| University of the Ryukyus | |
|---|---|
| 琉球大学 | |
| Established | May 22, 1950 |
| Type | Public (National) |
| President | Teruo Iwamasa[1] |
| Academic staff | 462 |
| Admin. staff | 1,265 |
| Students | 8,098 |
| Undergraduates | 7,078 |
| Postgraduates | 1,020 |
| Doctoral students | 278 |
| Other students | 8 |
| Location | Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | ASAIHL |
| Website | http://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/ |
The University of the Ryukyus (琉球大学 Ryūkyū Daigaku), abbreviated to Ryūdai (琉大), is a national university of Japan. It is located in the town of Nishihara on Okinawa Honto in Okinawa Prefecture. There are also campuses in Nakagusuku and Ginowan. It is the westernmost national university of Japan and the largest public university in Okinawa Prefecture. Since Ryūdai boasts a large-scale medical school and many distinguished faculty members, it is recognized as the most prestigious university in Okinawa.
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Under the auspices of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands, the University of the Ryukyus was founded, as a territorial university, on the site of the historic Shuri Castle in Naha on May 22, 1950. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands in 1966.
Ryūdai became a Japanese national university on May 15, 1972, upon Okinawa's return to Japan. The university had been situated on the site of the Shuri Castle in Naha, it had moved to its current locations during 1975 and 1984 in order for the revival of the castle.
The university was a state-run university from 1972 until 2004, when it was reclassified as a 'national university corporation' under the Japanese government's changes to the national university system.
Okinawa was the site of the final battle of the Pacific War, which resulted in thousands of deaths as well as heavy destruction to its nature and cultural heritage. To this day, vast US bases still remain in Okinawa. For these reasons, the University of the Ryukyus has followed its guiding principles of "Freedom and Equality, Tolerance and Peace" since its founding. The quest for truth, and the desire to make a meaningful contribution to both its immediate region and to global society more broadly continue to be its primary objectives.
The philosophical view held by the University of the Ryukyus is that the world continues to change dramatically in the 21st century, global warming has become a serious threat, and that the wasteful use of resources for development primarily benefiting advanced countries has and continues to lead to the depletion of natural resources and regional conflicts. The world view expressed by the university holds to the immorality of living in perpetuation of such trends.
As such, it is held to be important for modern societies to put an emphasis on the wisdom and philosophy of the underdeveloped countries of the world, particularly those in the southern hemisphere (this belief being influenced by Okinawa's position as Japan's southernmost prefecture and also the poorest in the country), as alternatives to the theories and practices that benefit the advancement of the nations of the north. Therefore, the University pays particular attention to the role and import of ecology and environmentalism.
The University of the Ryukyus was established under the guidance of Michigan State University. It has since developed its own traditions of contributing to and advancing the position of the local community, of conducting international exchange, of broadening the knowledge base of the people of Okinawa through academic and educational activities, particularly on a regional level with other Asian countries with whom it shares many commonalities, and also to make a global intellectual contribution via its exchanges with Europe and America. Furthermore, it seeks to enhance development of human resources, regardless of gender and nationality.
The goals of the university can be summarized as; 1: The contribution to society both locally and globally through education and research, 2: The advancement of knowledge with other Asian countries through international exchange, and 3: Conducting high-quality education and research as a global knowledge hub in the Far East.
The mission of the University of the Ryukyus is to send promising individuals out into society with a high-quality education. It aims to cultivate individuals with the following qualities:
The University of the Ryukyus strives to make contributions to both local and global society based on founding traditions and principles. In order to develop this university as a knowledge hub to the world, it is necessary to have dedication and nurturing young individuals is of vital importance.
This university has played its role over the years in developing leaders who are active in areas such as science, fine arts, as well as politics and economics. Although it will continue to develop high quality individuals in these areas, the university must respond to emerging trends that will have both a local and global impact, such as social change as a result of globalization and population shifts.
It needs to look at academic development in new areas, as well as in fields of an interdisciplinary nature. With these matters in mind, it has established the following goals:
In order to aim towards future expansion and the achievement of its goals, it is necessary to have high-caliber faculty and students with drive, along with a sound financial basis and flexible management. The university has high hopes and expectations on its strongly-motivated students.