Nagoya University

Nagoya University, originally founded as a medical school in 1871, gained the status of an imperial university in Japan when it was officially established in 1939 as Nagoya Imperial University. This establishment marked Nagoya University as the last of the imperial universities created, expanding its role in higher education and research in Japan.

Nagoya University underwent a significant reorganization in 1949, when the National School Establishment Law was enacted. This law restructured many universities in Japan, leading Nagoya University to expand its faculties and become a comprehensive institution of higher education offering various undergraduate and graduate programs.

In 1961, Nagoya University established its Graduate School of Science, enhancing the university's research capabilities and graduate education in the natural sciences. This school has since been instrumental in various scientific discoveries and contributions, supporting advanced research and fostering the development of future scientists in numerous fields.

Nagoya University Hospital was officially established in 1974, playing a vital role in medical education, research, and patient care. The hospital serves as a crucial facility for the university's medical school, providing cutting-edge healthcare services and advanced clinical training for medical students and professionals.

The Nagoya University Museum, which opened in 1996, plays a pivotal role in the preservation and presentation of cultural and scientific traditions. It supports the university's mission by exhibiting scientific collections, historical artifacts, and promoting educational outreach to foster a deeper understanding of natural history and academic research.

On April 1, 2000, Nagoya University transitioned into a National University Corporation. This change was part of a wider national policy to give more autonomy to national universities in Japan, allowing them to make independent decisions about administration, curriculum, and finances. This autonomy aimed to improve the universities' operational efficiency and international competitiveness.

In 2001, Nagoya University established its Academic Charter, outlining the university's commitment to academic freedom, integrity, and contribution to society. The charter sets forth the core principles that guide the university's educational and research missions and emphasizes the importance of both local and international collaboration.

Nagoya University was selected as one of the core universities to implement the Global 30 Project in 2008, an initiative by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology in Japan aimed at globalizing Japanese higher education. The project includes offering degree programs in English and promoting international student exchange to foster a more international academic environment.

Professor Shinya Yamanaka, a former student at Nagoya University, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. This groundbreaking work has significant implications for regenerative medicine, as it opened the door to new research approaches for developing regenerative therapies.

In 2014, Professor Hiroshi Amano, a renowned researcher at Nagoya University, shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Isamu Akasaki and Shuji Nakamura for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes. This breakthrough ultimately enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources, fundamentally transforming lighting technology worldwide.