Message from the President
Kyoto is a "city of universities and students" where many universities and junior colleges are concentrated. Taking advantage of these characteristics, the Kyoto University Center, Japan's first collaborative organization in Japan, was established in 1994 through collaboration between Kyoto City, universities, and industry, mainly industry, and government. Since then, in addition to core initiatives such as credit transfer projects and internship programs, we have been implementing initiatives ahead of the rest of Japan, such as Kyoto World Heritage PBL courses and regional collaboration projects. In 2010, it became a public interest incorporated foundation, and 28 years after its establishment, it has developed into one of the largest consortium organizations in Japan, with 46 universities and junior colleges, as well as local governments and economic organizations.
Our social environment is changing at an unprecedented speed, such as the progress of ICT, the arrival of Society 5.0, the further progress of globalization, and the decrease in the 18-year-old population due to the declining birthrate and longevity. Under these circumstances, there are great expectations for universities and junior colleges to promote recurrent education for professionals, expand the acceptance of international students, and create "lifelong learning places" in the era of 100-year lifespans as bases for promoting cooperation with local communities. In order for Kyoto universities and junior colleges to develop diverse and flexible initiatives that make use of their individuality and characteristics, and for the Foundation to improve the attractiveness of the Kyoto region as a whole, the role that the Foundation should play as an inter-university collaborative organization is more important than ever.
Going forward, the University Consortium Kyoto will continue to respond to changes in the social environment and the needs of member schools, students, and citizens, while promoting initiatives as a platform for regional collaboration with the aim of developing "Kyoto as a city of universities and Kyoto as a city of students."
President, University Consortium Kyoto
Hikaru Kurosaka
What the Foundation Aims for
- We will promote inter-university collaboration and mutual cooperation in the Kyoto area, improve the level of education and academic research at member universities and junior colleges, and return the results to local communities and industries.
- We will promote cooperation with local communities, governments, and industry, strive to develop and revitalize the region, and develop human resources who will lead the development of higher education and society, mainly in the Kyoto area.
Purpose of establishment
Kyoto has a large concentration of universities, and historically developed as a university city, fostering connections between universities, local communities, and industry and inter-university ties through academic research, cultural and artistic activities.
Today, as society is undergoing major changes due to the progress of academia, changes in the industrial structure due to technological innovation, and progress in internationalization and informatization, the significance of the existence of universities is being questioned once again. In order to further respond to the diversification of social expectations and student needs for university education, it is necessary to further deepen cooperation with universities, local communities, and industry, as well as inter-university ties.
Under these circumstances, the University Consortium Kyoto will conduct research to improve university education in cooperation with universities, local communities, and industry, exchange information dissemination, and planning and coordination projects related to adult education, through which it will strengthen cooperation between universities, local communities, and industry, deepen ties between universities, further improve education and research, and return the results to local communities and industries.
Through these activities, the Foundation will contribute to the development of academic research and higher education in Japan.
Approval of foundation establishment: March 19, 1998 Competent government agency/Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Basic assets: 100 million yen Transition to a public interest incorporated foundation/July 1, 2010
Competent government office/Cabinet Office
Reference History
