University of Tsukuba
The University of Tsukuba, located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, is one of the prestigious national universities. The university has 28 college clusters and schools with around 16,500 students. The main Tsukuba campus covers an area of 258 hectares, making it the second largest single campus in Japan. The branch campus is in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, which offers graduate programs for working adults in the capital and manages K-12 schools in Tokyo that are attached to the university.
Features
The university's academic strength is in STEMM fields, physical education, and related interdisciplinary fields. It is by taking located in Tsukuba Science City which has more than 300 research institutions. The university has had three Nobel laureates, and about 70 athletes, their students and alumni, have participated in the Olympic Games.It has established interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in Human Biology and Empowerment Informatics, and the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, which were created through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's competitive funding projects.
Its Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences is represented on the national Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction.
Internationalization
Their founding philosophy states the University of Tsukuba is "a university which is open to all within and outside of Japan." The university is also known for its internationalization efforts. It has won Japanese government funding projects for internationalization of Japanese universities, including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Global 30" Project and the "Super Global University Project". In the Super Global University Project, University of Tsukuba won Type A funding, which is for 13 elite Japanese universities to be ranked in the top 100 in global university rankings by 2023. Their initiative includes expanding the number of courses and degree programs taught in English only, sharing faculty members with partner institutions such as National Taiwan University, University of Bordeaux, and University of California, Irvine to promote education and research collaboration, and establishing so-called "Course Jukebox System" which enables their and partner institutions' students to take partner institutions' courses as if they are at their original institution.In 2004, the university established the Alliance for Research on North Africa as an academic research center with the purpose of promoting comprehensive research concerning the North African Region through integration of humanities and sciences. Since then, ARENA has been expanding its research fields, and the university established a branch office in Tunis, Tunisia in 2006. The University of Tsukuba is also accepting African students through the ABE initiative, which was initiated by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and is bringing 1,000 African graduate students to Japanese universities in five years from 2014. The University of Tsukuba is planning and leading Japan-Africa Academic Network initiative to bring together all the Japanese universities' resources for Africa and to deepen the academic relationship between Japan and Africa.
In May 2008, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development became an opportunity for the African Development Bank and universities in Japan to promote partnership on higher education, science and technology. Donald Kaberuka, the president of the AfDB, and the president of University of Tsukuba signed a memorandum of understanding during the three-day event. In 2009, the University of Tsukuba participated in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization's affiliated member, and it has been cooperating in the development of education in the ASEAN region. The university is a member of AIMS program, which is to promote regional student mobility among the ASEAN and participated countries including Japan.
As of August 2015, the university has over 300 international inter-university agreements and 13 overseas offices in 12 countries, located in Brazil, China, Germany, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Taiwan, United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
History
The university was established in October 1973. A forerunner was Tokyo University of Education which was founded in 1872. It was one of the oldest universities in Japan, Tokyo Higher Normal School. In October 2002, the University of Tsukuba merged with the University of Library and Information Science. The School of Library and Information Science and the Graduate School of Library and Information – Media Studies were established.It has provided several Nobel Prize winners, such as Leo Esaki, Hideki Shirakawa and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga. Dr. Satoshi Ōmura was an auditor at Tokyo University of Education.
Academic rankings
Research performance
Tsukuba is one of the leading research institutions in Japan. According to Thomson Reuters, Tsukuba is the 10th best research institutions among all the universities and non-educational research institutions in Japan.reported that Tsukuba has the 27th highest research standard in Japan in research fundings per researchers in :ja:グローバルCOEプログラム|COE Program. In the same article, it's ranked 11th in the quality of education by :ja:特色ある大学教育支援プログラム|GP funds per student.
It has a good research standard in Economics, as Research Papers in Economics ranked Tsukuba as the eighth best Economics research university in January 2011.
Graduate school rankings
Tsukuba's law school was ranked 19th in 2010 for its passing rate of the Japanese bar examination.Eduniversal ranked Tsukuba as seventh in the rankings of "Excellent Business Schools nationally strong and/or with continental links" in Japan.
