Message from the President
OGAWA Hisao
President of Kumamoto University
Welcome to Kumamoto University (KU). Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu Island in Japan and is rich in nature. We have the large volcanic Aso mountain range in the eastern part of Kumamoto Prefecture. In the west, there is the picturesque Amakusa seashore with small islands connected by 5 bridges. KU is situated in Kumamoto City where historic Kumamoto castle is surrounded by trees. For this reason, the city is called FOREST CITY. We have a hill clad in fresh greenery behind the KU campus, giving us a tranquil atmosphere for studying. Kumamoto is also known for its high quality fresh water springs, which provide drinking water to the residents. These are some reasons I feel confident that visitors and international students in Kumamoto can have an enjoyable and high quality life.
KU is one of the oldest universities in Japan with seven faculties, nine graduate schools and 25 research centers/institutes (as of April 2021) that support a wide spectrum of educational and research activities. Currently, the university is home to around 8,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students, including 462 international students from 46 countries (as of May 2020). For over 100 years our university has been at the forefront of culture, advancing science and technology, and contributing to the development of the Japanese educational system. Recently, we have been selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for the following 3 projects; the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities, the Top Global University Project and Program for Enhancing Employment of International Students. Consequently, KU will be seeing increased internationalization brought about by international academic and student exchange programs (as of April 1, 2021, we have partnered with 278 institutes from 54 countries and regions), global-collaboration research programs with the world’s leading researchers, and other such international activities. The short-term international student exchange programs are conducted at both KU and our partner universities. Through these activities, KU has been contributing to local communities and to global society.
We seek to cultivate an open mind with a broad view, a creative imagination, the ability to solve problems, and the aptitude to communicate internationally. We believe this policy will ensure that many competent professionals and leaders of future societies will emanate from our university.