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Historical Sketch

*Japanase only

1949~

May 31, 1949
Inaugurated as a university under the National School Foundation Law (Act No. 150, 1949) through the merger of Akita Normal School, Akita Mining College and Akita Youth Normal School, with a new educational framework consisting of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Mining College.
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Ministry of Education official Toshihiro Kennoki is appointed to handle the affairs of Akita University President
Jul. 31, 1949
Ministry of Education official Kenzo Ikeda is appointed to handle the affairs of Akita University President
Aug. 25, 1949
Akita University’s first entrance ceremony is held
Nov. 15, 1949
Akita University’s opening ceremony is held
May 6, 1950
Hidenosuke Sano is appointed as Akita University President
Nov. 3, 1951
Mining Museum of Akita University opens
Mar. 15, 1953
First graduation ceremony is held

1955~

Dec. 24, 1955
Isamu Igarashi is appointed to handle the affairs of Akita University President
Mar. 1, 1956
Manjiro Watanabe (Tohoku University Professor Emeritus, Doctor of Science) is appointed as Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1961
The names of programs in the Faculty of Liberal Arts are renamed under two categories: Teacher Training Program for High Schools and Junior High Schools and Teacher Training Program for Elementary Schools and Kindergartens
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The Mining College Department of Mineral Deposit Studies is renamed the Institute of Mining Geology, and the Department of Electrical Machinery to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering
Sep. 30, 1961
Work on the Mining Museum of Akita University is completed
Oct. 8, 1961
The Emperor and Empress visit the Mining Museum of Akita University
Apr. 1, 1962
The names of the four year programs in the Faculty of Liberal Arts are renamed under two categories: Four Year Teacher Training Program for High Schools and Junior High Schools and Four Year Teacher Training Program for Elementary Schools and Kindergartens
Mar. 31, 1963
Work is completed on the Music Building, Faculty of Liberal Arts Main Building, Tegata Campus

1965~

Mar. 30, 1965
Work on the Faculty of Liberal Arts dormitory and Mining College dormitory is completed
Apr. 1, 1965
Akita University Graduate School of Mining and Engineering and Liberal Arts Program for Graduates are established
Mar. 1, 1966
Ito Taiichi (Niigata University Professor Emeritus, Doctor of Medicine) is appointed as Akita University President
Jun. 1, 1967
The Faculty of Liberal Arts is renamed as the College of Education
Mar. 30, 1968
The affiliated school’s move to Hodono area is completed
Jun. 10, 1969
Tonomo Fujishima (Akita University Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Education) is appointed to handle the affairs of Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1970
Faculty of Medicine is established
May 15, 1970
The first Faculty of Medicine entrance ceremony is held
Feb. 23, 1971
Takeo Watanabe (Nagoya University Professor, Doctor of Science) is appointed as Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1971
Akita University Hospital is established
Dec. 4, 1971
Work on Akita University Library is completed
Feb. 1, 1972
Work on University Hall is completed
Apr. 1, 1972
The School of Nursing is established in the Faculty of Medicine, and the Special School for Mentally Retarded Children is established in the College of Education
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Akita University Medical Library is established
Apr. 1, 1973
The Kindergarten Teachers Program is established in the College of Education, and the Teacher Training Program for Elementary Schools and Kindergartens is renamed as the Elementary School Teachers Program
Oct. 31, 1973
Work on the Mining College Research Institute of Underground Resources is completed
Apr. 11, 1974
Akita University Health Center is established

1975~

Feb. 23, 1976
Katsuji Kushima (Akita University Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine) is appointed as Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1976
Graduate School of Medicine is established
Aug. 15, 1976
Work on Akita University Hospital is completed
Apr. 1, 1977
The Center for Educational Technology is established in the Faculty of Education
Apr. 1, 1980
The Advanced Program in Special Education is established
Feb. 23, 1981
Yoshiyuki Umetsu (Akita National College of Technology, Akita University Professor Emeritus, Doctor of Engineering) is appointed as Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1981
The Animal Facilities for Experimental Medicine is established in the Faculty of Medicine
Apr. 1, 1982
The Teacher Training Program for High Schools and Junior High Schools is renamed as the Junior High School Teachers Program
    〃
The Central Research Laboratory is established in the Faculty of Medicine
Mar. 21, 1984
Work on the female dormitory is completed

