Background to the establishment of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liberal arts and sciences education

After eliminating the Faculty of Liberal Arts in 1994, Nagoya University launched, in April 1995, a new education program that replaced the traditional general education program with a liberal arts and sciences educational program that integrates liberal arts and sciences and basic education. This program is the same for all university schools. The goal is to foster advanced expertise and cultivate well-rounded individuals. An All University Four-Year Integrated Committee made up of members from throughout the university was established to manage the program. It was subsequently reorganized as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Committee with members selected from the various schools and other university groups. A Four-Year Integrated Education Planning Committee and a General Education Operating Committee were set up to work under this management body. (These two committees were subsequently merged into the General Education Committee.)

Nagoya University Academic Charter and Organizational Reforms

The Nagoya University Academic Plan was created with the aim of establishing the University as a core comprehensive university for the twenty-first century and to develop academic activities appropriate for a new era. The Nagoya University Academic Charter, which is based on the basic principles of the Academic Plan, was adopted in February 2000. In addition, it was decided that the organization and administration of Nagoya University would be based on a two-dimensional organizational structure consisting of a vertical detailed axis (department system) and a horizontal comprehensive axis (university-wide organization). The department system is composed of academic departments that continue to engage in and further develop education and research activities in existing academic fields. They are also expected to function as a unified body to create new academic fields as needed. The Graduate School of Environmental Studies was newly established in April 2001 as an interdisciplinary graduate school that integrates the humanities and sciences. The Graduate School of Information Science was established, and the Graduate School of Languages and Cultures was expanded and reorganized in April 2003. In December 2001, the Institute for Advanced Research was established as a university-wide research organization suitable for a research hub university, and the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences was set up to guide liberal arts and sciences education, which is stressed at Nagoya University.

Shift from a committee system to headquarters system

To further expand and develop its liberal arts and sciences program in a manner appropriate for a university that stresses liberal arts and sciences education, the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences began operating as a strong headquarters organization to oversee the administration of liberal arts and sciences education. The Institute is responsible for devising plans, overall planning, and conducting, and evaluating this educational program. Although the traditional committee format worked well as a means of inspecting and ensuring proper management of the general education program, it had only functioned as a coordinating body. The Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established as an independent organization to manage liberal arts and sciences education in order to improve and invigorate the program.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

Taking into consideration the spirit underlying the Nagoya University Academic Charter, Nagoya University defines liberal arts and sciences education as "education that the whole university is responsible for and includes both liberal arts and sciences education and basic education to develop creative, independent intellectuals with unique abilities.

Objectives and goals of liberal arts and sciences education

The Nagoya University Academic Charter states the following: Nagoya University maintains a free and vibrant academic culture with the mission of contributing to the well-being and happiness of humankind through research and education in all aspects of human beings, society, and nature. In particular, it aspires to foster the harmonious development of human nature and science, and to conduct highly advanced research and education that overlook the broad sweep of humanities, social, and natural sciences. The charters also sets forth the following basic educational objectives.

Nagoya University, through an education that values initiative, shall cultivate courageous intellectuals endowed with powers of rational thought and creativity.

In order to realize the basic concept of the academic charter, Nagoya University adopted a four-year integrated education system that extends from liberal arts and sciences and basic education to specialized education at each university school. A distinctive characteristic of Nagoya University's liberal arts and sciences education is that it has adopted a system in which the whole university, not a particular department or group of instructors, is responsible for the program. This approach assures that education of the highest possible quality will be provided.

Basic objectives for liberal arts and sciences education

• To cultivate comprehensive decision-making and thinking abilities
• To foster students' initiative and desire to study
• To cultivate communication skills that contribute to character development
• To nurture an inquisitive mind and cultivate fundamental academic abilities that are required in all schools

Liberal arts and sciences courses and course content

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses are divided into common basic courses, liberal arts courses, and basic courses for specialized fields based on the philosophy and goals of Liberal Arts and Sciences Education. The subject classification and its contents are as follows.

