• Courses

    upage_Osaka

    Osaka University
    Osaka, Japan

    Osaka University is committed to contributing to global society through the upholding of its motto, “Live Locally, Grow Globally.” It prides itself in successfully conducting research and educating the next generation of scholars in a multitude of disciplines ranging from humanities, social sciences, medicine, dentistry and pharmaceutical science, to life and engineering sciences.

    Osaka University was founded as Japan’s sixth national university in 1931 and has evolved into one of the country’s most prominent institutions. As part of the efforts to strengthen international activities, Osaka University opened four overseas offices. They are the North American Center for Academic Initiatives in San Francisco, USA, in 2004, European Center for Academic Initiatives in Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2005, ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2006 and East Asian Center for Academic Initiatives in Shanghai, China, in 2010.

    Furthermore, Osaka University’s strong education and research capacities were enhanced by merging with the former Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 2007, creating a synergy to improve international cooperation and research on global issues. We also established a new center for international cooperation named the “Global Collaboration Center” in 2007. It aims to draw strength from networks, both local and international, cooperating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the National Museum of Ethnology as well as other government and international organizations, agencies, industries. We hope that it provides a new mechanism for inter-university collaboration.

    Website: www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en

    Course Offerings for the semester from January to August 2021

    APPLICATION CLOSED

    Students must submit an application online before:
    February 8, 2021 12:00nn Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)

    Home universities must submit the list of endorsed students to VSE Central Office before:
    February 9, 2021 12:00nn Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)



    Click on the course titles to reveal full course details:
    Number of Credits2
    Offering DepartmentGraduate School of Information Science and Technology
    Course TeacherProf. Masayuki Numao
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassApr 12, 2021
    Last Day of ClassAug 2, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeMon 1330-1500
    Time ZoneUTC+9
    Restrictions-
    Course DescriptionArtificial Intelligence (AI) pursues intelligent computers. Computers are now so intelligent that one has already defeated the World Champion in chess several times, communicates with its user in English or Japanese, discovers a new knowledge from a huge data file, and designs a picture and a music piece. This lecture lays the foundation of such technologies where adaptation and learning are crucial. Data Mining is also discussed from the view point of AI and Machine Learning.
    Course OutlineEnglish
    Number of Credits2
    Offering DepartmentCo*Design Center
    Course TeacherProf. Cihangir Istek
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassApr 9, 2021
    Last Day of ClassJul 30, 2021
    Course ComponentVarious Course Components

    Course elements include: Online Seminars, Weekly Readings/Screenings/Listening, Course Assignments, Online Forum -Questions, Thoughts and Feedbacks, Student-led Lesson Assignments, and Course Project. This course particularly intends to develop LITERACY SKILLS with other core skills like communication, expression, and collaboration.
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous / Asynchronous
    Meeting TimeFri 1030-1200
    Time ZoneUTC+9
    RestrictionsRequirements:
    - Interest in design, documentation and design management
    - Belief in design and creative processes
    - Motivation and enthusiasm in creative thinking and problem solving
    - Basic online skills (research, editing, technological etc.)
    Course DescriptionThis course deals with the cultivation of creative ideas for sustainable solutions. Designers often employ various methods to help them find more creative solutions. These methods make it possible to break free of the established paradigms. At the same time, there must be enough leeway for a functional, systematic and creative design conception to take place. This course focuses on the creative process, methods and tools that have decisively shaped current design thinking and practices.
    Course OutlineEnglish
    Number of Credits2
    Offering DepartmentCo*Design Center
    Course TeacherProf. Brendan Barrett
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassApr 15, 2021
    Last Day of ClassJun 3, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture

    Assignments will involve reading, listening to or reviewing relevant sources before class, strategy development and presenting.    		Discussion/Collaborative Activities/Student Presentations
    Mode of TeachingSynchronousSynchronous
    Meeting TimeThu 1510-1640Thu 1650-1820
    Time ZoneUTC+9
    Restrictions-
    Course DescriptionThis course is designed for students who are concerned about how best to effectively communicate their scientific knowledge and research outputs to their target audience. The course provides valuable insights and develops competencies around representation, issue framing and the expression of scientific concerns. Applying knowledge developed through this course, students will experiment with the design of media communication strategies.
    Course OutlineEnglish
    Number of Credits2
    Offering DepartmentSchool of Human Sciences
    Course TeacherAsst. Prof. Aleksandra Babovic
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassApr 12, 2021
    Last Day of ClassJul 26, 2021
    Course ComponentDiscussion/Practice

    Students must commit to this class so that the negotiations can take place smoothly.
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous / Asynchronous
    Meeting TimeMon 1510-1640
    Time ZoneUTC+9
    Restrictions-
    Course DescriptionThe course is designed to provide you with a practical knowledge and skills that will be of value to you in your career and life overall. You will be equipped with knowledge and practical tools on how to prepare for a negotiation setting by understanding it, as well as tactics and strategies at your disposal to choose from during negotiations for getting the best outcome possible. In addition, you will be able to better navigate and understand the role of emotions in negotiations, how to effectively communicate with your counterparts, and also use power in the course of negotiation process. Finally, the course will look at the role of culture in multi-party international negotiations and the best strategies on how to navigate these extremely complex settings. You will be able to exercise yourselves during 3 sets of negotiations that we will have during this semester that are designed by Harvard Business School (Program on Negotiation).
    Course OutlineEnglish
    Number of Credits2
    Offering DepartmentSchool of Human Sciences
    Course TeacherAsso. Prof. Paola Cavaliere
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassApr 14, 2021
    Last Day of ClassJul 28, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture/Discussion/Case Studies

    Driving Questions:
    • What communalities and differences can you find when looking at students’ experience in different countries or geographical area?
    • How are the social, institutional, political and economic contexts shaping the way educational institutions respond to the coronavirus pandemic?
    • How policy-makers are responding differently to the need of guaranteeing education during the pandemic? The outcome of your weekly search and work should help you produce your final project that you are expected to present at the end of this course.
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeWed 1030-1200
    Time ZoneUTC+9
    RestrictionsThis is and advanced course building on previous learning and knowledge received at International Education course level. Please refer to International Education course syllabus. A screening will be performed on non-G30 students to assess students’ pre-requisites and requirements.
    Course DescriptionMany important educational questions can best be examined from an international-comparative perspective. For example, in the United States there is no nationwide certificate of completion of secondary education. This raises the question of what the advantages and disadvantages are of leaving such certification to each of the 50 states, and how to assess qualifications for equivalency. On the other hand, what are the advantages and disadvantages of centralized certifications such as in Japan? Comparing educational systems helps to describe purposes, processes, or outcomes. It may also assist in the development of educational institutions and practices; highlight the relationships between education and society; and establish generalized statements about education that are valid in more than one country. But what does it mean to compare educational systems? What kind of knowledge do comparative studies of educational systems provide and how does this knowledge differ from that produced by other types of educational research? What is the difference between Comparative and International studies in education policy? How do these approaches to inquiry in education inform our knowledge of educational policy and politics and inform specific policies in education? This course will explore these questions by reviewing the ways in which comparative educational research has been pursued, focusing on issues of theory and methodology, and applying them to specific case studies.
    Course OutlineEnglish



    Course enrollment is subject to final approval from your home university and the course offering university. Please contact the APRU VSE Coordinator of your home university for credit transfer information.