Message from the President

Message from the President

The University of Shiga Prefecture (USP) was established in 1995 with the slogan of "Our campus is Lake Biwa and our text is Humanity." The campus is located on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, in Hikone City, making a perfect fit into a magnificent landscape with the background of Mt. Ibuki to the north, the Suzuka Mountains to the east, and the Hira Mountains across the lake to the west. Being situated in the beautiful scenery, the campus is also surrounded by pleasant moats and streams whose waters connect with Lake Biwa. Inside the main circular moat are the school symbol "Pencil Tower," the library, a cafeteria, lecture rooms, and administration offices. Outside the moat are the four main schools of the university (with thirteen departments) and four graduate schools (with nine divisions).

About 2,800 undergraduates study general education courses along with school and department specific courses. The common idea for all studies is "To learn how to live in harmony with nature." Students can learn not only on campus, but also from Lake Biwa and its surrounding region, which is traditionally known as "Ohmi." To study and experience the Ohmi region, USP instituted "Ohmi Gakushi" (Ohmi Bachelor) as an undergraduate course of study and "Ohmi Kanjin" (Ohmi Sub-Major) as a graduate program. Students acquire basic knowledge of cultural activities in Ohmi Gakushi and participate in practical interactions in Ohmi Kanjin. In an extracurricular activity called "Ohmi Rakuza," approximately 700 students every year volunteer to work in regional communities to resolve local problems. We have provided students with the above programs for their education, research and regional contribution based on the motto of "Rooted in the region, learning from the region, and contributing to the region."

Furthermore, we have put effort into providing short- and long-term study abroad programs for students to become more international and to have broader points of view.

I have high hopes and confidence that all our students will take the initiative in their studies and related experiences to further their personal growth.

Shinji IDE
President, The University of Shiga Prefecture

Born in Ehime Prefecture in 1958, he received his Ph.D. at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA and specializes in the conservation of Lake Biwa and the management of water environments.