Kyoto University joins edX: Motonari Uesugi to teach first course "Chemistry of Life"

From left: Institute for Information Management and Communication (IIMC) Prof. Naoko Tosa, Interdisciplinary Education Research Promotion Center Director Yoshimasa Nakamura, President Hiroshi Matsumoto, Prof. Motonari Uesugi, IIMC Director Michihiko Minoh, and Center for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education Prof. Toru Iiyoshi
May 21, 2013
Kyoto University announced on May 21 its alliance with "edX," making it the first Japanese university to take part in the non-profit educational consortium created by founding partners Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012.
edX, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers a variety of free interactive online classes from top-level universities in fields such as law, computer science, history and artificial intelligence. Through its expanding network, edX studies how students learn both on and off campus so that it can continually enhance the educational experience for its global users. edX is comprised of 27 schools including 15 recently added institutions, and boasts over 900,000 registered users worldwide.
One of the courses to be offered by Kyoto University's "KyotoUx" series will be taught by iCeMS deputy director and Institute for Chemical Research Prof. Motonari Uesugi, called the "
Chemistry of Life." The classes start next spring and student registration for the course will begin this summer.
Kyoto University has joined edX given that:
- Reputable universities such as Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) manage the non-profit organization
- A new online educational method called "Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)" offered through edX is based on the open source philosophy of making platforms and course contents universally available
- The enhancement of the educational experience not only places emphasis on the online course content itself, but also makes good use of the synergistic effect of blending online classes and on campus classes (blended learning)
- The fact that Kyoto University, as a course provider, can support the development of educational content through the analysis and verification of online learning data and educational outcomes collected by edX
For more details, please visit the Kyoto University website (Japanese), the
Kyoto University OCW website, and
edX's press release.

From left: Center Director Nakamura, President Matsumoto listening to Prof. Uesugi explaining the purpose of joining edX

From left: Prof. Uesugi, Director Minoh, and Prof. Iiyoshi answering a question from a reporter
Message from edX President Anant Agarwal (video)
Media Coverage
- NHK News "
Kyoto U to offer some free online courses" (22 May, 2013)
- Yomiuri TV "Kyoto U announces partnership with online course system" (22 May, 2013)
- The Asahi Shimbun "Kyoto U joins free online course consortium, advertising quality of education to world」 (22 May, 2013)
- The Asahi Shimbun Evening Edition "Kyoto U offers free classes online starting next spring" (22 May, 2013)
- The Mainichi Shimbun "Kyoto U to provide English classes online starting next spring" (22 May, 2013)
- The Nikkei "
Kyoto U joins online education system to offer classes online for free, becoming first in Japan to compete with world-class universities" (21 May, 2013)
- The Kyoto Shimbun "
Kyoto U to be first Japanese institution to join online education consortium" (21 May, 2013)
- SankeiBiz "
Kyoto U offrers free classes online to students worldwide" (21 May, 2013)
- Bloomberg Japan "
Kyoto U joins open online course platform founded by Harvard and MIT" (21 May, 2013)