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New campus for palaeontology students in Katsuyama: a beacon of hope for regional growth
Katsuyama: An extraordinary educational project is currently underway in the Japanese city of Katsuyama: the first campus for palaeontology students is being built right next to the renowned Prefectural Museum of Dinosaurs.
The facility, named ‘Katsuyama Campus’, is scheduled to open its doors next spring. The city has high expectations for the project – in particular, that young people from all over the country will bring new impetus to the region, which is affected by demographic change.
Specialisation from the second year of study onwards
The Faculty of Palaeontology was only established this spring and is already attracting considerable interest. There are currently 34 students in the first year, over 80 per cent of whom come from other prefectures. In their first year, they complete their basic humanities courses at the Eiheiji Campus. From their second year onwards, they will move to Katsuyama, where they will be able to specialise in specific areas of palaeontology.
A survey conducted by the city shows that around 80 per cent of students plan to move to Katsuyama from their second year onwards. Preparations are already in full swing on site to ensure they receive the best possible welcome.
A dedicated rental apartment complex called ‘Cretaceous Dina-so’ has been built for future students – a residential complex designed specifically for aspiring palaeontologists. In addition, Katsuyama offers extensive financial support: Those who come from outside the city and rent accommodation within it receive a subsidy of half their monthly rent, up to 10,000 yen. In addition, a one-off payment of 50,000 yen is made to cover moving costs. Both students from outside the city and local students who live within the city also receive a monthly study grant of 10,000 yen.
Commitment to affordable housing
The Katsuyama Campus is the first scientific campus in the city’s history. The administration expects up to 100 students to live on site permanently in the future. In order to create sufficient and affordable housing, the city is launching a subsidy programme for private builders: rental apartments that meet minimum requirements – for example, at least 25 square metres of living space – will be subsidised with up to 1.2 million yen per room, provided they are rented to students.
In addition to financial relief for housing costs, the city also attaches importance to mobility. Students receive a monthly subsidy of 5,000 yen for cars and 3,000 yen for motorcycles. Those who do not have their own vehicle can use the local community bus free of charge.
Hope for recovery
Like many rural regions in Japan, Katsuyama is affected by a declining birth rate and an ageing population. The city administration now hopes that the influx of young students will not only bring scientific progress, but also a fresh economic and social upswing. With its proximity to the dinosaur museum and its focus on palaeontology, Katsuyama is creating a unique environment that could become a talking point beyond the region in the future.
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