１－７. Kanazawa University Today

Japanese

Kanazawa University currently operates under the basic philosophy of being “a research university dedicated to education, while opening up its doors to both local and global society,” and has a distinctive educational system consisting of four colleges and twenty schools. How did this unique approach at Kanazawa University come about?

In 1991, the Standards for Establishment of Universities that had strictly regulated the names of departments and curricula of universities since the postwar period were revised, and the regulations were significantly relaxed. Combined with the rapid decline in the population of 18-year-olds, this triggered reforms at universities across the country. Kanazawa University began its reforms in liberal arts education, first revising its curriculum in 1994. Then, in 1996, as part of organizational reform, the Faculty of General Education was abolished, and liberal arts education was taken over by faculty members from all over the university, with the Organization for Common Education overseeing it. Kanazawa University continued to push ahead with educational reforms, and gradually became known throughout the country as a university that placed emphasis on education.

In the 2000s, as a result of the national administrative reform policy aimed at streamlining administrative organizations, national universities were no longer directly controlled by the government, but were instead transformed into independent corporations that would receive financial support. Thus, in 2004, Kanazawa University National University Corporation was born. At this time, the question of what kind of ideals Kanazawa University had was raised again, and after consideration of its history and current situation, the Charter of Kanazawa University was formulated, codifying the basic ideals mentioned above. Next, a search was conducted for a university that would conform to this philosophy.

Based on the recognition that solving the complex problems of modern society requires broad knowledge and abilities that go beyond the framework of traditional academic fields, a new educational system was devised called the college and department system that removes the barriers between faculties and combines colleges, which are bound together by common perspectives, knowledge, methodologies, etc., with departments, which are the units of specialized education. Thus, in April 2008, the new Kanazawa University was launched, consisting of three colleges (Human and Social Sciences / Science and Engineering / Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences) and sixteen schools.

Reforms have continued since then. In 2016, the university was selected as a Top Global University by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Institute of Liberal Arts and Science was established, revamping its common education courses. The university’s internationalization has progressed rapidly, with classes being taught in English and study abroad being promoted. In addition, in 2021, the College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation based on the concept of integrating arts and sciences was established, resulting in a four-college system. While respecting its traditions, Kanazawa University continues to take on new challenges for the future.

 

Source: Winning entries from the Kanazawa University Photo Contest

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The content of this page is the same as the panel exhibited in the “Shiko no Mori” at Kanazawa University Central Library.

Created in April 2025 by the Working Group on Collections, Kanazawa University Library.