Shigakkan University

Throughout the over 100-year history of our university, we have fostered a unique academic culture in which the students are bright and cheerful, and develop a challenging spirit.In the years to come, by firmly inheriting this "Chujyo-ism" (taken from University's previous name: Chukyo Women's University), we will uphold our educational philosophy, which is “Capacity Building for Global Citizenship”, and continue our efforts to hoist our students on our shoulders, for the good of all young people, both male and female.

Once students are able to digest their knowledge and use it at will, this knowledge becomes their intellect. There are many things in society for which clear-cut judgements cannot be made. When students are faced with such circumstances, they will need their own measuring rod. That’s what intellect is. It is also what we believe to be human ability.

The history of Shigakkan can be traced back to Chukyo Sewing Girls’ School, founded by Tamae Naiki in 1905 with an aim to enhance the economic independence and social status of women. Chukyo Girls’ High School was established as an annex in 1921, and the unique educational program focusing on housekeeping and physical exercise made the institution the pioneer in female teacher education in the Chukyo region.

The educational philosophy of the institution was inherited by the Chukyo Women’s Junior College and Chukyo Women’s University, which were inaugurated in 1950 and 1963, respectively. They produced several Olympic medalists in wrestling and became highly acclaimed in the field of physical education. In 2010, the institutes were renamed Shigakkan University and Shigakkan University Junior College and opened their doors as coeducational institutions. Shigakkan’s educational philosophy is ”Capacity Building for Global Citizenship”, which encompasses 5 different areas: ”Wellness”, ”Intellectual Insight”, ”Social Ability”, ”Self Development”, and ”Effective Citizenship”. We place importance on providing thorough education to equip the students with both knowledge and “practical skills.” Our objective is to foster students with independent ideas, the energy to take action, and challenging spirit.

Our educational philosophy at Shigakkan University is one of Capacity Building for Global Citizenship. Human ability, as we define it, comprises the following 5 abilities: "Wellness", "Intellectual Insight", "Social Ability", "Self Development", and "Effective Citizenship". We believe that true human ability results when these five abilities are combined, applied, and developed comprehensively. In other words, this cultivation of human ability accompanies values and ethics that are based on truth and justice, and contributes to self-realization (which is based on a broad perspective and scientific knowledge) as well as human happiness.

Our educational objective is to raise more students to become both physically and mentally healthy with independent ideas, full of a zest for life, with energy to take action, a sense of fellowship, and a never-give-up, challenging spirit. We will aim to develop our university where students play a leading role, both in name and in reality by allowing them to design their own university, because it belongs to them. This will be achieved by providing numerous opportunities for students to take action proactively, based on our educational philosophy.

Today, the tendencies toward low birth rate and aging, globalization, and advanced information society are increasing more rapidly. All of us engaged in the field of education must strive to meet the needs of the times and fulfill the responsibility forward society. Therefore, Shigakkan University will continue to move forward, “challenge,” and “grow together” with the students.

There is no such a thing as “a bad student.” They’re just “not there yet.” Our educational aim is to raise more students to become both physically and mentally healthy with independent ideas, full of a zest for life, with energy to take action, a sense of fellowship, and a never-give-up, challenging yourself.

We will continue to tackle challenges by aiming to develop a vibrant university where students play a leading role, both in name and in reality. This way, the students are able to design their own university, because it belongs to them. This is what we call, Youthful Shigakkan University.