Osaka University

Osaka University (大阪大学, Ōsaka daigaku), abbreviated as Handai (阪大), is a public research university located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's former Imperial Universities, a Designated National University and listed as a "Top Type" university in the Top Global University Project.[6] The university is often ranked among the top three public universities in Japan, along with the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.

Osaka University
大阪大学
Osaka University logo
Motto地域に生き世界に伸びる
Motto in English
Live Locally, Grow Globally
TypePublic (National)
EstablishedKaitokudo founded 1724; Osaka Imperial University established 1931
Budget156.604 million yen (2021)[1][2]
PresidentShojiro Nishio
Academic staff
3,357[1]
Administrative staff
3,672[1]
Students23,226[1]
Undergraduates15,075[1]
Postgraduates8,151[1]
3,374[1]
Other students
537 (research students and auditors)[3]
Location, ,
CampusSuburban, 1.51 km²[1][2]
Authorized Student Groups59 sports-related, 70 culture-related[4]
Colors  Sky blue
MascotDr. Wani[5]
Websiteosaka-u.ac.jp

Osaka University was one of the earliest modern universities in Japan at its founding in 1931. The history of the institution includes much older predecessors in Osaka such as the Kaitokudō founded in 1724 and the Tekijuku founded in 1838. In 2007, it merged with Osaka University of Foreign Studies and became the largest national university in Japan.

Osaka University is one of the most productive research institutions in Japan. Numerous prominent scholars and scientists have attended or worked at Osaka University, such as Nobel Laureate in Physics Hideki Yukawa, manga artist Osamu Tezuka, Lasker Award winner Hidesaburō Hanafusa, author Ryōtarō Shiba, and discoverer of regulatory T cells Shimon Sakaguchi.

History

Osaka Imperial University Nakanoshima campus

The academic traditions of the university reach back to the Kaitokudō (懐徳堂), an Edo-period school for local citizens founded in 1724, and the Tekijuku (適塾), a school of Rangaku for samurai founded by Ogata Kōan in 1838. The spirit of the university's humanities programmes is believed to be intimately rooted in the history of the Kaitokudō, whereas that of the natural and applied sciences is based upon the traditions of the Tekijuku.[7] Osaka University traces its modern origins back the founding of Osaka Prefectural Medical School in downtown Osaka City in 1869. The school was later designated the Osaka Prefectural Medical College with university status by the University Ordinance (Imperial Ordinance No. 388) in 1919. The Medical College merged with the newly founded College of Science to form Osaka Imperial University in 1931. Osaka Imperial University was the sixth imperial university in Japan. Osaka Technical College was incorporated to form the School of Engineering two years later. The entire university was renamed Osaka University in 1947.

After merging with Naniwa High School and Osaka High School as a result of the government's education system reform in 1949, Osaka University started its postwar era with five faculties: Science, Medicine, Engineering, Letters, and Law. Since that time new faculties and research institutes have been established, including the first Japanese School of Engineering Science and the School of Human Sciences, which covers such cross-disciplinary research interests as broadly as psychology, sociology, and education. Built on the then-existing faculties, ten graduate schools were set up as part of the government's education system reform program in 1953. Two more graduate faculties were added in 1994.

In 1993, Osaka University Hospital was relocated from the Nakanoshima campus in downtown Osaka to the Suita campus, completing the implementation of the university's plan to integrate the scattered facilities into the Suita and Toyonaka campuses. In October 2007, a merger between Osaka University and the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Minoh was completed. The merger made Osaka University one of two national universities in the country with a School of Foreign Studies, along with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The merger also made Osaka University the largest national university in Japan.

Campus

Osaka University Hall
Medical Building
Minoh Campus

Toyonaka campus

The Toyonaka campus is home to faculties of Letters, Law, Economics, Science, and Engineering Science. It is also the academic base for Graduate Schools of International Public Policy, Language and Culture, a portion of Information Science, and the Center for the Practice of Legal and Political Expertise. All undergraduates attend classes on the Toyonaka campus during their first year of enrollment. Sports activities are primarily concentrated on the Toyonaka campus, with the exception of tennis, which is located in Suita.

Suita campus

The Suita campus houses faculties of Human Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Engineering. It contains the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and a portion of the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. The campus is also home to the Osaka University Hospital and the Nationwide Joint Institute of Cybermedia Center and Research Center for Nuclear Physics.

Minoh campus

The Minoh campus was incorporated following the merger with the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in October 2007. The Minoh campus is home to the School of Foreign Studies, the Research Institute for World Languages, and the Center for Japanese Language and Culture.

In addition to these three campuses, the former Nakanoshima campus, the university's earliest campus located in downtown Osaka, served as the hub for the faculty of medicine until the transfer to the Suita campus was completed in 1993.[8] In April 2004, the Nakanoshima campus became the university's Nakanoshima Center, serving as a venue for information exchange, adult education classes, and activities involving academic as well as non-academic communities.

