International Collaboration and Contribution
This is an overview of some of the actions Kwansei Gakuin University has taken on its path toward internationalization (note: this is not a comprehensive list).
1970 to 2000
| March 1977 | "International Exchange and Universities” published | The Public Relations Committee of Kwansei Gakuin edited and published this book as the University's first guide to international exchange |
| April 1977 | External Relations Division of the General Affairs Department established | Since its founding, Kwansei Gakuin has promoted international exchange, with missionaries from the U.S. and Canada teaching at the school. Initially, this division was established within the General Affairs Department; it was later incorporated into the International Center |
| August 1977 | East Asia Student Encounter (EASE) seminar launched in Indonesia | EASE is the longest-running international seminar held by KGU, which it holds annually with its partner university in Indonesia, Satya Wacana Christian University; EASE is hosted in Japan and Indonesia in alternating years |
| January 1978 | KGU joins the Association of Christian Universities in Asia (ACUCA) | Many of the exchange efforts between KGU and its partner universities in Asia have been expanded on the basis of ACUCA |
| April 1978 | Overseas Visiting Professor Program begins | Invited Dr. Talcott Parsons from Harvard University as the first visiting professor from October to December 1978 |
| March 1979 | Center for International Exchange established (renamed International Center in July of the same year) | Although Kwansei Gakuin had been promoting international exchange since its founding, with missionaries from the U.S. and Canada teaching there, the Center for International Exchange was the first department to be established for that purpose; it was later renamed the International Center. |
| October 1979 | Comprehensive agreement signed with Southern Methodist University (SMU); (exchange program begins) | KGU initiated its first exchange program with SMU, with which it has had a close relationship for many years (KGU began accepting SMU students in 1979 and sending students to SMU in 1980, laying the foundation for subsequent exchange programs); English language training began in 1980 |
| October 1985 | Comprehensive agreements signed with University of Toronto (Canada) and University of Victoria (Canada) | KGU signed key agreements with Canadian universities, a first for KGU, which would form the basis for international exchange programs |
| April 1990 | International Exchange Department established | The International Center underwent reorganization; in order to jumpstart student exchange with overseas partner universities, the number of exchange students and overseas training programs with overseas partner universities was greatly expanded, and at the same time, the number of international students at KGU grew significantly |
| April 1995 | School of Policy Studies established | The School offered three major courses at the time—Ecology Policy, Urban Policy, and International Development Policy—and its motto for education and research is “Think globally, act locally" |
2000 to 2010
| September 2000 | Medium-Term Study Abroad Program established | A medium-term English study abroad program was launched at Mount Allison University (Canada); the program has since been expanded to include other languages, such as French, as well as medium-term internships abroad |
| August 2003 | Began dispatching student volunteers to the United Nations (United Nations Information Technology Service = UNITeS) under an agreement with the United Nations Volunteer Program (UNV) | Kwansei Gakuin University was the first university in Asia and the third university in the world, after universities in the U.S. and Spain, to launch a UN Youth Volunteer Program for sending students to UN agencies in developing countries as volunteers under an agreement with UNV |
| April 2005 | Center for International Education and Cooperation (CIEC) established | The International Exchange Department underwent reorganization |
| April 2005 | International Management Course (IMC) established at the Institute of Business and Accounting | The first English-based degree program offered at KGU (first English-based MBA course in Kansai) |
| May 2006 | Agreement signed with the UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP) | The program accepts up to three undergraduate students each year as scholarship recipients and contributes to expanding opportunities for higher education for refugees living in Japan by waiving tuition and fees and subsidizing living expenses (started in April 2007) |
| April 2007 | Recommended admission system for refugees launched in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | First Japanese university to introduce such a system |
| April 2008 | Fujita Global Lounge opened | Named in honor of Mr. Makoto Fujita, the first Executive Director of the International Center, for his contributions to international exchange and his bequest to KGU |
| December 2008 | New Strategic Plan formulated for 2009-2018 | Internationalization is at the core of the university's six visions, one of which is “to bring about a multicultural campus with a rich international flavor" |
| April 2009 | International Strategy Headquarters established | International Strategy Headquarters established in the new Medium-Term Plan to promote the vision of the New Strategic Plan, and to plan, draft, and implement measures to promote internationalization |
2010 to 2020
| April 2010 | School of International Studies established | The School of International Studies was established based on the philosophy of “cultivating international character,” and became the first undergraduate school with an English-based degree program (the third in total, after the Institute of Business and Accounting and the Graduate School of Science and Technology) |
| March 2011 | Double Degree Study Abroad Program established | The university's first double degree study abroad agreement was signed with Mount Allison University (Canada) in the School of Sociology, followed by the School of Business Administration and the School of International Studies |
