Undergraduate course
Application
Faculty of Engineering and Design
1. Educational Principles
Japanese industries whose lifeblood has been developing and manufacturing goods and products (the process of monozukuri) are now transitioning from the era of "mass production" and "mass consumption" to one that calls for innovation in the fields of crafting not just products (monozukuri) but also intangible things (kotozukuri). This situation calls for individuals who possess the design thinking skills to create tangible and intangible things with high-added value and abundant distinctive features that permit flexible responses to people's diverse needs. Furthermore, if the ideas about tangible or intangible things that we come up with are truly new, then making them a reality will always carry with it a considerable amount of risk. Additionally, these "things" of whatever nature may also be called upon to be of use not only in ordinary situations but also in times of crisis. Accordingly, it will be necessary to have people around who have the ability to manage risk. Accordingly, the Faculty of Engineering and Design has set down the following educational principles to produce engineering graduates for the next generation equipped with the following abilities.
The Department of Engineering and Design at Kagawa University focuses on creating a harmonious relationship between people, cultures, safety, industry and the environment. Through a comprehensive foundation in basic engineering skills we aim to develop engineers with strong morals and an international outlook.?
2. Educational Objectives
The objective of the Faculty of Engineering and Design is to nurture the following qualities in our students:
- (1) the basic math skills required of an engineering graduate regardless of specialization
- (2) a superior ethical perspective and the interpersonal and crosscultural communication skills it supports
- (3) the capacity to understand the local community and to create value in cooperation with that community
- (4) the design thinking skills produced by integrating an aesthetic sensibility, an understanding of diversity, an ability to plan, and an ability to develop prototypes; and
- (5) the ability to grasp and sort out a variety of risks and work out measures for dealing with them in advance, along with the risk management skills for coping with even unexpected situations
3. Content of Education
The subjects taught in the Faculty of Engineering and Design are divided broadly into "common" and "Faculty" subjects.
"Common subjects" are classes geared to all students at the university. They are of a general liberal arts nature meant to enhance a student's humanistic cultivation. These include courses such as introductory seminars of a small class size for first-year students on learning the skills needed to pursue one's studies at the university level, classes aimed at developing the information literacy so students will have the skill needed to function in our information technology society, and courses on specific topics for studying some of the issues and problems faced in contemporary society.
"Faculty subjects" are classes designed specifically for students in a given faculty. Here, they are designed to give students the grounding required by an engineering professional. "Faculty subjects" are divided broadly into classes for all students in the faculty aimed at developing their ethical sensibility as engineers, communication abilities, design thinking skills, and risk management abilities, and specialized subjects aimed at deepening students' expertise in their respective fields.
The Faculty of Engineering and Design offers seven courses (degree programs) for developing the expertise that its graduates should have in order to handle "creating culture," "creating a climate of safety," and "creating industry." Each course offers specialized subjects unique to their respective programs aimed at developing the kinds of graduates described below.
4.Academic Skills, Capabilities, and Qualifications Required of Matriculating Students
Prospective students are expected to have the following kinds of academic skills, capabilities, and competencies.
[1] Solid Acquisition of Knowledge and Skills
＊Basic academic knowledge and skills necessary to study the specialized fields at the Faculty of Engineering and Design backed with a broad range of learning focused primarily on studies in high school―Japanese, a foreign language, mathematics, and science
[2] Critical Thinking, Judgement, and Self-expression
＊Logical thinking ability and judgement, coupled with evidence-based scientific thinking skills and ability to think critically, in order to get a multifaceted and comprehensive grasp of the specialized fields as well as to solve the problems respective to each
＊Ability to think about things from a multiplicity of perspectives, and ability to express one's own thoughts in ways that are also easy for other people to understand
[3] Independence, Diversity, and Cooperativeness
＊Cooperativeness and communication skills needed for interacting autonomously with people of diverse backgrounds, respecting their views and values, and making effort to work toward mutual understanding
[4] Interests, Desire, and Attitude
＊Possessing an interest in one or another in the specialized fields that the Faculty of Engineering and Design engages with, along with the desire to, and an appreciation of the worth of, engaging actively of their own volition and on a continuous basis with those same issues; having the will to give expression to the knowledge and techniques that one has acquired in an easy-to-understand manner; and possessing the desire and attitude needed to help create a symbiotic environment, develop the local community, and be of use to the international community
＊An attitude signifying the student will continue to make their presence felt in the world at large—meaning not just in Japan but anywhere—as an engineer and continue to learn throughout their life
[5] Ethics and Social Responsibility
＊As an engineer in one of specialized fields, and also as a member of society, to have self-awareness and a sense of responsibility along with the ability to understand the role that one should be playing in society together with one's ethical and social responsibilities
◇Details of the Achievements Expected Prior to Matriculation
We ask that new students have acquired basic academic skills in high school mainly in the areas of Japanese, foreign language(s), mathematics, and science. New students should understand the principles of the present faculty, respect the opinions and values of others, and have the communication skills to allow them to care for others as engineering professionals. Accordingly, we want them to cultivate their abilities to express their own ideas and nurture both their independence and cooperativeness from a broad-minded perspective through student council, extracurricular clubs, and volunteer activities.
