or is a
national university
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. In the United States, the term "national university" connotes the highe ...
in
Shiga Prefecture
is a landlocked prefecture of Japan in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,398,972 as of 1 February 2025 and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to th ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
, with campuses in the cities of
Ōtsu
270px, Ōtsu City Hall
is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
History
Ōtsu is ...
and
Hikone
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Hikone is located in central Shig ...
. Founded in 1874, it was chartered as a university in 1949.
Faculties & Graduate Schools
Shiga University has three faculties, the Faculty of Education in
Ōtsu
270px, Ōtsu City Hall
is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
History
Ōtsu is ...
Campus, the Faculty of Economics, the largest among national universities
[University portraits| National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education]
/ref>[Characteristics of Shiga University](_blank)
/ref> and the Faculty of Data Science
Data science is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses statistics, scientific computing, scientific methods, processing, scientific visualization, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge from potentially noisy, stru ...
, the first for faculty in Japan where students can systematically study data science, which is essential for Society 5.0,[Launch a new field! The department of Data Science is the first for faculty in Japan to meet a real society demand for rich imaginative leaders who use data efficiently.](_blank)
/ref> in Hikone
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Hikone is located in central Shig ...
Campus. Each faculty
has a graduate school.
''See also
The improvement work of Shiga University Auditorium
''
The Faculty of Education
220px, The Entrance of Otsu Campus of Shiga University
The Faculty of Education consists of three departments:
(1) Department of School Teachers' Training,
which aims to develop teachers with attractive personality as well as practical leadership to
respond productively to the new school education;
(2) Department of Environment Education, which
aims to enhance understanding of current environmental systems and problems and encourage students to
create new ways to solve problems they are facing.
220px, Main Entrance to the Affiliated Schools (kindergarten, elementary school and junior high school) of the Faculty of Education of Shiga University located in Ōtsu
Graduate School of Education
School Education (Master's Degree)
School Education offers 3 courses: Educational Science, Special Education, and Development of Teaching Materials
(1) Educational Science
The Educational Science course offers classes focusing on educational foundations and methods, development and learning.
*Educational Science
*Special Education
(2) The Special Education course offers classes focusing on the theory of educational practice, classes focusing on neuropsychology and clinical child development, and classes focusing on medicine for disabled children.
*Special Education
(3) Development of Teaching Materials
The Development of Teaching Materials course offers various specialization classes, with subject education, teaching material development, and lesson observation, and includes practical and theoretical education research.
*Japanese Education
*Social Studies Education
*Mathematics Education
*Science Education
*Music Education
*Visual Arts Education
*Health and Physical Education
*Technology Education
*Home Economics Education
*English Education
*Environmental Education [Overview](_blank)
/ref>
Advanced Professional Development for Teachers (Professional Degree Program in Education)
Advanced Professional Development for Teachers offers 2 courses: the Professional Development Course for School Management and the Professional Development Course for Curriculum and Instruction, Guidance, Classroom Management.
(1) Professional Development Course for School Management
The Professional Development Course for School Management is aimed at currently practicing teachers and focuses on improving school management skills.
*Professional Development Course for School Management
(2) Professional Development Course for Curriculum and Instruction, Guidance, Classroom Management
The Professional Development Course for Curriculum and Instruction, Guidance, Classroom Management is aimed at fresh graduates from the Faculty of Education and currently practicing teachers, and focuses on improving practical skills, including lesson and class management skills.
*Professional Development Course for Curriculum and Instruction, Guidance, Classroom Management
The Faculty of Economics
The Faculty of Economics consists of six departments. All disciplines of Economics aim to ''develop specialists in economics with a global perspective'' and a ''problem solving ability capable of responding to the needs of a global information society''.
Graduate School of Economics
Objective
The academic objective of the Graduate School of Economics is to develop professionals with advanced expertise, as well as specialist researchers in specific fields. The common goal is educating global specialists, namely, businesspeople with a broad-based acumen and advanced expertise that speaks volumes in this age of globalization.
Overview
With the doctoral program in Economic and Business Risk established in 2003, the Graduate School of Economics now comprises three master's programs and one doctoral program. An outgrowth of the master's program in "Economics" (Accounting and Management) established in 1955, the School made a new start in 1973 with two master's programs in "Economics" and "Business administration", and added a master's program in "Global Finance", geared more to the development of professionals with advanced skills, in 2001.
The Graduate School of Economics aims to train professionals with advanced expertise, as well as specialist researchers in specific fields. The Master's Program comprises three fields of specialization as above-mentioned, and the Doctoral Program comprises three fields of education and research which are "Basic Research in Risk Analysis", "Research in Risk Management" and "Research in Risk and Creativity".
The Faculty of Data Science
The Department of Data Science
Data science is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses statistics, scientific computing, scientific methods, processing, scientific visualization, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge from potentially noisy, stru ...
is the first for faculty in Japan to meet a real society demand for rich imaginative leaders who use data efficiently. The curriculum provides the latest science in 21st century called “data science” (data centric science) which transcends conventional informatics and statistics along with the development of ICT (Information and Communication Technology).
