Image: FutureLearn "Modernizing Japan: Fukuzawa Yukichi's Struggle" Course Image
is a platform where you can easily learn about the wide range of "knowledge" held by ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app online, from precious Japanese rare books to cutting-edge quantum computers and Japanese subculture.
FutureLearn is a global online learning platform originating from the UK, currently offering over 1,700 learning courses from more than 200 universities and organizations. One of the characteristics of FutureLearn is that these courses can, in principle, be studied for free, with the exception of some features.
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app began offering its first course, "Japanese Culture Through Rare Books (1): The World of Wabon," in 2016. As of March 2025, it has provided 13 courses, with over 100,000 learners from 208 countries and regions registered. In these courses, faculty members from various undergraduate and graduate schools and Research Centers and Institutes of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app serve as instructors, providing learners around the world with a learning experience unique to ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, based on the precious cultural assets and cutting-edge research held by the Juku.
When people hear the term online learning, many likely imagine a scene where videos of instructors lecturing continue endlessly, but learning on FutureLearn is distinct from that. FutureLearn courses are divided into "steps"¡ªtext materials or videos that can be completed in about 5 to 10 minutes. This makes it possible to study using small amounts of free time, such as during a commute or before bed. Furthermore, learners can enjoy a variety of learning experiences unique to the online environment, such as animated illustrations, quizzes, and communication through comments between learners.
The Research Institute for Digital Media and Content (DMC) is responsible for course development and operation. A collaborative team including the Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), the ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Global Research Institute (KGRI), and ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Press works daily to develop new courses and improve existing ones. These activities not only lead to research results as research and practice in online learning design but are also expected to play a role as part of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app's overseas promotion.
New courses are scheduled to continue opening in the future, and this spring, a course on internet governance featuring Distinguished Project Professor Jun Murai as the instructor is scheduled to be released. Additionally, ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app students and faculty/staff can use some of FutureLearn's paid features, such as unlimited access and the issuance of certificates, for free. We hope you will take this opportunity to enjoy learning on FutureLearn.
(Shun Arima, KGRI Project Assistant Professor)
*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.