Alumni rankings
According to the :ja:エコノミスト |Weekly Economist's 2010 rankings, graduates from Tsukuba have the 64th best employment rate in 400 major companies in Japan. By contrast, the alumni of Tsukuba's average salary is very high with the 8th best in Japan, according to :ja:プレジデント社|PRESIDENT, Inc.Popularity and selectivity
Given its high ranking in Japan, the entrance examination to University of Tsukuba is highly competitive. Overall difficulty is currently graded as "A1" or two on a 10-point scale.Organization
Undergraduate schools and colleges
- School of Humanities and Culture
- *College of Humanities
- *College of Comparative Culture
- *College of Japanese Language and Culture
- School of Social and International Studies
- *College of Social Sciences
- *College of International Studies
- School of Human Sciences
- *College of Education
- *College of Psychology
- *College of Disability Sciences
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences
- *College of Biological Sciences
- *College of Agro-Biological Resource Sciences
- *College of Geoscience
- School of Science and Engineering
- *College of Mathematics
- *College of Physics
- *College of Chemistry
- *College of Engineering Sciences
- *College of Engineering Systems
- *College of Policy and Planning Sciences
- School of Informatics
- *College of Information Sciences
- *College of Media Arts, Science and Technology
- *College of Knowledge and Library Sciences
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences
- *School of Medicine
- *School of Nursing
- *School of Medical Sciences
- School of Health and Physical Education
- School of Art and Design
Graduate schools and programs
- Master's Program in Education
- *School Leadership and Professional Development
- *Secondary Education
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Philosophy
- *Doctoral Program in History and Anthropology
- *Doctoral Program in Literature and Linguistics
- *Master's Program in Modern Languages and Cultures
- *Doctoral Program in Modern Languages and Cultures
- *Master's Program in International Public Policy
- *Doctoral Program in International Public Policy
- *Master's Program in Economics
- *Doctoral Program in Economics
- *Master's Program in Law
- *Doctoral Program in Law
- *Master's Program in International Area Studies
- *Doctoral Program in International and Advanced Japanese Studies
- Graduate School of Business Sciences
- *Master's Program in Systems Management
- *Master's Program in Advanced Studies of Business Law
- *Doctoral Program in Systems Management and Business Law
- *Law School Program
- *MBA Program in International Business
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences
- *Master's Program in Mathematics
- *Doctoral Program in Mathematics
- *Master's Program in Physics
- *Doctoral Program in Physics
- *Master's Program in Chemistry
- *Doctoral Program in Chemistry
- *Doctoral Program in Nano-Science and Nano-Technology
- *Master's Program in Applied Physics
- *Doctoral Program in Applied Physics
- *Master's Program in Materials Science
- *Doctoral Program in Materials Science
- *Doctoral Program in Materials Sciences and Technology
- Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering
- *Master's Program in Policy and Planning Sciences
- *Master's Program in Service Engineering
- *Doctoral Program in Policy and Planning Sciences
- *Master's Program in Risk Engineering
- *Doctoral Program in Risk Engineering
- *Master's Program in Computer Science
- *Doctoral Program in Computer Science
- *Master's Program in Intelligent Interaction Technologies
- *Doctoral Program in Intelligent Interaction Technologies
- *Master's Program in Engineering Mechanics and Energy
- *Doctoral Program in Engineering Mechanics and Energy
- *Master's Program in Social Systems Engineering
- *Master's Program in Business Administration and Public Policy
- *Doctoral Program in Social Systems and Management
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Integrative Environment and Biomass Sciences
- *Master's Program in Geosciences
- *Doctoral Program in Geoenvironmental Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Earth Evolution Sciences
- *Master's Program in Biological Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences
- *Master's Program in Agro-bioresources Science and Technology
- *Doctoral Program in Appropriate Technology and Sciences for Sustainable Development
- *Doctoral Program in Biosphere Resource Science and Technology
- *Doctoral Program in Life Sciences and Bioengineering
- *Doctoral Program in Bioindustrial Sciences
- *Master's Program in Environmental Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Sustainable Environmental Studies
- *Doctoral Program in Advanced Agricultural Technology and Sciences
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences
- *Master's Program in Medical Sciences
- *Master's Program in Sports and Health Promotion
- *Master's Program in Education Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Education
- *Doctoral Program in School Education
- *Master's Program in Psychology
- *Doctoral Program in Psychology
- *Master's Program in Disability Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Disability Sciences
- *Master's Program in Lifespan Development
- *Doctoral Program in Lifespan Developmental Sciences
- *Master's Program in Kansei, Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Kansei, Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- *Master's Program in Nursing Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Nursing Sciences