Organization

Osaka University is organized into 11 faculties for undergraduate programs and 16 graduate schools.[9] The undergraduate programs are the School of Letters, School of Human Sciences, School of Foreign Studies, School of Law, School of Economics, School of Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, School of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Engineering, and School of Engineering Science. The graduate programs are in the Graduate School of Letters, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Graduate School of Law and Politics, Graduate School of Economics, Graduate School of Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Graduate School of Dentistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Graduate School of Law (Law School), and United Graduate School of Child Development out of "Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui".[10]

Osaka University also has 21 research institutes, 4 libraries, and 2 university hospitals.[11]

Some staff at Osaka University are represented by the General Union, a member of the National Union of General Workers, which is itself a member of the National Trade Union Council.[12]

Osaka University maintains four overseas Centers for Education and Research, in San Francisco, Groningen, Bangkok, and Shanghai.

English-medium programs

Osaka University's School of Human Sciences on the Suita Campus hosts an English-medium four-year undergraduate degree program.[13] The program started in 2011 as a result of the national government's G30 (Global 30) Project. Although the government ended the G30 Project in 2014[14] and replaced it with the Top Global University Project, the Human Sciences International Undergraduate Program at Osaka University continues.

Areas of study include sociology, anthropology, philosophy, education, behavioral sciences, psychology, human development, and area studies. Focus is on the development of an interdisciplinary, international, and problem-solving orientation to research and education. The degree programme is based on international benchmarking standards, has competitive entry requirements and attracts students from all over the world. The current director of this programme is Professor Beverley Yamamoto, who leads a UNESCO Chair in Global Health and Education.

Osaka University's Graduate School of Letters hosts another English-medium program in Global Japanese Studies for graduate students, one of the Graduate Programs for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies.[15]

Academic alliances

Osaka University has completed academic exchange agreements with a large number of universities (92 as of 2011) throughout the world and also exchange agreements between schools at Osaka University and schools and institutes in other countries (366 as of 2011). These agreements facilitate the visits of international students studying at Osaka University and the travel of Osaka University students studying at overseas universities, schools, and institutes. In many cases students are able to participate in these exchange agreements without paying additional tuition.[16]

Osaka University's academic alliances include Cornell University (1989), Harvard University (2008), Stanford University (2008), and the California Institute of Technology (2008) in the United States, McGill University (1996) and the University of Toronto (1999) in Canada, Seoul National University (2000) and Yonsei University (1998) in South Korea, Peking University (2001) and Tsinghua University (2004) in China, the National University of Singapore (2008), and Australian National University (1995). In Europe, alliances include the University of Bologna (2006), University of Geneva (2007), and the University of Cologne (1982). Allied institutions in the United Kingdom include the University of Oxford (1997) and Imperial College London (2006).

Academic rankings

University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[17]80
THE World[18]251-300

Osaka University is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Japan, as seen in various foreign and domestic rankings. Internationally, Osaka University was ranked 71st among the world's best universities and the third best Japanese university in 2020 according to the QS World University Rankings produced by Quacquarelli Symonds.[19] Osaka University is third in Japan and 53rd worldwide in the 2019 Center for World University Rankings.[20] It is also ranked third in Japan in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.[21] Domestically, the university was ranked third in 2009 and fourth in 2008 and 2010 in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai, which measures alumni productivity.[22]

Osaka University is one of the most productive research institutions in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, Osaka University among the three top research universities in Japan[23] and is the second most innovative university in the country (22nd worldwide).[24] Its research is noted in such fields as immunology (first in Japan and fourth in the world), material science (fourth in Japan, fifteenth in the world), and chemistry (fifth in Japan, fourteenth in the world).[25] Weekly Diamond also reported that Osaka University has the seventh highest research funding per researcher in the Japanese COE Program.[26] Osaka University had the third most patents accepted (150) among Japanese universities during 2017.[27]

Osaka University also has a high research reputation in Economics. Repec ranked Osaka's economics department second in Japan in 2011.[28] Osaka University graduates has served as presidents of the Japanese Economic Association five times in its history.[29]

According to the Weekly Economist's 2010 rankings, graduates from Osaka University have the seventh highest employment rate among the 400 major companies in Japan.[30]

Popularity and selectivity

Osaka University is one of the most selective universities in Japan. Its entrance difficulty is usually considered one of the highest in Japan.[31][32]

Nikkei BP's "Brand rankings of Japanese universities" ranks Osaka University's brand the second strongest in the Kansai region after Kyoto University.[33]

Evaluation from Business World

The university ranking of the ratio of "president and chief executive officer of listed company"
Ranking
all universities in Japan 6th[34] out of all the 744[35] universities which existed as of 2006
Source 2006 Survey[34] by Weekly Diamond 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
The university ranking according to the ratio of the number of the officers & managers produced by each university to the number of graduates
Ranking
all universities in Japan 38th[36] out of all the 778[37] universities which existed as of 2010
Source 2010 Survey[36] by Weekly Diamond 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
The university ranking according to the order of the evaluation by Personnel Departments of Leading Companies in Japan
Ranking
Japan 10th[38] (out of 781[39] universities in Japan as of 2020)
Source 2020 The Nikkei Survey[40] to all listed (3,714[41]) and leading unlisted (1,100), totally 4,814 companies[40]