1. Common Basic Courses
• Introduction to skills for academic success
• First Year Seminar
• Language and Culture (English/Second Foreign Languages/ Japanese)
• Health and Sports Science (Lecture/Practicum)
• Data Science
2. Liberal Arts Courses
• Global Liberal Arts
• Contemporary Liberal Arts
• Problem/Project Based Learning Seminar
3. Basic Courses for Specialized Fields
• Basic Courses in Humanities and Social Sciences
• Basic Courses in Natural Sciences

Role of the ILAS

Primary work of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Serving as headquarters for planning, devising, conducting, and evaluating liberal arts and sciences education at Nagoya University, the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences is responsible for managing liberal arts and sciences education.

• Develop curriculum and guidelines for liberal arts and sciences
• Design liberal arts and sciences program and create organizations to carry it out
• Manage and operate liberal arts and sciences education
• Evaluate curriculum and instruction
• Promote cooperation between departments
• Provide educational support and maintain, improve educational quality
• Create a learning environment

Teacher Awards of Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses

The purpose of the Teacher Awards of Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses is to improve and enhance the quality of the University's education by recognizing teachers who have made outstanding achievements in educational and administrative activities in the University's education, or who have achieved outstanding educational results through their creative and ingenious efforts. The award has been implemented since 2008 and 35 pairs of teachers have been honored by 2023.

AY2023 award winners

List of award winners over the past three years

AY2023

Organization	Title	Name etc.
Education Planning & Development Center	Designated Associate Professor	LAI Wai Ling

AY2022

Organization	Title	Name etc.
Education Planning & Development Center	Professor	TOKITA Keiichiro
Graduate School of Science	Lecturer	KAWASAKI Takeshi
Division of Infrastructural Development , Education Planning & Development Center	Professor	YAMAZATO Takaya
Division of Infrastructural Development , Education Planning & Development Center	Associate Professor	KOMATSU Masahiro
Division of Infrastructural Development , Education Planning & Development Center	Associate Professor	MATSUBARA Midori
Division of Infrastructural Development , Education Planning & Development Center	Designated Associate Professor	KODAMA Hideaki
Division of Infrastructural Development , Education Planning & Development Center	Lecturer	KOIZUMI Takashi

AY2021

Organization	Title	Name etc.
Graduate School of Science	Lecturer	TAKIGUCHI Kingo
Graduate School of Science	Lecturer	SHINOHARA Hidefumi
Graduate School of Science	Lecturer	INOUE Shinichiro
International Education & Exchange Center	Part-time Lecturer	KATO Jun
Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences	Designated Lecturer	HAMLITSCH Nathan Jesse

Initiatives of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System

FD for English Committee of Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses jointly organized with Gifu University (AY2019)

Faculty Development (FD) in AY2019 for the Instructors in charge of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses was held on Monday, April 8 at Liberal Arts and Sciences building etc.

This FD is conducted annually comprising General FD and FD of each committee. In General FD, following opening speeches by Professor Akira Fujimaki (Trustee in charge of Education) and Professor Kazuhisa Todayama (Director of ILAS), Professor Kenichi Suzuki from Student Support Center gave a speech on “How have the students at Nagoya University changed over the past 20 years?　-Aiming for healthy education/learning of faculty and students-”

After the general FD, it was divided into FD of each committee, where opinions were exchanged on the theme of educational quality assessment and assurance, focusing on items to be included in syllabi.

The FD for the English committee was held for the first time jointly with Gifu University, which collaborates Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (hereinafter referred to as "THERS"), using the remote lecture system introduced in the previous year.

Since last year, the Director of the Division of Languages and Cultures of the ILAS General Administration Department and the Director of the English Center, in charge of General Education Courses at Gifu University, have been exchanging opinions regarding the cooperation in language education and the shared use of e-learning materials, etc. in the discussion for the THERS establishment. Through the discussion, the mutual understanding of each curriculum among the faculty members was considered important, and this led to the joint FD.

At the start of the FD, the Director gave an opening remark and so on, and it was shown high expectations of university for the new initiatives.

Though this FD, it was able to reconfirm the differences in our educational objectives, and based on this, it was able to share that the issue is to find the ways of cooperation.