- *Master's Program in Health and Sport Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences
- *Master's Program in Art and Design
- *Doctoral Program in Art and Design
- *Master's Program in World Heritage Studies
- *Doctoral Program in World Cultural Heritage Studies
- *Doctoral Program in Human Care Science
- *Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine
- *Doctoral Program in Coaching Science
- *Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences
- *Doctoral Program in Clinical Sciences
- Graduate School of Library, Information and Media Studies
- *Master's Program in Library, Information and Media Studies
- *Doctoral Program in Library, Information and Media Studies
- School of Integrative and Global Majors
- *Ph.D. Program in Human Biology
- *Ph.D. Program in Empowerment Informatics
- *Master's Program in Life Science Innovation
- *Doctoral Program in Life Science Innovation
Research centers
- Center for Computational Sciences
- Shimoda Marine Research Center
- Gene Research Center
- Plasma Research Center
- University's inter-department education research institutes
- *Life Science Center of Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance
- *International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine
- *Agricultural and Forestry Research Center
- *Terrestrial Environment Research Center
- *Laboratory Animal Resource Center
- *Sugadaira Montane Research Center
- *Research Center for University Studies
- *Proton Medical Research Center
- *Tsukuba Industrial Liaison and Cooperative Research Center
- *Center for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development
- *Research Center for Knowledge Communities
- *Tsukuba Research Center for Interdisciplinary Materials Science
- *Special Needs Education Research Center
- *The Alliance for Research on North Africa
- *Academic Computing and Communications Center
- *Research Facility Center for Science and Technology
- *Radioisotope Center
- *Tsukuba Critical Path Research and Education Integrated Leading Center
- *Center for Cybernics Research
- University's inter-department education research institutes
- *Foreign Language Center
- *Sport and Physical Education Center
- *International Student Center
- *Admission Center
- *University Health Center
University libraries
- Central Library
- Art and Physical Education Library
- Medical Library
- Library on Library and Information Science
- Otsuka Library
University hospital
- University of Tsukuba Hospital
Laboratory schools
- Education Bureau of the Laboratory Schools
- Junior High School at Otsuka
- Junior High School at Komaba
- Senior High School at Otsuka
- Senior High School at Komaba
- Senior High School at Sakado
- Special Needs Education School for the Visually Impaired
- Special Needs Education School for the Deaf
- Special Needs Education School for the Mentally Challenged
- Special Needs Education School for the Physically Challenged
- Special Needs Education School for Children with Autism
Partner Institution
Malaysia
- University of Malaya
- University Sains Malaysia
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
- Universiti Utara Malaysia
Famous alumni
Politicians
- Kiyoko Ono –
- Stergomena Tax – 4th Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community
Academics
- Yukihiro Matsumoto – free software programmer, Chief designer of the Ruby programming language.
- John Maeda – Current President of the Rhode Island School of Design
- Hiromichi Kataura – Synthesis and characterization of single-wall and double-wall carbon nanotubes
- Opal suwannamek – Professor at the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
- Eiji Otsuka – social critic, anthropologist and novelist. Professor at International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Kyoto.
- Achara Hotrabhavananda - Lecturer at Rangsit University, Thailand.
Businessmen
- Yutaka Emura – President of Emurasoft, developer of EmEditor text editor.
- Kōta Matsuda – CEO of Tully's Coffee Japan
- Yukihiro Matsumoto – the chief designer of the Ruby programming language
- Daiyu Nobori – CEO of Softether
- Akira Morikawa – CEO of LINE Corporation
- Yoshiyuki Sankai – founder and CEO of Cyberdyne
Athletes
- Yudai Baba – basketball player
- Sawao Kato – Gymnastics, 8 Olympic gold medalist
- Kenta Hasegawa – Football player
- Masami Ihara – Football player
- Masashi Nakayama – Football player
- Sōta Hirayama – Football player
- Saki Kumagai – Football player
- Toshiya Fujita – Football player
- Takayoshi Yoshioka – track and field athlete
- Miwako Motoyoshi – Synchronized swimming, Olympic bronze medalist
- Toshinobu Kawai – Short track speed skating, Olympic bronze medalist
- Hirotaka Okada – Judo, Olympic bronze medalist
- Yōko Sakagami – Judo, Olympic bronze medalist
- Chiyo Tateno – Judo, Olympic bronze medalist
- Yoko Tanabe – Judo, Olympic silver medalist
- Noriko Narazaki – Judo, Olympic silver and bronze medalist
- Fumiko Esaki – Judo, Olympic silver medalist
- Ayumi Tanimoto – Judo, Olympic gold medalist
- Midori Shintani – Judo, World judo championship gold medalist
- Naoki Murata – Judo, 7th dan judoka, author, curator of the Kodokan Judo Museum
Entertainers
- Riyoko Ikeda – Manga artist
- Ryōko Nagata – Voice actor
- Miki Itō – Voice actor
- Shunichi Miyamoto – Musician
Artists and Writers
- Tian Han - Chinese playwright
- Toshio Iwai – Media artist and game designer