Introduction

Osaka University was established as a national university in 1931, as Osaka Imperial University. Although founded relatively late among the seven other Imperial Universities, Osaka University draws upon an academic tradition which arose between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries when Osaka was the economic center of Japan.

The University has grown rapidly in these 75 years, not only in size but also in terms of its contribution to the scholarly community. It now encompasses, in addition to its 10 undergraduate schools (Letters, Human Sciences, Law, Economics, Science, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, and Engineering Science), 15 graduate schools, and 5 research institutions. It has two major campuses in Suita and Toyonaka, and the University has an enrollment of some 20,000 students and a staff of 4,500.

The School of Engineering Science was established in 1961 to develop scientists with a keen interest in practical technology, and engineers who have a firm grasp of the basic sciences and who may use this expertise to develop new technology. At present the Graduate School of Engineering Science contains 177 teaching staff, 67 technical and administrative staff, about 2,000 undergraduate students, 550 Masters course students and 200 Doctoral students. There are 10 undergraduate courses in four departments, and 11 postgraduate courses in three departments.