Athletics

Osaka University and Nagoya University hold regular Athletics Competition every year (名古屋大学・大阪大学対抗競技大会). Recent years Osaka also has a regular windsurfing competition relationship with Kyoto University, Kobe University (京阪神戦),[42] and Taiwan's National Sun Yat-sen University (大阪大学・台湾中山大学ヨット定期戦).[43]

Notable people

Physics, Chemistry, and Technologies

Sciences

Business and Arts

Mathematic and Economic

Politics

Entertainment creators

Media

  • Handai Post[44] – student newspaper
  • Handai Walker[45] – student newspaper

Notes and references

  1. "大阪大学プロフィール" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪大学 企画部 広報課. 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  2. "Facts & Figures on the University". www.osaka-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. "学生数(学部学生、大学院学生、非正規生)". 1 May 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. 特別聴講学生を含まない。
  4. Introduction to Official Student Groups. Accessed on 2018-12-18.
  5. "大阪大学 ワニ博士". www.osaka-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. "Designated National University Corporation Osaka University". Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  7. "History of the University". Osaka University. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  8. History of Osaka University — Osaka University. Osaka-u.ac.jp. Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
  9. Undergraduate and Graduate schools & facilities — Osaka University. Osaka-u.ac.jp. Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
  10. "Departments in our Graduate Schools". www.osaka-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  11. History of Osaka University — Osaka University. Osaka-u.ac.jp (2007-10-01). Retrieved on 2014-06-17.
  12. General Union website Osaka U: Massive cuts to come for part-timers Archived 2018-12-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 6, 2012
  13. "Human Science International Undergraduate Degree Program OSAKA UNIVERSITY". Human Science International Undergraduate Degree Program OSAKA UNIVERSITY. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  14. "DEGREE PROGRAMS in English at Kyushu University | Our Globalization Project : MEXT's "Global 30" Project |". www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  15. "高度副プログラム「グローバル・ジャパン・スタディーズ」(Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Program in Global Japanese Studies)" (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  16. University Exchange Agreements — Osaka University Archived 2010-01-08 at the Wayback Machine. Osaka-u.ac.jp (2010-11-01). Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
  17. "QS World University Rankings 2024".
  18. "World University Rankings | Times Higher Education (THE)". 19 September 2018.
  19. "Osaka University". QS Top Universities. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  20. "Japan - CWUR World University Rankings 2018-2019". Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  21. "World University Rankings 2019". 26 September 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  22. "Truly Strong Universities" (in Japanese). Toyo Keizai. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  23. "Thomson Reuters 20 Top research institutions in Japan". Thomson Reuters. 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011. This ranking includes 5 non-educational institutions.
  24. "Reuters Top 100: The World's Most Innovative Universities - 2018". Thomson Reuters. 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  25. "Thomson Reuters 20 Top research institutions in Japan" (PDF). Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012. This ranking includes non-educational institutions.
  26. "週刊ダイヤモンド" ダイヤモンド社 February 27, 2010
  27. "特許行政年次報告書2018年版, Japanese patent office, accessed February 4, 2019" (PDF). www.jpo.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  28. Within Country and State Rankings at IDEAS: Japan. Ideas.repec.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
  29. Japanese Economic Association – JEA Global Site. Jeaweb.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
  30. "Employment rate in 400 major companies rankings" (in Japanese). Weekly Economist. 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  31. e.g. Yoyogi seminar published Hensachi (the indication showing the entrance difficulties by prep schools) rankings "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. Japanese journalist Kiyoshi Shimano ranks its entrance difficulty as SA (most selective out of 11 grades) in Japan. 危ない大学・消える大学 2012年版 (in Japanese). YELL books. 2011. ASIN 4753930181.
  33. NBPC ニュースリリース「大学ブランド・イメージ調査 2018-2019」(2018年8月実施)【近畿編】 Consult.nikkeibp.co.jp. Retrieved on 2019-02-04.
  34. "週刊ダイヤモンド 出世できる大学ランキング". 流行りモノと気になるビジネス書のログ. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  35. "The number of universities and students|National Universities Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  36. "転職成功ガイド". www.r-agent.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  37. "University reform reference materials / Cabinet Secretariat" (PDF). www.kantei.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  38. "お知らせ | 日経HR - Nikkei HR, Inc". www.nikkeihr.co.jp. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  39. The number of universities in Japan is 781 as of April 1, 2020. About 80% are private universities.|Ōbun Sha
  40. "人事がみる大学イメージ、関東・甲信越は横国大1位". 日本経済新聞. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  41. "上場会社数・上場株式数". www.jpx.co.jp. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  42. "京阪神戦". handaiyacht.jimdofree.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  43. "第一回 大阪大学・台湾中山大学ヨット定期戦 結果報告". handaiyacht.jimdofree.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  44. Handai Post
  45. "Handai Walker 編集部". 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

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