


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: https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en
VSE Season 1, 2022-23: Courses offered by Osaka University
Important - Read Before Applying
Before applying, please make sure you understand the following enrolment restrictions set by the course offering university:
Each student can apply and enroll in ONE academic course offered by Osaka University at VSE Season 1, 2022-23 only. If you have submitted two applications to Osaka University courses, the VSE Central Office will withdraw the SECOND application without prior notice. If you wish to change your course selection after making the first application, please make a request by emailing [email protected].
Application Deadline
Students must submit an application to the VSE Central Office before:
Aug 15, 2022 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)
Academic Requirements
Before applying, please make sure you have fulfilled the course offering university's academic requirements listed below:
It is hoped that only participants who intent to complete the courses will apply.
For more details, please contact the VSE coordinator at Osaka University.
Course Information
Course information posted on this page are provided by the course offering university and may be changed or updated anytime without prior notice.
Click on the course titles to reveal full course details:
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | International College (Human Sceinces) | ||
Course Teacher | CAVALIERE, Paola | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-07 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-03 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Fri 1330-1500 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | This course explores contemporary Japanese religion and society through the exploration of common themes in worldview of the Japanese people and its changing patterns in contemporary Japan. The course will be divided into thematic modules: the pervasiveness of religion in everyday life; the meaning of ‘religion’ in the Japanese context; the intimate bond between religion and the nation; and the gendered aspects of Japanese religions. We will consider a variety of issues, including how religious ideas may tell us about Japanese families today; what the importance of purification, specific rituals, and amulets reveal about the everyday lived religion; how religions have been adopting new strategies to meet individuals’ needs (marketing strategies and media); and how gender norms are shifting in contemporary Japanese religious institutions as they are in contemporary Japanese society. Students will not only gain broad knowledge of core aspects of Japanese religions and culture but will also be encouraged to think critically and compare these themes with similar situations abroad. Although some background knowledge of Japan is helpful, it is not required. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | The course will introduce to main ideas and theories in sociology of religion. Students are expected to engage in careful reading and study about academic study of religion and its research methods. | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Graduate School of Science | ||
Course Teacher | HATANO, Takahiro | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-04 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-07 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Tue 1650-1820 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | The aim of this course is to introduce students to the current status of Earth and Space science, which is a rapidly developing area of research. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Center for International Education and Exchange | ||
Course Teacher | KONDO, Sachihiko | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-05 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-08 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Wed 1330-1500 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | This lecture is designed for students who wish to study critical readings on news stories (i.e. media literacy). In this series of lectures, not only theories of communication, but also the history of mass media in modern Japanese society will be discussed. In so doing, several aspects of the mass media will be studied, such as newspapers, broadcast (TV), magazine journalism, and so on. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 1 | ||
Offering Department | Graduate School of Science | ||
Course Teacher | KUBO, Takashi | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-04 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2022-11-29 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Tue 1510-1640 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | This course provides a overview of the fundamental principles of organic structure and property. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | Undergraduate students are also eligible to take the course, but must have the same specialized knowledge as graduate students (master's course) | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Center for International Education and Exchange | ||
Course Teacher | HOSOKAI, Tomonao | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-06 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-03 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Thu, Fri 1650-1820, 1830-2000 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | SANKEN at Osaka University has been conducting top-level research works in the wide range of information, quantum, advanced materials, beam, biological, molecular, nanotechnology, and AI science. In this lecture, we will not only introduce the latest research results in these fields, but also explain the future trends in research and development. Moreover, from our lecture, you will be received the proposals how to connect the research knowledge to industrial technology. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 1 | ||
Offering Department | Center for Global Initiatives | ||