1985~

Mar. 30, 1985
Work on Akita University International Student House is completed
Feb. 23, 1986
Yoshitane Watabe (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Akita University Professor, Doctor of Medicine) is appointed as Akita University President
Mar. 31, 1986
Work on the University Guest House is completed

1989~

Apr. 1, 1989
The Graduate School of Education Master’s Degree Program is established
Oct. 1, 1989
The College of Allied Medical Science is jointly established
Apr. 1, 1990
The Mining College is restructured, meaning that the Department of Mining Engineering, Institute of Mining Geology, Department of Metallurgy, Department of Metallic Engineering for Materials, Department of Fuel Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering for Resources are reorganized as the Department of Geoscience, Mining Engineering and Materials Processing and the Department of Materials Engineering and Applied Chemistry, with the addition of the newly created Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Feb. 23, 1991
Naoyoshi Niino (Dean of the Faculty of Education, Akita University Professor, Doctor of Literature) is appointed as Akita University President
Apr. 1, 1991
The Mining College is restructured, meaning that the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering for Production, Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electronic Engineering and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are reorganized into the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Mar. 31, 1992
The School of Nursing is discontinued
Apr. 10, 1992
The College of Education Center for Educational Technology is reorganized as the Faculty of Education Center for Educational Research and Practice

1993~

Apr. 1, 1993
Cooperative Research Center is established
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General Education Subjects are reorganized as Comprehensive Basic Education Subjects
Apr. 1, 1994
The Graduate School of Mining and Engineering Doctor’s Degree Program is established
Feb. 23, 1996
Hiroshi Tokuda (Akita University Professor, Doctor of Engineering) is appointed as Akita University President
May 11, 1996
The Research Institute of Materials and Resources is established in the Mining College
Nov. 27, 1996
Work on Nyuto Lodge is completed

1998~

Apr. 1, 1998
The College of Education and Mining College are reorganized as the Faculty of Education and Human Studies and Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science
    〃
Comprehensive Basic Education Subjects are reorganized as Liberal Arts Subjects
Jun. 8, 1999
Work on the International House is completed
Nov. 3, 1999
Ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Akita University’s foundation is held
Feb. 14, 2000
Renovation work on the Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Building (Main Building, North Building) is completed
    〃
The Faculty of Education and Human Studies Center for Educational Research and Practice is reorganized as the Faculty of Education and Human Studies Center for Educational Research and Practice
Apr. 12, 2000
The Satellite Venture Business Laboratory is established
Feb. 23, 2001
Ryo Miura (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Akita University Professor, Doctor of Medicine) is appointed as Akita University President
Mar. 30, 2001
Work on the Satellite Venture Business Laboratory and the Akita Learning Center of the Open University of Japan Complex Building is completed
Mar. 25, 2002
Work on the General Research Building is completed
Mar. 27, 2002
Conclusion of a credit transfer agreement for liberal arts subjects between three universities in Akita Prefecture (Akita University, Akita Prefectural University and Akita University of Economics and Law)
Apr. 1, 2002
The Graduate School of Mining and Engineering is reorganized as the Graduate School of Engineering and Resource Science
Oct. 1, 2002
Faculty of Medicine School of Health Sciences is established (Intake: 106 students)
Oct. 2, 2002
The 21st Century COE Program ‘Cell Fate Determination’ is selected