Graduate School of Data Science
The Graduate School of Data Science offers the curriculum to learn project management and models unique to application domains as well as methodologies of data science and real-world examples. By understanding real-world data and experiencing the process of problem-solving through project research, students will not only acquire knowledge but also experience success in problem-solving and gain the ability to create values from data.
History
The predecessor of the current school, the Shiga College of Education,[HISTORY SHIGA UNIVERSITY](_blank)
/ref> was established in 1943 which originated from the Shiga Normal School, so-renamed in 1875 one year later after founded as the Training Institute for Elementary School Teachers in 1874. Thereafter in 1949 three colleges, namely the above-mentioned Shiga College of Education, Shiga Teachers Training College and Hikone Commercial College known as Hikone Kōshō which was founded in 1922, were combined into one institution and it was chartered as a university.
220px, Memorial of Shiga Prefectural Girls' Normal School, one of the predecessors of Shiga University, located in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
The Otsu campus of Shiga University has its origin in the establishment of Shiga Normal School in Otsu in 1874. This school was reorganized as the Shiga College of Education in 1943. Upon the founding of Shiga University in May, 1949, the Shiga College of Education and the Shiga Teachers Training College were brought together as the Faculty of Liberal Arts.
The Hikone campus has its origin in the establishment of the Hikone Commercial College in 1922 when Kizo Yasui as the town mayor of Hikone
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Hikone is located in central Shig ...
(Then Hikone was not a city but a town under the old system) had been making every effort to establish this college. This college was reorganized in 1944 as the Hikone College of Economics. At the time Shiga University was founded in May, 1949, the college had become the Faculty of Economics.
The administrative offices of the university are located on the Hikone
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Hikone is located in central Shig ...
campus.
The following table shows the development and reorganization of Shiga University since its foundation in 1949:
As a base university selected by MEXT
Shiga University together with Hokkaido University
, or , is a public research university in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Founded in 1918, it is the fifth-oldest government-authorised university in Japan and one of the former Imperial Universities.
The university finds its roots in Sapporo A ...
, University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...
, Kyoto University
, or , is a National university, national research university in Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1897, it is one of the former Imperial Universities and the second oldest university in Japan.
The university has ten undergraduate faculties, eighteen gra ...
, Osaka University
The , abbreviated as UOsaka or , is a List of national universities in Japan, national research university in Osaka, Japan. The university traces its roots back to Edo period, Edo-era institutions Tekijuku (1838) and Kaitokudō, Kaitokudo (1724), ...
and kyushu University
, abbreviated to , is a public research university located in Fukuoka, Japan, on the island of Kyushu. Founded in 1911 as the fourth Imperial University in Japan, it has been recognised as a leading institution of higher education and resear ...
is one of the 6 base universities for education of applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is the application of mathematics, mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and Industrial sector, industry. Thus, applied mathematics is a ...
and data science
Data science is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses statistics, scientific computing, scientific methods, processing, scientific visualization, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge from potentially noisy, stru ...
selected by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).[Base consortium for strengthening applied mathematics and data science](_blank)
/ref>
Student activities
Shiga University offers a wide variety of clubs and circles.
''Further information
Extracurricular activities (clubs and circles)
'
SIFE National Champion & World Cup semifinalist
In 2010, Shiga University team of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), which won twice in Japan in 2007 and 2010 by beating Kyoto University
, or , is a National university, national research university in Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1897, it is one of the former Imperial Universities and the second oldest university in Japan.
The university has ten undergraduate faculties, eighteen gra ...
, Waseda University
Waseda University (Japanese: ), abbreviated as or , is a private university, private research university in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as the Tōkyō Professional School by Ōkuma Shigenobu, the fifth Prime Minister of Japan, prime ministe ...
, Keio University
, abbreviated as or , is a private university, private research university located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally established as a school for Rangaku, Western studies in 1858 in Edo. It was granted university status in 1920, becomi ...
and so on, became the first-ever Japanese semifinalist of SIFE World Cup.[Shiga University advanced to semifinal in SIFE World Cup for the first time in Japan. / The Japan Association of National Universities]
Evaluation from Business World
Notable people
* Yoshiji Fukushima, businessperson
* Hirotaro Higuchi, businessperson
* Kakuzo Kawamoto, businessperson and politician
* Gentaro Kawase, businessperson
* Koji Kobayashi, businessperson
* Masahiro Murakami, businessperson
* Shoji Nishida
is a conservative Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Early life and education
Nishida was born in Kyoto Prefecture on 19 September 1958. He graduated fr ...
, politician
* Yoshiomi Tamai, activist, philanthropist and educator
* Sōsuke Uno
was a Japanese politician and former Prime Minister of Japan.
Born in Shiga Prefecture, Uno enrolled in the Kobe College of Commerce before he was conscripted into the army during World War II. In 1960, he entered politics and was elected to th ...
, prime minister
* Mohammad Shorif Uddin, Vice-Chancellor of Green University of Bangladesh.
References
External links
Official website
Introduction of 13 National Universities in Kinki Region starting with Shiga University
{{authority control
Universities and colleges established in 1943
Japanese national universities
Universities and colleges in Shiga Prefecture
Buildings and structures in Ōtsu
1943 establishments in Japan
Kansai Collegiate American Football League
Ōtsu
Hikone, Shiga