Learning at Future University Hakodate

To succeed in college

The decision is yours.

In high school, classes begin with the sound of a bell. However, in university, you head to your designated classroom to arrive on time for the start of class. You create your own class schedule. You decide how to use your time—that's university. You can choose what to do and what not to do. Furthermore, you are also responsible for the consequences of the decisions you make.

Tackling problems with no solutions

Acquiring knowledge and skills is important. But why not think together about what lies beyond that, in the future? Let's cultivate the awareness of being a university graduate and develop the ability to fulfill that role in society. Let's consider how we can contribute to the advancement of humanity, going beyond personal gain, as global citizens, local citizens, social leaders, and innovators.

What is needed for this is the ability to continuously learn, as well as the ability to discuss with people who have diverse values, identify problems that are occurring, and solve them collaboratively. At Future University, we believe that improving oneself throughout one's life through these experiences is the foundation of learning.

Doesn't it make you a little excited to think about how you can learn new things with curiosity, have fun with your friends, and create a better future together?

Freedom comes with responsibility.

Once you enter university, it's your responsibility to establish your own daily routine—when to sleep, when to wake up, and what to do. While you have freedom, you are also responsible for any consequences that arise. You have 24 hours in a day. How you allocate that time and what you use it for is entirely up to you.

Furthermore, you will be responsible for the consequences. University students are required to be self-reliant in various aspects of their lives, not just time management. Future University wants to move towards the future together with independent and self-reliant students.

A road race of self-discovery

Test scores, class and grade rankings... in elementary, middle, and high school, there was always competition. In university, however, the race shifts from competing with others to competing against yourself. You set your own goal and set off towards it.

However, there will be setbacks and detours along the way. The first year is spent exploring which major to pursue while learning foundational subjects, the second year is dedicated to specialized subjects after being divided into courses, the third year is filled with team-based "project learning," and the fourth year is a mandatory graduation research project for all students. The four years may be a continuous cycle of trial and error and reflection. But let's enjoy that process. Even if you don't reach your goal right away, you will gain a lot from the experience.

Getting to know yourself, figuring out what you want to do, and what research topic you'll continue on—the road race of self-discovery is interesting precisely because it has its ups and downs.

Ask, and it will be opened to you!

No matter how much you think about it, you just can't figure it out... In classes and assignments, there are many things you can't solve on your own. Some assignments don't even have a single "correct answer," which can be quite perplexing. Before you reach a dead end, make good use of "learning support."

Media Library, Meta-Learning Lab, Connections Cafe, faculty, staff, seniors, friends…etc. Future University offers a truly diverse range of learning support. Knowing when and where to seek support is where your initiative and proactiveness will be crucial. For those who seek, the path will open!

Learn with an open mind

Uploading what you've learned to the campus network, sharing it with everyone, and commenting on each other's work is one of the unique forms of communication at Future University. In various situations where you present your learning outcomes, you naturally hone essential communication skills for being a member of society, such as listening, speaking, conveying, and persuading.

Another characteristic of Future University is the openness of its faculty and staff. The faculty members work alongside students as experienced partners, and the staff also have a strong sense of being part of a "team," supporting the students. All members of the Future University community look forward to meeting you in this open environment with an open mind.

Four years of learning flow

All students advance to the School of Systems Information Science in their first year, and students begin their individual departments and courses from their second year. A key feature of learning at Future University is that students can choose their department or course while building a solid foundation over the course of a year. As students progress from the basics to specialization, their interests broaden as they learn, and their own research themes gradually become clearer.

1 st

Master the fundamentals

Future University employs a class system for first-year students. All students belong to the "School of Systems Information Science," where they thoroughly learn the fundamentals of information technology, including information science, mathematics, and programming, preparing them for their departmental and course selection in their second year. It's a crucial year for students to discover the joy of broad learning and to confirm their own aptitudes and areas of interest. This is the first step towards the future.

2 st

Students specialize in different academic courses.

Future University has two departments and five courses: "Department of Media Architecture/Information Systems Course, Information Design Course, and Advanced ICT Course (elected in the third year)" and "Department of Complex and Intelligent Systems/Complex Systems Course and Intelligent System Course". Students choose their department and course in the second semester of their first year, and then begin their specialized studies in their second year.

3 st

Develop practical skills through teamwork.

In their third year, all students participate in "Project-Based Learning," a unique subject offered only at Future University. Teams are formed across departmental and course boundaries, each working on a specific theme, and they spend a year tackling a problem. This active learning process involves collaborative work to explore problem-solving processes and ultimately achieve a certain level of success. The greatest reward is the practical skills and teamwork that cannot be acquired through desk work or computer-based learning.
Furthermore, third-year students participate in career and further education guidance sessions, making it a crucial year for deciding on their future career paths.

4 st

Graduation research: the culmination of learning.

In the second semester of their third year, students choose a research lab to join, and from their fourth year onward, they dedicate a year to their "graduation research," the culmination of their university studies. They utilize the knowledge, skills, and practical abilities they have acquired in their respective departmental and course specializations to immerse themselves in their research themes. Some students further develop the themes they worked on during their third-year project-based learning.