Yamaguchi University School of Health Sciences offers Nursing and Laboratory Science majors. The School was established in October 2002, and the first students were admitted in April 2001. In 2005, the Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Nursing and Laboratory Science was established based on the School of Health Sciences, and the first graduates of the doctoral program were produced at the end of the 2009 academic year, completing the institutionalization of the Graduate School. Twenty-three years have passed since the establishment of the School, and 20 years have passed since the establishment of the graduate school. Many graduates and alums are spreading their wings in society.

The first-year students take liberal arts classes centered on general education and language classes with students from other faculties at the Yoshida Campus in Yamaguchi City. Through club activities, students can deepen exchanges with students from other faculties and the School of Medicine. From this time onward, the University has provided an education that aims to nurture human resources with a strong sense of humanity and vitality under the motto of Yamaguchi University’s philosophy, “Discover it. Nourish it. Realize it. A Place of Wisdom.” From the second year, lectures and practical training for specialized education begin earnestly at the Kogushi Campus in Ube City, and students will spend busy but fulfilling days there.

Upon our School’s graduation, the nursing students are qualified to take the national examination for nurses and public health nurses, and the Laboratory Technology Science students are qualified to take the national examinations for clinical laboratory technicians. We have a nearly 100% pass rate on these national examinations yearly. In addition, the Department of Nursing offers elective courses that qualify students to take the National Examination for Midwives, and the Department of Laboratory Technology Science offers courses that qualify students to take the examination for cytotechnologists, certified functional food consultants, and others. We implement four internationalization projects that are unique to the School:

1. A full-time international faculty member teaches medical English, basic medical English conversation, and global nursing.
2. The International Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences is published.
3. The Asia-Pacific Alliance of Health Leaders (APAHL) is organized by Chiang Mai University, Mahidol University, the University of Hong Kong, and Yamaguchi University to foster leaders in the fields of nursing and health sciences. Each year, the four universities take turns hosting a forum for international exchanges of students and faculty members. As with other international activities, we implemented an exchange student program with Chiang Mai University, Thailand, last year.
4. In November 2005, we established Japan’s only chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma). Our chapter holds meetings/workshops three to four times yearly and actively disseminates information. Membership in the Society not only confers globally accepted status but also facilitates international collaborative research in nursing and is a major driving force for disseminating the results of such research worldwide.

We are committed to fostering medical technologists and advanced health professionals with advanced knowledge and skills who can contribute to humankind’s well-being and development by pursuing the truth in health and medical care. We also work on fostering educators and researchers who can contribute to scientific development in health and medicine.

Takeshi Yamamoto, MD, PhD
Director, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Yamaguchi University