Educating engineers with the expertise required for environ-mental protection and the creation of a recycling society

     In 1962, when comprehensive development of Hokkaido was under way through the improvement of land, the construction of roads, bridges, dams, ports and harbors, and other projects, Hokkai-Gakuen Junior College, the predecessor of Hokkai-Gakuen University, established day and evening courses in the Department of Civil Engineering in preparation for the College's reorganization as a university. In 1968, the courses were reorganized as Hokkai-Gakuen University's Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Architecture and Building Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering. In 2005, the Department of Civil Engineering was renamed as the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. At present, 348 students are enrolled in this department under 19 instructors. Graduates number approximately 3,500.

     The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering consists of two courses: Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Environmental Information. The Civil and Environmental Engineering course helps students to acquire expertise in engineering associated with the improvement of infrastructure and to gain a global perspective through studies of key subjects in Maintenance, Disaster Prevention, and Planning and Design. The Environmental Information Course fosters a new breed of engineers with a wide perspective and knowledge of the environment and human beings, through the acquisition of traditional engineering expertise, information technology and communication skills. The curriculum is based on studies of the environment, information and urbanology. Both courses enable students to acquire practical skills through many opportunities of experimentation and onsite training. Subjects on ethics in engineering, engineering English and presentation skills are also offered.

     The curriculum of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is designed to produce world-class civil engineers who can respond to diverse social needs associated with environmental protection and the shift to a recycling society.

Creating new lifestyles and culture in a new age

     In 1968, Hokkai-Gakuen Junior College, the predecessor of Hokkai-Gakuen University, was reorganized as a university, and the Faculty of Engineering, which offers a four-year program, was established. Consequently, both the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Architecture and Building Engineering were born. Since then, along with the improvement of infrastructure during the rapid economic growth of Japan, the Department of Architecture and Building Engineering has promoted education and study focusing on architectural engineering in cold regions, which face severe environmental conditions. It has produced many architects who are active around the globe. At present, 407 students and 17 regular instructors are enrolled, and graduates exceed 3,500.

     The curriculum is divided into three areas: Spatial Design for studying architectural planning and design, Environmental Design for learning about environments and facilities associated with architecture, and System Design for learning about structures, materials and products.

     Lifestyles and culture change with the times. Nowadays in Japan people are looking towards the creation of new types of architecture and urban environment. The trend is moving away from emphasizing material aspects as a foundation for effective economic and industrial activity towards considering how environments are actually experienced by the inhabitants. People want to create new urban settings where they can live more cultured lives. Architecture aims at developing as a study to promote city planning in consideration of the global environment and local communities and in cooperation with local residents. This goal requires people with a broad perspective, comprehensive knowledge and intellectual vision.

Pursuing technologies and creativity needed in our information-oriented society

     Hokkai-Gakuen University established the Department of Electronics and Information Engineering in 1987. The 1980s was a decade in which industrial technologies such as electronics showed remarkable progress. The computer industry and information-processing sector developed rapidly. The Department was established to meet the needs of residents in Hokkaido, which was under-industrialized. The Department has aimed at developing advanced technologies and fostering people who can contribute to the revitalization of the local economy. There are 442 students and 20 regular instructors in the Department. Nearly 1,700 people have graduated.

     This department consists of the Electronics Information and the Human Informatics courses. The curriculum of the Electronics Information Course has four focus areas of study: Mathematics and Physics, Electronics, Information and Applied Studies. Comprehensive studies, from the basics to application, address tangible and intangible aspects, to help students flexibly deal with changing needs for technology and produce new technologies. In the Human Informatics Course, the curriculum consists of five key areas: Basic Informatics, Applied Informatics, Human Informatics, Electronic Systems and Social Informatics. Through the studies of information-communication technologies and human engineering, students are expected to gain the ability to blaze new trails in the information-oriented society of the future.

     In both courses, students hone their practical skills through intensive exercises, experiments and training sessions. The Department offers quality-engineering education to foster engineers who will play an active role on the international stage.