Interchange with Other Disciplines

Interchange with Other Disciplines

To ensure the resolution of global food resources problems in the 21st century, it is essential to develop personnel through education that integrates the humanities and sciences – the humanities including education and economics, and sciences including agriculture, engineering, fisheries science, global environment, and public health.

The Graduate School of Global Food Resources aims to produce world-class pioneers with broad perspectives and international negotiation skills who are capable of addressing various food resources challenges. To achieve this aim, the School encourages students to learn cultural aspects of the problems (e.g., current world affairs, economics, history, races/ethnic groups, and thought) as well as their technical aspects, such as food production and environmental conservation, through educational and research programs offered by faculty members from different fields of specialization.

Since the School offers a curriculum integrating the humanities and sciences, lectures on fundamental science subjects will be provided primarily for students with majors in humanities to promote their understanding of science subjects. Furthermore, students will also be taught how to organize international conferences and symposiums.

Overseas Fieldwork

The Graduate School of Global Food Resources places importance on Wandervogel practical training programs. The term Wandervogel is a German word meaning “wandering bird,” and was the name given to a youth movement that emphasized outdoor activities that was launched by Karl Fischer and others in pre-war Germany.

The School offers Wandervogel fieldwork subjects to give students opportunities to gain first-hand experience of real-world food resources problems in Japan and elsewhere to consider them as their own challenges. This is intended to encourage students to recognize global food resources problems and pursue their study independently and actively in line with the areas of their research interest.

The School plans to provide Wandervogel subjects as outlined below.

Wandervogel Study in Global Food Resources I (compulsory subject)

Denmark (scheduled for around a week)

Food resources problems in developed countries

The solution to food resources problems facing developed countries is to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural production systems. To this end, farmers, state/local governments and researchers must act as one in their efforts to resolve the problems.

Researchers: identification of problems and the presentation of technical solutions

State/local governments: financial support for experiment and research, and policy support for the dissemination of technologies

Farmers: agricultural management that harmonizes with the environment

Goals of practical training

This course will focus on the harmonious coexistence of water environments and dairy/livestock farming industries, and help students to develop the ability to propose measures to resolve food resources problems in developed countries based on examples in Denmark, a prominent dairy nation. It will enable students to learn directly about initiatives taken by farmers, local governments and researchers to find out how the country introduced sustainable agricultural production practices.

Characteristics of practical training

Students will:

• stay in Ringkøbing-Skjern municipality in western Denmark (a prominent dairy nation);
• attend lectures given by farmers and local government officials, and visit related facilities;
• audit courses at the Foulum Campus of Aarhus University; and
• study together with students from around the world because the practical training will be offered jointly by the School and Aarhus University Summer University.

Wandervogel Study in Global Food Resources II (compulsory subject)

Myanmar (scheduled for about two weeks)

Food resources problems in developed countries

Developing countries face various food and agricultural issues, such as low productivity and the degradation of environment including water and forest resources. In Myanmar, smallholder farmers produce rice and beans, but the production technology, transportation, human resources, are still not adequate. Myanmar is experiencing a rapid economic growth, however, those food resource problems need solution.

Goals of practical training

Wandervogel Study is a practical study on global food resource issues on site. This will provide students opportunities to recognize and understand the problems in Myanmar, and students are encouraged to participate in the collaborative work with Myanmar students. Throughout this collaborative work, students conduct research and analysis, and withdraw solutions and suggestions to the global food resource issues.

Characteristics of practical training

In Wandervogel II, we visit Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar to study about current problems on Agriculture, Fishery, and Environment. The study will focus on the development of agricultural production technology, transportation of rice, and environmental issues in coastal area.

Lectures Offered in English

HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY Graduate School of GLOBAL FOOD RESOURCE offers all lectures in English because students aspiring to thrive on the world stage must become able to speak English outside Japan without hesitation. In particular, learning from various English-speaking faculty members from abroad will help students enhance their English language skills.  Doctoral and master’s thesis and their examination will also be handled by English.

Faculty members invited from abroad (tentative)