The Secret of Nobel Prize in Kyoto University
The Secret of Nobel Prize in Kyoto University
  • Reporter Chung Yu-sun
  • 승인 2013.03.06 19:15
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Since 1949, Kyoto University has emitted a total of eight Nobel Prize winners in the field of science. How is it that Kyoto University has been able to emit so many Nobel Prize Winners? One of the aspects that Kyoto University ensures to the students is an environment that provides academic freedom and independence. In other words, the university trusts its students to obtain necessary knowledge. The students are free to choose whether to attend class or not. However, as the students still have certain credits to fulfill, the students are still responsible for their academic records. Through freedom, students also learn responsibility.
Even the classes have a more relaxed atmosphere. Although Kyoto University has some straight on lectures given by professors, the university also encourages students to discuss freely among themselves in and out of the classroom. Furthermore, the university creates an atmosphere that allows cooperation among fellow colleagues. Because the grading system is based on absolute evaluation, students have a greater incentive to help each other to do well.
Kyoto University undergraduates can graduate as soon as they fulfill the designated credits. There are certain requirements for each field of study. Kyoto University has a special curriculum that categorizes subjects into five main groups. Group A includes subjects for liberal arts; Group B includes science, Group C- foreign languages, Group D- physical education, and Group E- major. Undergraduates are given the choice to choose among them, whether it is related to their major or not. However, according to the undergraduate’s major, the credits required for each category differs. Although achieving a high GPA is great, it is enough to just graduate.
An interesting fact is that the university does not enforce the students to learn its subjects in English. Regardless of the ubiquitous idea that in order to become global leaders it is essential to learn English, Kyoto University allows students to take the subjects in Japanese. Even Korean students, who have decided to study abroad, learn in Japanese. Though there are a few courses provided in English, most of the lectures are in Japanese.
Overall Kyoto University’s educational environment of academic freedom and independence has allowed this university to prosper.
Special thanks to Lee SeungGyu (Aerial Cosmic Engineering, 1st year graduate), Chae, Hyung Cheol (Division of Applied Life Science, sophomore), Lee Jae Jin (Energy Science, 2nd year graduate)