International Strategy

As a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia and Australasia, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is the Voice of Knowledge and Innovation for the Asia-Pacific region. APRU was established in Los Angeles in 1997 by the presidents of UCLA, Berkeley, Caltech and the University of Southern California (USC). It now has a membership of the presidents of 60 leading research universities from around the Pacific Rim. APRU brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on effective solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.
Please find more information below.

Association of Pacific Rim Universities（APRU）

In 1997

60 universities from 19 economics of the Pacific Rim.
Please find member universities from the link below.

APRU Members

APRU runs an online exchange program, called “Virtual Student Exchange Program (VSE)”. VSE academic courses in a range of disciplines offered by APRU member universities are free of charge to all APRU member university students, including undergraduate students at Kyushu University. For more information on the APRU VSE Program and how to participate, please see the link below.

APRU VSE Academic Courses

MIRAI launched its activities as inter-university consortium between Sweden and Japan in 2017, which outset was the Japan-Sweden University Presidents’ Summit in 2015. The first MIRAI seminar was held at Lund University in October 2017 and since then, both countries had been working on academic exchange including the talent development of young researchers. MIRAI 3rd phase started its activities in January 2024 and proceeding with further academic exchanges and networking with diverse stakeholders represented by the industry sector.

Kyushu University supports the activities in both countries with its Stockholm Liaison Office, the base in Europe which established in 2020, serving as a contact point. In November 2022, Kyushu University hosted MIRAI 2.0 Research & Innovation Week (R&I Week) 2022 at Ito campus, and welcomed approximately 300 participants including young and senior researchers as well as doctoral students. In the following year, a delegation of 22 members from Kyushu University, including leadership, researchers and administrators, participated in the R&I Week hosted by Umeå University in Sweden. Taking that opportunity, Kyushu University hosted “MIRAI Open Day”, a symposium open to public in the city center of Stockholm.

Since 2024, Kyushu University has taken the role of coordinating university of MIRAI, for a tenure of three years. Kyushu University is committed to promote further exchanges between Sweden and Japan, and contribute to academic exchanges in-between.

Go to the link below for the information on the events that are open now.

MIRAI project（2017-2019）
MIRAI 2.0 (2020-2022)
MIRAI 3rd phase (2024-2026)

Connecting Swedish and Japanese universities through research, education and innovation

MIRAI

7 Japanese Universities, 10 Swedish Universities
(*Coordinating Universities)
※As of January 1, 2024

*Kyushu University, Hiroshima University, Nagoya University, Sophia University, Waseda University, Tohoku University, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)

Uppsala University, Linköping University, University of Gothenburg, Umeå University*, Linnaeus University, Karlstad University, Örebro Universit, Jönköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Stockholm School of Economics

RENKEI (Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives) is a consortium of universities in the UK and Japan, aiming at creating international research collaboration, working with government and industry sector, and thus contribute to the solution of challenges in the global society.

In the first phase, RENKEI focused on talent development of young researchers in its activities, as demonstrated in the practices such as developing and implementing together the program tailored for Ph.D. students and post-docs.

The second phase (2018 – 2025 including two-year extension) set the priority research theme, “Climate Change” and “Health”, and the collaborative projects by researchers from both countries are in progress.

Visit the link below for the information on events currently open.

The Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives（RENKEI)

in 2012

British Council Japan

British Council Japan

4 Japanese Universities, 6 UK Universities

Kyushu University, Keio University, Tohoku University, Ritsumeikan University

University of Edinburgh, University of Southampton, Durham University, Newcastle University, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool

RENKEI member universities has set up various working groups, based on topics, and implements projects targeting researchers and schools for students.
Kyushu University has been proceeding with activities in RENKEI, taking part as a member of the “Climate Change” group.