2003~

Apr. 1, 2003
General Information Processing Center is established
    〃
The courses in the Faculty of Medicine School of Medicine are reorganized (from 15 Basic Medicine divisions and 21 Clinical Medicine divisions (total of 36 divisions) to 4 Basic Medicine major divisions and 6 Clinical Medicine major divisions (total of 10 major divisions))
Sep. 18, 2003
Support Program for Distinctive University Education ‘Development of Regional and Clinical Leaders through Collaboration between Three Faculties’ is selected
Apr. 1, 2004
National University Corporation Akita University is established
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Intellectual Property Center is established
    〃
The Faculty of Medicine Animal Facilities for Experimental Medicine, Central Research Laboratory and Radioisotope Research Center are separated from the Faculty of Medicine’s educational facilities and reorganized as Akita University Bioscience Education and Research Center (BERC)
Jul. 8, 2004
Graduate School of Engineering and Resource Science Innovation Center for Engineering Design and Manufacturing is newly established
May 27, 2005
Akita University Hospital acquires ISO9001:2000 certification
Sep. 14, 2005
Program for the Development of Teachers at Universities and Graduate Schools ‘School Clinical Development of Education and Research Leaders’ is selected
Jan. 12, 2006
The Research Center for Potential Development of Disaster Prevention is newly established
Mar. 29, 2006
Work on the Medical Research Building completed
Jul. 19, 2006
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Akita Bank
Aug. 3, 2006
Program for the Development of High-quality Medical Professionals who can respond to the Social Need for Regional Medicine Comprehensive Educational Collaboration between Key Regional Hospitals and University Hospitals ‘Initiatives for resolving the Uneven Distribution of Doctors by Field’ is selected
Aug. 4, 2006
Distinctive University Education Program ‘The Construction of Gaming Simulation-type Lessons’ is selected
Sep. 25, 2006
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Akita Prefecture
Oct. 24, 2006
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Hokuto Bank
Nov. 21, 2006
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded between the Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science and VBL and Akita Industrial Technology Center
Dec. 6, 2006
Industry-academia collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Shoko Chukin Bank Akita Branch
Jan. 31, 2007
Akita University Hospital is designated as a Regional Cancer Center
Mar. 6, 2007
Industry-academia collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with the Japan Finance Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Akita Branch
Mar. 22, 2007
Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science acquires ISO14001 certification
Mar. 28, 2007
Audited for and received Certified Evaluation and Accreditation from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation
Apr. 1, 2007
The Graduate School of Medicine is reorganized, with the establishment of the Course in Medical Science (Master’s Degree Program), Course in Health Sciences (Master’s Degree Program) and Course in Medicine (Doctor’s Degree Program)
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The Environmental Risk Communicator Training Course is established in the Graduate School of Engineering and Resource Science Department of Materials-process Engineering and Applied Chemistry for Environments Master’s Degree Program, and the Teach-Meister Training Course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
    〃
The Faculty of Education and Human Studies Special School for Mentally Retarded Children is renamed to the Special School for Mentally Retarded Children
Jun. 15, 2007
Global COE Program ‘Integrated Research on Molecular and Cellular Regulation Signals’ is selected
Jul. 24, 2007
Comprehensive collaboration agreement concluded with DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.
Aug. 9, 2007
Program to Program to promote Education at Specialist Graduate Schools ‘The Transmission and Creation of Practical Knowledge’s is selected
Sep. 6, 2007
Cancer Professional Training Plan ‘Plan for the Development of Comprehensive Cancer Specialists in Northern Tohoku: Constructing a System for training Holistic Cancer Treatment Professionals who will enable Equal Access to Cancer Treatments in Areas with a High Frequency of Cancer’ is selected
Nov. 1, 2007
The Intellectual Property Center and Cooperative Research Center are merged into the Cooperative Research Center