5.Outline of Admissions Exam Methods
○ General Admissions Test
＊Phase 1 dates
In order to secure a student body with diverse capabilities and aspirations, we accept two categories of students. Category A applicants are individuals who have completed courses mainly in the sciences at high school or equivalent as a mixture of subjects to be covered in the exam, while Category B applicants are individuals for whom the preceding conditions do not apply but still have an interest in the education provided by the Faculty of Engineering and Design. Individuals who wish enroll in Program in Media and Product Design; MPD or Program in Disaster and Crisis Management; DCM can be also selected as Category B applicants. Given this faculty's wish to have students whose objectives are to pursue engineering and design based on a broad perspective not restrained by the framework of conventional humanities or sciences, for the first stage we test applicants on 7 subjects in 5 subject areas in the National Center Test for University Admissions (for Category B applicants 6 subjects in 5 subject areas, based on elective subjects in the sciences). For university's separate secondary exam, we employ one test from among the basic science and mathematics-related subjects (Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry). Category B applicants seeking to enroll in Program in Media and Product Design can also chose a General subject, while Category B applicants seeking to enroll in Program in Disaster and Crisis Management can also choose the Earth Science subject.
＊Phase 2 dates
In the second stage, we are generally concerned with the applicant's judgement and ability to respond to a variety of issues related to science and technology, as well as their basic capabilities when it comes to playing an active role in the international community of the future. Accordingly, we test applicants through the National Center Test for University Admissions on 7 subjects in 5 subject areas. For the university's separate secondary exam, we require a short essay aimed at determining whether the applicant has the necessary qualifications and capabilities to study engineering in a form ideal to the 21st century.
○ Special Admissions Tests
＊Admissions Office Entrance Exam
In the 1st Selection, we evaluate the content of the application materials in their entirety for the applicant's interest, desire, attitude, ability to think, judgement, powers of expression, independence, diversity, and cooperativeness. In the 2nd Selection, we evaluate those applicants who pass the 1st Selection through an interview and one of an oral exam, presentation, or short essay. The oral exam evaluates basic academic skills and future potential. The presentation evaluates power of ideas, creative faculties, capacity for logical thought, and powers of expression with respect to the issues in the relevant program. The essay evaluates capacity for logical thought and powers of expression, along with their grounding in physics and mathematics. The interview evaluates desire to improve oneself, logicality, and positiveness of attitude. These various components are assessed comprehensively to determine the final successful applicants.
＊Recommendation-based Entrance Exam Imposing the National Center Test for University Admissions (Recommendation II)
In the Recommendation II selection, we use National Center Test for University Admissions exams on 4 subjects in the 3 subject areas of Mathematics, Sciences, and Foreign Languages to evaluate the basic academic skills required to study engineering and design. Additionally, in our screening of written reports, we emphasize alongside the state of the applicant's studies their engagement with student council, extracurricular clubs, and similar activities, as well as any special skills, obtained qualifications, and the like that they may have. These various items are evaluated comprehensively from the perspective of such factors as creative impulse, independence, sociality, and positive attitude.
＊Entrance Exam for Privately Funded Foreign Students
This exam is intended for foreign students who come to Japan with the objective of obtaining an education at an educational institution in this country. We employ an interview format with exam questions related to mathematics and science to evaluate the applicant's capacity to understand a university education in Japan.