Certification Training Unit
We offer courses on museum curator certification and fieldwork at museums and gardens, as well as training programs for school librarian certification and community education officer certification.
1. Curator Certification
The term "curator" refers to staff members at museums (including art museums, historical and ethnographic museums, international exchange centers, industrial museums, agricultural and forestry museums, archives, literary museums, aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens, geological museums, and various memorial halls) who are engaged in specialized activities such as collecting, exhibiting, and preserving materials, as well as conducting research and engaging in lifelong and public education activities.
To work at such museums, you must be qualified as a curator. The requirements for this qualification are stipulated in the Museum Act and the Enforcement Regulations of the Museum Act, and you can obtain the qualification to become a curator by earning the required credits at this university.
However, the museum-related courses required to obtain the qualifications for becoming a curator, as stipulated in the enforcement regulations, are designed to impart general knowledge and skills regarding museums; they merely meet the minimum standards for curators. One must fully recognize that, in order to work as a curator, one must possess not only the foundational knowledge and skills specific to each type of museum but also specialized research capabilities in each respective field.Since most open recruitment for curatorial positions requires not only the relevant qualifications but also a high level of expertise tailored to the specific characteristics of the museum in question, it is particularly important to acquire a high level of specialized expertise.
In the future, museums will be expected to play an even greater role as central hubs of regional culture that cater to the intellectual interests of the public. Therefore, while it goes without saying that curators must possess the necessary knowledge and research capabilities regarding the collections and their respective fields,and possess practical skills in the collection, preservation, and exhibition of materials. However, recognizing that the core focus varies depending on the museum’s purpose, governing body, and staffing structure, the qualities and abilities required of curators include strong communication skills—whether through the materials themselves or through direct dialogue with visitors and local residents—as well as the ability to develop and manage educational activities and programs that contribute to solving local issues.
Those aiming to obtain the qualifications to become curators must dedicate themselves to their specialized fields and maintain a keen interest in museum activities and the local community on a daily basis.
2. Training Course for School Librarian Teachers
The School Librarian Training Program is conducted under a commission from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, in accordance with the Regulations on the School Librarian Training Program (Ministry of Education Ordinance No. 21 of 1954), with the aim of granting qualifications to teacher-librarians engaged in professional duties related to school libraries.
Regarding the Acquisition of Qualifications as a School Librarian
School librarians are teachers who specialize in the management and operation of libraries in elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as in guiding students in reading; they must hold a teaching license.
To obtain the qualification as a school librarian, one must hold or be on track to obtain a standard teaching license, and additionally complete 10 credits in the following five subjects. These credits can be earned through training courses offered Faculty teacher training universities and Faculty in each prefecture, or through the Open University of Japan.
Those who have completed the required subjects and credits are granted the qualification upon receipt of the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course Completion Certificate” issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Kochi University also offers the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course” during the summer break. Details regarding the schedule will be announced in early June on the Kochi University website and on campus bulletin boards (East side of Building 2, General Education Building; bulletin board for practical training).
Required Courses and Credits
| Subject | Number of credits |
|---|---|
| School Administration and School Libraries | 2 |
| Composition of School Library Media | 2 |
| Instructional Guidance and School Libraries | 2 |
| Reading and a Rich Humanity | 2 |
| Use of Information Media | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
(Note 1) Relevant regulations include the Regulations on Training Courses for School Librarian Teachers (Ministry of Education Ordinance No. 21, August 6, 1954).
(Note 2) At Kochi University, the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course” offers five course subjects on a biennial basis (five subjects over two years).
(Note 3) To enroll in the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course,” students must have been enrolled at the university for at least two years (third-year students or higher) and have earned at least 62 credits. Enrollment is also possible after graduation.
Since the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course” is not a university course, it does not count toward the credits required for graduation.
(Note 4) In order for working adults to enroll in the “School Library Teacher-Librarian Training Course,” they must hold a teaching license for elementary, junior high, high school, or special needs schools as stipulated by the Act on the Qualifications of Educational Personnel (Act No. 147 of 1949).
(Note 5) The “Course Guidelines” and “Course Application Form” will be available for download from the Kochi University website in early June.
(Note 6) For details, please contact the Teacher Education and Qualification Support Section of the Academic Affairs Division (Building 1, 2nd Floor, General Education Building).
TEL 088-844-8978