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| Basic
Philosophies and Long Term Goals |
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Hokkaido
University is a mainstay comprehensive university that places
importance on its graduate schools. The university started out
in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College, the first modern
academic institute in Japan. We have passed through a long period
of history, including our time as an Imperial College, as well
as during the creation of the new university system. Over this
period, we have declared and cultivated our basic philosophies
of education and research, namely “Frontier Spirit”, “Global
Perspectives”, “All-round Education” and “Practical Learning.”
In order to meet the demands of society and to move ahead as
a National University Corporation, Hokkaido University needs
to formulate a long term goal for developing the basis of knowledge
creation, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application
in the new century, with our newly acquired freedom, while reconfirming
our basic philosophies and recognizing our accountability to
society. |
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The
Frontier Spirit represents the idealism that each student and
staff member of our university should take up the problems of
their generation and resolutely mark out a new path. This basic
philosophy originated from the words “lofty ambition” uttered
by Dr. W. S. Clark during the opening ceremony of the Sapporo
Agricultural College and has served as the backbone of Hokkaido
University over a century.
The Frontier Spirit of the 21st century stands for ceaseless
studies dealing with shifts in the academic paradigm and new
problems constantly challenging humankind. Hokkaido University,
on the foundation of academic freedom, aims to promote world-class
research to solve problems confronting humankind through flexible
organization of its graduate schools and other networks leading
to remarkable developments in its research and education functions,
while promoting creative research without distinction of theory
and practice. |
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With
the introduction of western customs and scientific technology,
and lectures by foreign teachers, the Sapporo Agricultural College
opened its mind to diverse directions from the beginning. From
this time on, our university has played an active role in placing
its graduates in positions overseas and its philosophy of Global
Perspectives has taken on many different forms.
It is needless to say that we must develop internationally active
human resources by cultivating better understanding of other
cultures, being supported by self-awareness of our own culture
and by improving communication skills in foreign languages through
enriching liberal arts education. Hokkaido University strives
to encourage its students and staff to acquire “Global Perspectives”
and to contribute to the development of an international society
by creating more opportunities for studying and researching
abroad, by further activating the acceptance of foreign students
and researchers, and by promoting cultural and social exchange
with people around the world, including Asia and the northern
regions. |
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Sapporo
Agricultural College was established not only for training agricultural
experts, but also for the development of human resources with
a rich humanity, a high intellectuality and a broad range of
knowledge. The results can be seen in the successive production
of outstanding ideologists and literary figures such as UCHIMURA
Kanzo, SHIGA Shigetaka, NITOBE Inazo and ARISHIMA Takeo. The
philosophy of the All-round Education has been observed through
the tradition of focusing attention on liberal arts education
as the basis of developing human resources with well-rounded
judgment and deep insights to utilize their professional knowledge.
To further advance this philosophy, Hokkaido University seeks
to develop human resources which respect human rights and have
basic abilities to accurately respond to the demands of society
by cultivating their spirit of freedom and independence and
by encouraging them to establish autonomous identity through
promoting All-round Education for acquiring a rich humanity
and a high intellectuality. |
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The
philosophy of Practical Learning was established to signify
two different meanings in the development of today’s comprehensive
university, which has overcome hardships since its establishment
as the Sapporo Agricultural College. Firstly, research as the
creation of universal learning in the real world, and secondly,
emphasis on returning the fruits of research to society by placing
importance not only on basic research but also on the application
and practical use of research. The botanical research conducted
by MIYABE Kingo and the research on snow conducted by NAKAYA
Ukichiro, both carried out in the vast wilderness of Hokkaido,
were outstanding examples of essential research finding universal
truth in our immediate environments. Substantial research has
also been developed in conjunction with local industries.
Hokkaido University endeavors to return the fruits of research
to local, national and international industries, by promoting
the academia-industry-government collaboration pursuing universal
and present-day meanings of the philosophy of Practical Learning,
promoting creation of universal truth with the real world and
through research utilizing Hokkaido’s unique characteristics.
Furthermore, Hokkaido University aspires to develop leading
experts and professionals, and to enrich continuing education.
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