Fukuoka Prefectural University

Situated in the western part of Japan and comprising two faculties (the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Nursing) as well as a graduate school with two distinct graduate courses, Fukuoka Prefectural University has long been a focal point for education and research, and has played a pioneering role in the fields of healthcare and public welfare. In response to the challenges of the 21st century (such as Japan's rapidly aging society, advances in medical technology, and shifts in the nature of medical care), Fukuoka Prefectural University underwent a thorough process of renewal in 2006. Then as now, our emphasis is on the nurturing of talent and the cultivation of professionals capable of meeting the aforementioned challenges, leading communities and contributing to society at large. In recognition of technological developments and the dynamic nature of education, Fukuoka Prefectural University has recently embraced e-learning as a means of making itself more accessible to society. As a result, the conceptual distance between teacher and student has narrowed considerably, thereby empowering the individual and revealing opportunities for self-study and self-teaching. This emphasis on individual study and exploration is complemented by the highly specialized and nationally-recognized professional training programmes offered by both the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Nursing. It is perhaps here that our commitment to producing the leaders and innovators of tomorrow is most apparent. Our graduates commonly go on to become, for example, exemplary social workers, mental health welfare professionals, nurses, teachers, childcare workers and government officials.