Department of Regional Well-being | Fuji Women's University

Department OverviewRediscover the charms and challenges of everyday life

The department traces its roots back to 1950, when it was established as the Department of Home Economics when Fuji Junior College was opened. In 1992, it became the Department of Human Life Studies within the Faculty of Human Life Sciences. Over the years, the department has made significant contributions training professionals in the field of home economics, including matriculating high school and junior high school home economics teachers, particularly in Hokkaido. Now, in 2025, we are taking a new step forward as the Department of Regional Well-Being, aiming for even greater achievements.

In the Department of Regional Well-being, students begin by exploring everyday life challenges and broader social issues. Through deepening their understanding and working toward solutions, they engage in diverse courses across three key fields:
Life Sciences
Project Management
Data Science
Students can tailor their learning experience by taking courses that align with their individual interests and aspirations.

This is the perfect educational environment for students who…

Want to build on their studies in home economics—includes a focus on clothing, food, housing, family, and welfare—and apply this expertise in the education, welfare, or private sectors.
Wish to leverage their learning experiences from out-of-the-classroom activities and other school events to become "regional managers" who can lead and execute community projects.
Are eager to analyze data from daily life and local communities in order to identify issues and design innovative solutions for a better future.

Over the course of four years, students will develop the skills to turn their passions and aspirations into action. Let’s take the first step together toward making a meaningful impact on society!

Specialization

Life Sciences Field: Gain a comprehensive understanding of modern clothing, food, housing, family, and welfare.
In today’s society, where diverse lifestyles continue to proliferate, deeply understanding "everyday life" has become increasingly important. Our lives are closely connected to society and, at times, can even drive social change. In this field, students will specialize in home economics and social welfare by focusing on areas such as clothing, food, and housing, as well as family, gender, and welfare. Through gaining expertise in these areas, we aim to cultivate professionals who can contribute widely to society so that they may become, among other things, home economics educators and welfare specialists.

Project Management Field: Learn management and social contribution methods from a women's perspective. This field focuses on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to expand and enhance the quality of daily life while collaborating with other disciplines. Over four years, students will gradually develop the ability to plan and propose projects that address everyday social issues in collaboration with local governments, NPOs, and businesses. To achieve this, students will systematically learn essential techniques—such as workshopping, communication strategies, presentations, and qualitative and quantitative research methods—from their second to fourth year.

Data Science Field: Learn essential ICT and data utilization skills for the future. This field focuses on analyzing various types of data derived from daily life and local communities to identify key issues. By integrating this analysis with the knowledge gained in the Life Sciences field, students can develop more specialized approaches to problem-solving. In addition, by leveraging ICT tools and applications, students will combine their data analysis skills with the project management techniques acquired in the Project Management field to enable a more practical and hands-on approach to addressing real-world challenges.

Admission Policy

Goals of the Department

Improving quality of life (QOL) and well-being is a key challenge in modern society. At the Department of Regional Well-being, our core focus is on identifying and solving everyday life and social issues by deepening our understanding of these challenges and working toward their resolution.

To achieve this, we integrate learning across three key fields:

Life Sciences – Understanding and addressing challenges in daily life and society.
Project Management – Designing and facilitating collaborative learning environments that embrace human diversity.
Data Science – Analyzing social and lifestyle data to identify issues and develop solutions.

By combining these areas of study, students develop practical skills, enhance their personal and professional growth, and contribute to society by supporting others.
For example:

Those aspiring to become home economics educators or welfare professionals will gain specialized knowledge in these fields.
Those interested in solving social and regional issues will develop the skills to lead and manage projects.
Those seeking innovative approaches through data utilization will learn the necessary tools and techniques to analyze and address challenges.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, we aim to nurture individuals who can make a meaningful impact on society.

Strengths and features of the department

Well-rounded Expertise: The Life Sciences field serves as the foundation of the Department of Regional Well-being by fostering specialized knowledge while maintaining a broad perspective. In addition to key areas such as clothing, food, housing, and lifestyle management, this field also includes teacher training programs for aspiring home economics educators and social welfare studies for those pursuing careers in the field of welfare.
Management Skills Needed for today’s Society: This is the only department in Hokkaido where students can systematically and professionally study project management as an academic discipline. The curriculum goes beyond theory insofar as it incorporates hands-on experience through collaborations with public institutions, businesses, NPOs, and other universities. This approach fosters "empathetic leadership" in women, thereby equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in the future.
Introducing Data Science: In today’s highly digitalized society, leveraging data to generate new knowledge and understanding is essential for decision-making and problem-solving. By utilizing data science approaches, we aim to contribute to society and drive meaningful progress.

Learning Points

Developing the Ability to Design Lifestyles and Support People

In the first and second years, students study all foundational and specialized subjects related to regional well-being. From the third year, they choose a specific field to deepen their expertise while enhancing their practical skills through off-campus training and fieldwork.

Practical Skills Gained Through Fieldwork and Off-Campus Training

Thanks to a comprehensive partnership agreement with Ishikari City, where the Hanakawa Campus is located, students have access to a variety of fieldwork opportunities. Additionally, the program incorporates various off-campus training experiences, such as volunteering in schools and collaborating with companies on product development. Through these activities, students develop essential skills, such as taking initiative and communication abilities.

A Future-Oriented Curriculum

This program nurtures the skills needed for women to thrive in society and to enter diverse career paths. Whether students aim to launch and manage projects as public servants, work in corporate or NPO settings, start their own businesses, or pursue careers as education and welfare professionals, they will develop the expertise required for success. The curriculum provides a wide range of options while allowing students to deepen their specialized knowledge.