Course Teacher | FUJITA, Kiyoshi | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-03 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-08 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | N/A | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | Osaka University celebrated its 90th anniversary on 1 May 2021, while the 100th anniversary of the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, which was integrated with OU in 2007, was also in 2021. As one of our celebration events, we held the Osaka University Anniversary Lecture Series, a special online lecture program offered to students at our partner universities. These lectures were delivered by OU professors in a wide variety of fields ranging from the natural sciences to the humanities. This time we decided to share these special lectures with you asynchronously (on demand). You can select any 5 lectures or more you like by yourself from the selective lectures from 4 to 29 below in addition to three required lectures! After you learn at least 8 lectures among 29 lectures, submit required assignment, and meet requirements, you can earn 1 credit. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | Students who took "88A050 Osaka University Anniversary Lecture" at VSE Season 2, 2021-22 are not allowed to take this course. | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Center for Global Initiatives | ||
Course Teacher | BARRETT, Brendan | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-06 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-02 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Thu 1300-1430 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | The objective of this course is to the explore climate science and to critically evaluate climate change impacts and responses in the Asia/Pacific region. The course is a collaboration between the Osaka University, Waseda University, Tsukuba University, National University of Samoa, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and other university partners. As such, students experience an unique opportunity to connect with their peers across this region to discuss the climate crisis. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Center for Global Initiatives | ||
Course Teacher | ISTEK, Cihangir | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-04 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-07 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Tue 1830-2000 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | Today, design is not only for designers, but it can also be utilized as "knowledge", "idea" and "method" by all people in various fields, business and services to improve life and society. In this course, students will learn the basic idea of design and the methods for discovering, defining, and solving problems, focusing on the human-centered design approach. Through the theme of this course, the purpose is to discover the significance and issues of sustainable living centered on human beings, and to reconsider things and the environment from a design thinking perspective. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students are not allowed. | ||
Points to Note for Students | This course particularly intends to develop Literacy Skills in Design with other core skills like communication, expression, and collaboration. | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 2 | ||
Offering Department | Center for Global Initiatives | ||
Course Teacher | ISTEK, Cihangir | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-10-06 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-02 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Synchronous / Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | Thu 1830-2000 | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | We often use the words like “design”, “creativity”, "innovation", which are essentially the abilities of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. This course deals with the cultivation of such abilities for sustainable solutions. People whom we call "designers", "creators", "innovators" 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 methods and processes that have been decisively shaping current design thinking and practices. The course will be given with two different, but complementary focuses: (1) Thoughts/Inspirations: Concepts and Methods (Online Seminars, Weekly Readings/Screenings/Listening Course Assignments), and (2) Practices: Quizzes; Online Forums -Questions, Response Slides; Student-led Lesson Assignments, and Course Project. | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students are not allowed. | ||
Points to Note for Students | This course particularly intends to develop Literacy Skills in Design with other core skills like communication, expression, and collaboration. | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Number of Credits | 1 | ||
Offering Department | School of Engineering Science | ||
Course Teacher | UMAKOSHI, Hiroshi | ||
Language of Instruction | English | ||
First Day of Class | 2022-12-05 | ||
Last Day of Class | 2023-02-08 | ||
Course Component | Lecture | ||
Mode of Teaching | Asynchronous | ||
Meeting Time | N/A | ||
Time Zone | UTC+09 | ||
Course Description | The basics of chemical engineering are introduced. By employing chemical process as a case study, students will understand a conventional strategy on "Chemical Engineering": (i) Mass Balance (Unit Operations), (ii) Physico-Chemical Approach (Transport Phenomena / Equilibrium), (iii) Process Design. At the final stage, students will learn (iv) a new strategy utilizing self-organizing system, called as "Bio-Inspired Chemical Engineering". | ||
Course Outline | |||
Course Prerequisites/Restrictions | N/A | ||
Points to Note for Students | N/A | ||
Fees to be Borne by Students | N/A |
Before Making an Application
Make sure you have thoroughly read the information on this page and the Academics page before making an application. If you have a question, email us at [email protected] or contact the VSE Coordinators at your home university or course offering university,