Future University Hakodate fosters innovative learning opportunities in Systems Information Science. In this field, the disparate elements that are involved in real-world processes are interpreted in terms of “information”, and then multiple  approaches are used to conceptualize, model or design the “systems” that connect this information. The school offers a highly sophisticated and unique curriculum of studies in many areas. Students also have significant flexibility to select combinations of preferred subjects such as Design, Art, Communication, Complex Systems Science, and Artificial Intelligence.

Future University Hakodate was founded in 2000 to provide a unique futuristic education and research environment that could contribute to a 21st century world with flourishing scientific technology, art and culture.

The spirit of “Open space, Open mind” is the philosophy behind this enterprising spirit. The vast “Open space” of the main building allows students and teachers to connect and interact openly and be actively involved in the realization of their goals with “Open minds”.

This is the fundamental principle underlying the vitality and energy of our University, and which promotes a dynamic learning environment.

As Japan’s population ages and its birth rates decline, the meaning of higher education in this country is increasingly being questioned. In this context, the learning methodology known as Project-Based Learning or simply PBL, continues to attract global attention and generate excitement. PBL has multiple international roots including John Dewey’s (1897) notion of ‘learning by doing’ but Future University Hakodate (hereafter ‘FUN’) is an early adopter in Japan’s educational context with its PBL coursework having been in operation for almost two decades. Already, the effects and benefits of PBL are being strongly felt since the year 2000 when PBL first became a reality at FUN, a learning institution specializing in the Information Sciences.

Conversational skill becomes very important in establishing individuality from a certain stage in our life. Therefore, we offer extensive basic training to nurture the conversational ability and bring in an expert capable of providing theoretical grounds for such training program as one of the primary pillars in the curriculum. We prioritize scientific communication across learning experiences in the university. Like computer literacy, we treat language as a tool of expression rather than a “separate” independent subject.

The purpose of scientific communication is to nurture talented and confident communicators capable of presenting lectures and explanations about science and technology for laymen through the effective use of various media (e.g. videos, images, audios and printed materials). The activities may include planning and production of science fairs, interactive scientific displays, and printed and electronic media. Such activities require participants to understand, evaluate, and improve their own science communication skills. The learning consists of presentations, display designing, media utilization technology, cognitive and communication theories, coordinated problem solving, project organization, etc. To put these schemes into practice, the university has the museum space, a place open to the local community where various people come in and engage in collaborative activities.

In the modern networked society, each regional community is directly linked to the world. Despite the connectedness, we firmly believe that starting with a thorough investigation of the local with its “uniqueness” is the necessary and essential first step to any serious works on social problems. Future University Hakodate aspires to carve out the future as a Center for Knowledge Creation, through both its contributions to local and international societies.