2008~

Feb. 13, 2008
The Organization for the Promotion of International Exchanges is reorganized at the International Exchange Center
Mar. 21, 2008
Cooperation agreement relating to space education activities concluded with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Apr. 1, 2008
Noboru Yoshimura (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science, Akita University Professor, Doctor of Engineering) is appointed as Akita University President
May 22, 2008
Program for Creating Local Active Human Resources Fostering Institutions ‘Program for developing Technical Experts to run Akita Urban Mine’ is selected
Jul. 11, 2008
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Akita University
Jul. 22, 2008
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Akita Prefectural University
Jul. 29, 2008
The Program to Foster Human Resources with a High Level of Expertise at Specialist Graduate Schools is selected
Sep. 11, 2008
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Warabi-za
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The University Hospitals Collaborative Project to Develop Advanced Medical Specialists begins
Sep. 30, 2008
The PET-CT donated by Akita Prefecture comes into operation at Akita University Hospital
Oct. 1, 2008
The Community Medicine and Primary Care Development Department is established in the Faculty of Medicine through an endowment from Akita Prefecture (~March 31, 2013)
Oct. 8, 2008
The Renal Replacement Therapy Department is established in the Faculty of Medicine through an endowment from Astellas Pharma Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., NIPPON KAYAKU Co., Ltd., Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., and Osawa Shoji  Ltd. (~March 31, 2013)
Oct. 24, 2008
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Odate City
Nov. 5, 2008
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Kosaka-machi
Nov. 17, 2008
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Noshiro City
Feb. 7, 2009
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Yokote City
Mar. 24, 2009
Collaboration and cooperation agreements concluded with Akita Prefectural University and Akita International University
Mar. 31, 2009
Work on the 60th Anniversary Memorial Hall is completed
Apr. 1, 2009
The Center for Teaching License Extension is established
    〃
Departmentalization of the Graduate School of Medicine (Course in Medicine: 4 divisions, 37 departments; Course in Health Science: 6 departments)
    〃
The Course in Health Science (Doctor’s Degree Program) is established in the Graduate School of Medicine
    〃
The Recycling Processing Department is established in the Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science through an endowment from DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. (~ March 31, 2012)
Apr. 23, 2009
The Environmental Research Center, Akita University Tegata Campus, acquires ISO14001 certification
Jun. 3, 2009
Republic of Botswana ambassador to Japan pays a courtesy visit to Akita University
Jun. 30, 2009
Work on Akita University Hospital New Ward (Ward 2) is completed
Aug. 5, 2009
Opening of Akita University Yokote Branch School
Oct. 1, 2009
International Center for Research and Education on Mineral and Energy Resources is established
Oct. 6, 2009
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Kitaakita City
Nov. 15, 2009
Ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Akita University’s foundation is held
Mar. 10, 2010
Work on the Venture Incubation Center is completed
Mar. 15, 2010
Work on Nishiyachi Dormitory, open to all students at the university, is completed
Mar. 19, 2010
Work on Akita University Information Center is completed
Mar. 30, 2010
Work on the Student Support Building is completed
Apr. 1, 2010
The Graduate School of Engineering and Resource Science is departmentalized
    〃
The Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Science Department is established in the Faculty of Medicine through an endowment from Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. (~March 31, 2013)
May 11, 2010
Computed Tomography Apparatus (CT) are introduced into the Department of Forensic Sciences
May 26, 2010
Comprehensive agreement concluded with Daisen City
Jul. 1, 2010
The Regional Medicine Collaboration Department is established in the Faculty of Medicine through an endowment from Akita Prefecture (~March 31, 2014)
Nov. 17, 2010
Opening of Akita University Kita-Akita Branch School
Dec. 10, 2010
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Happo-cho
Feb. 17, 2011
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Oga City
Apr. 1, 2011
Center for Regional Development is established
May 13, 2011
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Misato-cho
Oct. 1, 2011
Ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Faculty of Engineering and Resource Science is held
Oct. 3, 2011
Student Support Project for Science and Mathematics: Program to develop Scientists with Creative Ideas – Helix Project to lengthen Nails that Stick Out is selected
Oct. 28, 2011
Ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Faculty of Education and Human Studies-affiliated Kindergarten is held
Feb. 17, 2012
Collaboration and cooperation agreement concluded with Katagami City
Mar. 15, 2012
Akita University Hospital Medical Simulation Center is established
Apr. 1, 2012
Research Center for Biosignal is established