| April 2011 | Center for Japanese Language Education established | In response to the increase in the number of international students and the diversification of their needs for Japanese language education, the existing Japanese departments were integrated to order to design and provide language education for international students from a university-wide perspective |
| November 2011 | KGU chosen for the “Project for Strengthening Universities' Global Development Capabilities” (2011-2014) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) | Concept name: Cross-Cultural College (CCC) - Canada-Japan Collaborative Program for Educating World Citizens as Future Leaders |
| September 2012 | International Master's Program established at the Graduate School of Science and Technology | Fourth English-based degree program at KGU |
| November 2012 | KGU chosen by MEXT for the “Project for the Promotion of Global Human Resource Development” (Type A: University-wide promotion type) | Concept name: Practical-type World Citizen Training Program |
| April 2013 | Center for International Education and Cooperation (CIEC) established | CIEC was established through the reorganization of the university structure to promote international exchange and cooperation, and to contribute to the development of international education and Japanese language education |
| April 2013 | Youth Volunteer Japan Training Center for the UNV Program established within the university | A world-first initiative |
| September 2014 | Chosen by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as a participating university in the “Top Global University Creation Support Program” (Type B: Leading Globalization) for 2014 to 2023 | Concept name: Establishing the Global Academic Port, a home port for international academic exchange |
| June 2016 | First faculty-led Summer School for students from Southern Methodist University (SMU) | Since 2018, the program has developed into the KGU Summer School, accepting students from other partner universities, and students also take classes taught by faculty members from North American universities |
| September 2016 | Contemporary Japan Program newly established for exchange students | Although exchange students had been accepted mainly for Japanese language study, the establishment of a new program for learning about modern Japan in English led to an expansion of partner schools, an increase in exchange students, and more opportunities for co-curricular activities on campus |
| April 2017 | “UN and Foreign Affairs Program for Undergraduate Students” and the "Graduate Course in UN and Foreign Affairs Studies” established | These programs were established with the aim of fostering World Citizens, utilizing KGU's existing ties with the United Nations to train and produce leaders in the field of international public affairs, such as UN and international organization officials and diplomats |
| February 2018 | Kwansei Grand Challenge 2039 formulated for 2018-2027 | The concept is to raise the level of internationalization, one of KGU's strengths, to a level of excellence throughout all of Kwansei Gakuin by taking advantage of the strengths of being a comprehensive educational institution with an integrated education system |
2020 onward
| April 2020 | Became the top university in Japan in terms of students sent to overseas partner universities and other institutions for the first time (1,833 students in AY2018) | This was the result of a 2018 survey on the status of Japanese students studying abroad by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) |
| March 2022 | Yukoryo, a mixed international education dorm, is opened | Yukoryo's first floor, a community space, has a wide range of spaces for international events, a kitchen, theatre room, meeting rooms; international dormitory education is also practiced |
| May 2023 | The number of agreements with overseas partner institutions and international organizations grows to more than 300 | |
| January 2024 | Co-organized by Sophia University and Kwansei Gakuin University, the Top Global University Creation Support Project Summary Symposium was held at Sophia University | Theme of the symposium: Together with alumni, learning about the achievements of TGU projects and the future of global learning |
| April 2024 | CCC Global Internship in Japan (GIJ) program wins the MEXT Technology Award at the 7th Students' Choice Career Design Program Awards | MEXT, METI, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Nikkei newspaper, and Mynavi support this award, which is one of Japan's largest awards for internships and career development support initiatives that contribute to the social and professional independence of students |
| May 2024 | Became the top university in Japan in terms of the number of students sent to overseas partner universities and other institutions for the second time (1,234 students in AY2022) | This was the result of a 2022 survey on the status of Japanese students studying abroad by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) |
| September 2024 | KGU-India "The Future of Japan and India through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration in Kansai" Forum held | Speech given by Mr. Sibi George, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Japan |
| November 2024 | CCC Certificate Program wins the Award of Excellence (Educational Institution category) at the 2nd Open Badge Awards | The Open Badge Awards, sponsored by MEXT and the Digital Agency, are awards for outstanding open badge initiatives; the unique initiatives of the CCC, which is jointly run by the University and four Canadian universities, were highly commended and awarded |
| April 2025 | Graduate Department of United Nations UN System Policy Studies established at the Graduate School of Policy Studies | In the spirit of fostering World Citizens, this newly established course (the fifth English-based degree program at KGU) aims to train professionals who will serve as leaders in the global public sphere, such as officials of the United Nations and other international organizations |