 Survey[52] by Weekly Economist 〈ja〉 on the ranking of universities according to the ratio of the number of the officers & managers produced by each university to the number of graduates |
Ranking | |
---|---|
Japan | 3rd[54] (out of 781[55] universities in Japan as of 2020) |
Source | 2020 Nikkei Survey[56] to all listed (3,714[57]) and leading unlisted (1,100), totally 4,814 companies[56] |
International students interested in studying in Japan can enroll in the Nagoya University Program for Academic Exchange (NUPACE), given that they belong to one of many partner institutions[58] affiliated with Nagoya University.[59] Since its inception in 1996, over 2,300 international students from 155 institutions have participated in NUPACE (as of 2020[60]). Students enrolled in this short-term, four- to twelve-months exchange program can select from a variety of courses in English and Japanese covering topics such as Japanese language, intercultural studies, or courses related to their major. Though some of these courses are specific for the NUPACE program, students can also take G30 courses or regular Japanese courses and share a learning environment with degree-seeking Nagoya University students, given that they meet certain language requirements. Additionally, students can also choose to conduct research under the guidance of Nagoya University faculty.[61] While enrolled in NUPACE, students may stay at one of the various international dormitories, and are offered the same services (like student insurance counseling) available to degree-seeking Nagoya University students.[62]
Outside of NUPACE, other exchange programs for international students are also available. Campus Asia invites undergraduate and graduate students from partner universities in China and Korea to discuss law and political science in East Asia.[63] Graduate students in Engineering can participate in the Japan-US-Canada Advanced Collaborative Education Program (JUACEP) and spend two- to twelve-months exploring different research environments through conducting individual research projects in laboratories at Nagoya University.[64] The school of Engineering also hosts the Nagoya University Summer Intensive Program (NUSIP), designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage with automobile technology in factories and research centers.[65] A two-week, intensive Nagoya University Short-Term Japanese Language Program (NUSTEP) is available to those who want to build their Japanese language proficiency and provides various activities to enrich the participant’s understanding of Japanese culture and society.[66]
International students can also pursue individual research and enroll in one of Nagoya University’s graduate schools as a research student under Nagoya University’s Research Student Program.[67]
For degree-seeking Nagoya University students, the option to study abroad is also available. Students can study for 1 or 2 semesters in partner universities with which Nagoya University has an inter-university agreement,[68] which includes 161 universities.[69] Expanding that, students may also study at specific departments in universities with which Nagoya University has an inter-school agreement, which includes 306 universities[70] offering exchange opportunities in one or more departments. Students in this program can also receive financial aid that covers part of travel expenses or offers a monthly stipend or loan during their time abroad.[68] Graduate students in the School of Engineering can also participate in JUACEP, conducting independent research and immersing themselves in the research environment of institutes in the US and Canada.[64]
The federation was founded in 1961, and aims to help facilitate "better communications between circles, increase in literacy of students, encourage better understanding of each other and enhance friendship, as well as promoting and developing cultural activities."[71] Some examples of circles in Nagoya University include tea ceremony, art, volunteering activities, music and dance, and literature, among the wide range of more than 60 circles officially registered.
The athletic association was founded in 1956, and currently has more than 50 member athletic clubs.[71]
Nagoya University and Osaka University hold regular Athletics Competition every year (名古屋大学・大阪大学対抗競技大会). In addition, the Seven Universities Athletic Meet (国立七大学総合体育大会, kokuritsu nana-daigaku sōgō taiiku-taikai)[72][73] has been held since 1962. The competition is commonly called the Competition of the Seven Imperial Universities (七帝戦, shichi-tei sen) or the national athletic meet of the seven former imperial universities (七大戦, Nanadai-sen).[74]
The university festival "Meidai-sai" is held every year in June since 1960, at the Higashiyama campus.[75] Each year, the festival boasts a wide variety of approximately 100 events and activities, including laboratory tours, presentations, and hands-on activities organised by clubs and circles.[71] Clubs and circles also set up food stalls selling various foods such as yakisoba (Japanese fried noodle dish) and kakiōgri (shaved ice dessert).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meidai-sai was held online for both years 2020 and 2021. [76]
Nagoya University has several international student groups and associations established to help promote the well-being of international students and sustaining their proactive interaction with the Japanese student community. These student organizations mostly conduct events and activities to help international students adjust to living in Japan when they first arrive, and also connect with others who have similar interests.
Some of the student organizations include Nagoya University International Student Group (NUISG), Nagoya University International Student Association (NUFSA), and Nagoya University Co-Op Foreign Student Association (COFSA), which are mainly responsible welcome parties, cultural activities, and seminars on topics such as job hunting or further studies. Other international student-led groups include Nagoya University HeForShe Club (gender equality discussion circle) and N30N dance (dance circle).
Nagoya University International Student Group (NUISG) is a student-run organisation representing Nagoya University's international G30 Program and was established in 2011. NUISG aims to create content that encourages interaction between the G30 student body, alumni, faculty and administration, provide quick and accurate information to G30 students, and nurture interaction between G30 and other student bodies in Nagoya University. NUISG has also created its own website, which allows easy access to information and projects.
