About Hokkaido University’s OpenCourseWare

Welcome to Hokkaido University OpenCourseWare’s home page! Here, we offer educational videos and resources made from lectures and courses given at Hokkaido University. We would like to encourage our viewers to use these resources for both personal and educational purposes.

We strive to show the results of the education and knowledge produced at Hokkaido University by providing video and lecture materials to viewers domestic and abroad. Moreover, we shall continue to use the internet as a platform to actively take on new challenges and produce new educational resources.

1-Dec-15

Hokkaido University Open Education Center

The Geneology of Knowledge

Hokkaido University’s origin can be traced back to 1876 in the frontier age, when Sapporo Agricultural College was founded as the first modern university in Japan. After this, Sapporo Agricultural College would develop into an Imperial University before becoming the current Hokkaido University in 1948. Over the course of this long history, Hokkaido University has reached new heights in education and research by pursuing the following ideals: “Maintaining the Frontier Spirit,” “Fostering International Relations,” “Providing Education for Everyone,” and “Remembering the Importance of Practical Education.”

Sapporo Agricultural College was originally equipped to educate 50 students, years 1 through 4. When Sapporo Agricultural College first opened, 4 foreign instructors were hired to come from abroad, including the now famous William Clark. All of their lectures were given in English.

Classes proceeded with students writing the content of the lectures being dictated by the instructors. The instructors would then check their notes and correct any mistakes.

In collaboration with the Hokkaido University archives, we would like to present a partial digitalization of some of the lecture notes taken during that time period for web-viewing.

These materials are extremely important for understanding the beginnings of higher education in Japan. Please, take a look.

• “Lectures on Structural and Physiological Botany” Professor W.S. Clark/Notes Written by Shōsuke Satō
• “Lectures on Agriculture” Professor William P. Brooks/Notes Written by Inazō Nitobe
• “Botany” Professor D. P. Penhallow/Notes Written by Kingo Miyabe
• “Lectures on Mathematics” C. H. Peabody/Notes Written by Takajirō Ikeda
• “Notes on Civil Engineering” C. H. Peabody/Notes Written by Isami Hiroi
• “Lectures on Surveying” C. H. Peabody/Notes Written by S. Ibuki

Student Life at Sapporo Agricultural College

Because Sapporo Agricultural College was founded with the goal of helping to develop the frontier in Hokkaido, students were required to work on the frontier for at least 5 years after graduating. Students were required to graduate within 4 years. Successful graduates received a “Bachelor of Science” (according to Clark’s English translation). The following principle courses were given at Sapporo Agricultural University:

English/Japanese Language, Oratory Skills, Writing Composition, Drawing, Legal Writing, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Surveying, Civil Engineering, Science, Astronomy, Chemistry, Phytology, Veterinary Studies, Geology, Human or Comparative Dissection and Physiology, Ethics and Morals, Economics, Agriculture and Gardening

The school year was divided into two semesters. The first semester started from the 4th Thursday of August and lasted until the 4th Wednesday of December. The 2nd semester started from the 4th Thursday of January and lasted until the 1st Wednesday of July. Students were expected spend at least 4 hours on their school work every day, whether it be preparing for the next lesson or reviewing the previous lecture. (From 北大125年)

Here, you can find all the promotional content and announcements made by Hokkaido University OpenCourseWare.

OpenCourseWare Seminars

• The Future that Art and Technology will bring (2012, Japanese)
• OpenCourseWare and Open Education
• How Bad is the Reactor Meltdown in Japan? (KITP Public Lecture Series)（2010）
• Recent Trends in OpenCourseWare (2009, Japanese)
• Openness and the Disaggregated Future of Higher Education（2008）

Activity Reports

• Activity Report 2016 (Published March 2017, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2015 (Published March 2016, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2014 (Published March 2015, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2013 (Published March 2014, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2012 (Published March 2013, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2011 (Published March 2012, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2010 (Published March 2011, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2009 (Published March 2010, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2008 (Published March 2009, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2007 (Published March 2008, Japanese)
• Activity Report 2006 (Published March 2007, Japanese)

ニュースレター

• No. 6 (January 2014, Japanese)
• No. 5 (January 2013, Japanese)
• No. 4 (February 2012, Japanese)
• No. 3 (November 2011, Japanese)
• No. 2 (February 2011, Japanese)
• No. 1 (November 2010, Japanese)

Pamplets and Other Materials

• Leaflet (For Instructors – April 2017 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Students – April 2016 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Instructors – April 2015 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Students – January 2014 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For General Audiences – August 2013 – Japanese)
• Poster (For High School Students – July 2013 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For High School Students – February 2013 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For High School Students – February 2012 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For High School Students – November 2010 – Chinese)
• Leaflet (For High School Students – November 2010 – Chinese)
• Poster (For High School Students – November 2010 – Japanese)
• Pamplet (For Instructors – March 2009 – Japanese)
• Poster (For High School Students – March 2009 – Japanese)
• Pamplet (For Instructors – March 2009 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (June 2008 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Students – April 2008 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Instructors – March 2008 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Instructors – November 2007 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (March 2007 – Japanese)
• Pamphlet (For Students – January 2007 – Japanese)
• Pamphlet (For Instructors – January 2007 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Students – April 2006 – Japanese)
• Leaflet (For Instructors – April 2006 – Japanese)