Kanazawa University

Center for the Creation of Knowledge through the Fusion of KnowledgeKanazawa University as the Stronghold of Intellect in East AsiaThe origin of Kanazawa University dates back to a smallpox vaccination center established by the Kaga Clan in 1862. It is the third oldest national university and one of the Hokuriku Region’s major institutions of higher education. Succeeding the history and tradition of its predecessors, the university was established in 1949. Today, it is comprised of 3 colleges, 16 schools, 5 graduate schools, university hospital, cancer research center and other sectors. We uphold the charter to be “a research university dedicated to education, while opening up its doors to both local and global society,” tackle the various problems of today’s society and believe it is our mission to create the knowledge and train personnel to solve these problems. Our university aims to be the university that is open to the world, while growing roots in the local community through the advanced education and research with global eyes, local ties in community service and active interaction with businesses. Also, the university has always been involved in the creation of new culture in the historical and cultural city of Kanazawa. We will continue to contribute to the world peace and sustained development of humankind.Most Advanced Research and Global ExpansionKanazawa University is advancing research for the future development of bioscience through the world’s fastest “atomic force microscope (AFM)” which makes possible the direct imaging of nanostructure in biomolecules. Also, at a church in a cave in South Italy, we are scientifically diagnosing the condition of mural paintings in the middle ages. The outcome of diagnosis is collected in a digital archive as a record of cultural asset.Moreover, the university is conducting advanced research on innovative brain science to clarify the human mind and nerve activity, research to solve environmental problems such as the survey of atmospheric data around the Sea of Japan, research on formulation of scientific base to collect samples of mantle materials by super-deep ocean drilling, and research to overcome lifestyle-related diseases through the use of world’s largest systematic database of human-liver gene information and protein information.Double-Degree, Twinning and Cultural and Social Hands-On Educational ProgramsIn education, the university welcomes international students to both undergraduate and graduate programs, and there are Double-Degree Programs with Beijing Normal University (China), Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia) and Hanoi University of Science (Vietnam) through which students may earn master’s or doctoral degree from both Kanazawa University and partner university. Also, there are Twinning Programs with Foreign Trade University (Vietnam), VNU-HCMC University of Social Sciences & Humanities (Vietnam) and Pukyong University (South Korea) through which students may study the last 2 years of undergraduate program at Kanazawa University and receive the Bachelor’s degree.In a short-term study abroad program, “Experiences in Japanese Culture and Society,” students can learn the culture and society of Kanazawa and Japan through practical learning activities. Also, there are many opportunities for multicultural collaboration, such as “Joint Class” in which Japanese students and international students learn together.