The Nagoya University Foreign Student Association, abbreviated to NUFSA, was established in 1976. The name changed to Nagoya University International Student Association later on but the abbreviation stayed as NUFSA. NUFSA's main objective is to promote and enhance international awareness, cooperation, cultural diversity and dialogue among international students, and between international students and Japanese students. NUFSA collaborates with several other associations and organizes events for international students, thus offering a platform for making international friends and supporting cultural exchange. To connect students, NUFSA holds interactive activities and events such as Welcome Party, Spring and Fall Bazaar, Music Game Night, and many more. During the pandemic, it held several online events to make students' stay-at-home experience fun.
NUFSA participates in orientations for incoming international students held in student residences (International Residence Higashiyama, International Ohmeikan House, International Residence Yamate, Ishida Memorial International Residence Myoken, Idaka-cho Residence, Foreign Student House). The purpose is to introduce itself to newcomers and give them first necessary information and tips for daily living and university activities.
“名 I ASK?” (“Mei I Ask?”) is a series of interviews NUFSA has with Nagoya University students uploaded on NUFSA’s YouTube account. It hopes to help people who want to join Nagoya University to know about life and people in Nagoya University.
It has a Japanese Language & Culture course for foreign students’ family members, sponsored by Nagoya SAKAE Lions Club.[78]
Every year in April and October, NUFSA, in collaboration with Action group for Cultural Exchange, Tomodachi-kai and Nagoya YWCA, holds a bazaar at Nagoya University International Residence Higashiyama. The bi-annual NUFSA International Students’ Bazaar provides quality second-hand home necessities such as tableware, furniture, and electrical appliances at relatively cheap prices.
NUFSA organizes welcome parties, which is a platform for old students to welcome new students. It is also an avenue for interaction, networking and social exchange of ideas, experiences and culture, to help provide the first foundation towards building strong lasting friendships. The event provides food and drinks and also live music with performances.
NUFSA held its first Model United Nations (MUN) in 2017. It will restart the Nagoya University MUN event again, in April 2022 with NUISG.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, NUFSA understands that a lot of students (both Japanese and International students) suffered because of the social-distancing policies and online classes. A Q&A session was held with the support of psychiatrist Professor Sakai from Nagoya University to help answer students' questions and concerns related to student life and mental health anonymously through online forms and video call.
NUFSA invites students to perform and relax at Craig’s Cafe in the university every 2 months and also provides some snacks to the participants and performers free-of-charge.
NUFSA holds its board game night once a month at Craig’s Cafe and provides snacks and drinks to all participants. NUFSA has a wide variety of board games and continues to purchase new board games.
NUFSA holds Halloween parties at Craig’s Cafe, encouraging students to enjoy the night in all kinds of costumes. It has a Halloween makeup competition as well.
NUFSA has a Christmas Party inviting students to perform and have fun together around Christmas at the university cafeteria Mei Dining. It usually invites dance group N30N from G30 as its guest dancers.
Since 2016, NUFSA launched a new project called Tandem, which is an opportunity for those who are willing to master a language or two and even get accustomed with cultural nuances by communicating with native speakers. NUFSA people with the partners they best match with based on participants' questionnaire forms.
Co-op Foreign Student Association, abbreviated to COFSA, caters to foreign and local students’ needs by organizing various activities that range from recreational events to career forums and community building projects. It was first established in 2015, and operates under the National University Co-op, an association that dates back to 1898 which provides nation-wide university services from cafeterias to bookstores with the goal of constructing a convenient lifestyle for students. The National University Co-op’s main mission is to foster cooperation amongst students and collaboration between Japanese universities, and COFSA was created as a byproduct of the National University Co-op to allow the Co-op to extend its mission to foreign students as well. One of COFSA's main goals is to curate events that celebrate cross-cultural exchange between local students and the diverse network of foreign students in Nagoya University. Its long-term goal is to not only provide students with a memorable and fulfilling university experience, but to also create an environment in which diverse students can share a sense of belonging and feeling of community.
COFSA holds general meetings among its members biweekly, and since remote work is more important than ever before, COFSA makes sure to keep Nagoya University students engaged via accessible social media platforms such as Instagram.
Community Building Projects:
Interactive Events:
Career Support:
Collaborations:
The HeForShe NU club is a student organization consisting of Japanese and International students at Nagoya University with a mission to spread awareness about gender-related issues on campus and beyond. It was founded in 2017 by second-year JACS (G30) student Momo Mori. The first meetings consisted of her friends and interested people who came together to discuss gender-related topics, and the initial discussion was about the club’s name itself, ‘HeForShe’. From weekly meetings, the club branched out to organizing various events such as film screenings, guest speaking events, webinars (during the pandemic), and workshops about various topics. For instance, the club's theme for the year 2021 was to spread information about the menstrual period and period products in Japan, and it created a university-wide survey followed by a webinar and video project discussing the topic at the university. Its goal further on is to bring to light topics that are not often talked about in the open, such as period awareness, toxic masculinity and so on, in order to create a safer space for their discussion in the university campus.