The Hybrid Learning Center is working on various activities using Remote Lecture System. Please read the following website for more information.

・Remote Learning System (Vidyo)

Enacted February 6, 2018 Approved by the Institute of Liberal Arts Sciences General Administration Council

Operating Policies for the Nagoya University Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences Official X (formerly Twitter) Account

1. Purpose

In order to circulate information related to the Nagoya University Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences (hereinafter referred to as “ILAS”), as well as information on events and other matters for freshman and sophomore students, we have obtained an official X (formerly Twitter) account below. We take as our purpose the prompt and accurate delivery of necessary information to those concerned by posting from the account.

• Account name: @NagoyaUniv_ilas
• https://twitter.com/NagoyaUniv_ilas

2. Fundamental Operating Policies

The official X (formerly Twitter) account will be used solely for disseminating information from ILAS, therefore, we will not reply on the account in principle. If students, etc. have any questions for ILAS, they should come to the ILAS Administration Office as before in principle.

3. Intended Uses

1. Information to be posted
1. Information on Liberal Arts & Sciences courses (class cancellations, etc.)
2. Information on the handling of courses and final examinations in the event of a natural disaster
3. Among highly needed information targeting freshman and sophomore students, those matters deemed as appropriate to circulate among students by the Director of the Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences (hereinafter referred to as “the Director”)
2. Response in the event of an emergency
Beyond matters related to ILAS, any information received from the Risk Control Office shall be posted.
3. Information not suitable for posting
If an individual can be identified by the content of a post, such as one which calls upon students, such a post shall not be permitted in the name of safeguarding personal information.
4. Account Operations Supervisor
The Account Operations Supervisor shall be the Director, to be assisted by the Administrative Office of the Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

4. Disclaimers

1. While we are making every possible effort to ensure the accuracy of information posted by the official X (formerly Twitter) account, ILAS does not assume any responsibility for any actions carried out by users who make use of information on the official X (formerly Twitter) account.
2. ILAS does not assume any responsibility for the replies, retweets, comments, etc. posted by users on the official X (formerly Twitter) account.
3. ILAS does not assume any responsibility in the event that any trouble or disputes arise between users or users and third parties related to the official X (formerly Twitter) account.
4. Copyrights associated with comments and other posts shall belong to the users who posted them, however, the users shall be deemed to have agreed to give ILAS the right of non-proprietary use of the contents of their posts worldwide without compensation, and moreover, and to have agreed to not exercise their copyrights, etc. against Nagoya University.

5. Deletion of User Posts

When user posts fall under any of the following items, they may be deleted without prior notice and blocking accounts or other action may be taken.

1. Those which violate laws, etc., or are at risk of doing so
2. Those which infringe upon the rights, or interests protected under law, of ILAS or third parties
3. Harmful programs, etc.
4. Those which alter contents posted by ILAS in part or in its entirety
5. Those unrelated to the contents posted by ILAS
6. Those in which users pose as other users or third parties
7. Those which violate the privacy of others by specifying, disclosing, or otherwise leaking personal information without the consent of these individuals
8. Those which discriminate in terms of human rights, views, beliefs, etc., or otherwise foster discrimination
9. Those which slander specific individuals or groups, etc.
10. Those which include obscenities or are otherwise inappropriate
11. Those which contents are false or different from facts, as well as those which are merely rumors or otherwise encourage the spreading of rumors
12. Those which take as their aim political or religious activities
13. Those which take as their aim advertisement, publicity, solicitation, business or other profit-making activities
14. Those which run contrary to public order or morality
15. Those which ILAS otherwise deems inappropriate, as well as those which link to the information including any of the content mentioned above

6. Reproduction and Quotation

Reproduction or other use of the contents posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account, except for personal use, quotation, etc. permitted under the Copyright Act, is prohibited, unless ILAS has given permission to do so. When quoting, the source of the content must be explicitly stated using the appropriate methods.

7. Circulation of the Operating Policies and Future Changes, etc.

The contents of these Operating Policies will be published on the ILAS website. Furthermore, these Operating Policies may be changed as necessary without prior notification.