Okinawa International University
Okinawa International University, often abbreviated as, Okikoku or in English OKIU, is a private university in Ginowan in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1959 as a junior college and became a Japanese university in 1972 after the Okinawa Reversion.
As of, the university counts 5257 students, 202 professors and 76 employees. It has four colleges including ten departments, three graduate schools including five departments and four research institutes.
History
In 1959, while Okinawa is still under U.S. administration, the Koza Gakuen foundation creates the Ryūkyū International Junior College.In 1960, the Koza Gakuen Foundation takes the name of "Ryūkyū International Junior College Foundation". In 1962, the same foundation establishes the "International University", approved by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands, that includes the previously created junior college under the name of International University Junior College.
In 1967, the foundation is renamed "International School".
In 1971, within the framework of the Okinawa reversion, the junior college, still a part of the International University, is recognised as a junior college under the Japanese law.
With the reversion, the universities in Okinawa have to comply with the rules established for the Japanese universities, which leads to numerous reorganisations. Public subsidies are granted to support those reforms, supplemented by special loans from the Japanese Private Schools Promotion Foundation. Using those resources, the International University incorporates a part of the Okinawa University to become the current Okinawa International University. At the opening, 493 students, 18 professors and 21 employees are transferred from the Okinawa University while 1315 students, 30 professors and 34 employees come from the International University, with the new addition of 1176 students, 20 professors and 2 employees.
As of, the university counts 5257 students, 202 professors and 76 employees. It has four colleges including ten departments, three graduate schools including five departments and four research institutes.
Chronology
- 1959 : Creation of the Ryūkyū International Junior College by the Koza Gakuen Foundation
- 1962 : Creation of the International University, approved by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands
- 1972
- * : Approbation of the Okinawa International University by the Private Universities Committee of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands
- * : Merger of the International University with part of the Okinawa University to create the Okinawa International University
- * : Opening of the Okinawa International University Junior College, as part of Okinawa International University
- * : First start-of-the-school-year ceremony, coupled with the university opening ceremony
- * : With the reversion, the university is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education
- 1973 : Inauguration of buildings No. 3 and No. 5
- 1974 : Inauguration of the main building, of the library and of the gymnasium
- 1978 : Creation of the Institute of Ryukyuan Culture
- 1980 : Inauguration of building No. 7
- 1985 : Inauguration of the extra-curricular activities building
- 1986 : Inauguration of building No. 9
- 1988 : Inauguration of the social centre
- 1991 : Creation of the Institute of General Industrial Research
- 1992 : Inauguration of new building No. 5
- 1995
- *Shut down of the second College of Letters and of the College of Education
- *Inauguration du International Relations Centre and of the Information Centre
- 1997
- *Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of Ryukyuan Culture
- *Creation of the Okinawa Institute of Law and Politics
- 1998
- *Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Business and Economics, Department of Regional Industry
- *Inauguration of the Foreign Langages Centre and of the new library
- 1999
- * Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of British and American Studies
- * Shut down of the Okinawa International University Junior College
- 2000 Inauguration of the House of Seminars
- 2001
- *Reorganisation of the departments of Japanese Literature, of English Literature, and of Sociology of the Faculty of Literature into the Departments of Japanese Language and Culture, of British and American Languages and Cultures, and of Social Sciences and Regional Culture of the College of Global and Regional Culture
- *Creation of the Department of Human Welfare of the College of Global and Regional Culture
- 2002
- *The "First College of Law" is renamed "College of Law"
- *Reorganisation of the Department of Law of the College of Law into the Department of Legal Studies
- *Addition of a Department of Regional Administration to the College of Law
- 2003
- *Creation of the Graduate School of Law, Department of Law
- *Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of Human Welfare
- * Inauguration of the new gymnasium, of the Extension Centre and of the counselling service
- 2004
- *Creation of the Departments of Economics and of Regional Economics and Environmental Policy of the College of Economics and Environmental Policy and of the Departments of Business Administration and of Industry and Information Science of the College of Industry and Information Science
- * : A helicopter from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma crashes on Building No. 1
- 2006: Inauguration of the new main building
- 2008
- *Shut down of the Second College of Law
- *Adoption of a system with vice-presidency
- 2009
- *Shut down of the Second College of Management and Economics
- *Inauguration of building No. 13
- 2011 : Shut down of the First College of Management and Economics
- 2016 : Inauguration of new building No. 3
- 2021 : Inauguration of the students' meetings building
Colleges and Graduate School
Colleges
- College of Law
- *Department of Legal Studies
- *Department of Regional Administration
- College of Economics
- *Departement of Economics
- *Department of Regional Economics and Environmental Policy
- College of Industry and Information Science
- *Department of Business Administration
- *Department of Industry and Information Science
- College of Global and Regional Culture
- *Department of Japanese Culture
- *Department of British and American Cultures
- *Department of Social Sciences
- *Department of Human Welfare
- **Social Welfare major
- **Counseling major
Graduate Schools
- Graduate School of Regional Culture
- *Department of Ryūkyūan Culture
- *Department of British and American Languages and Cultures
- *Department of Human Welfare
- Graduate School of Regional Business and Economics
- *Department of Regional Business and Economics
- Graduate School of Law
- *Department of Law
Junior Colleges
- Okinawa International University Junior College
Associated Institutes
- International Relations Centre
- Information Centre
- Foreign Languages Centre
- Institute of Ryukyuan Culture
- Institute of General Industrial Research
- Okinawa Institute of Law and Politics
Presidence
- 1972-1976 Genshū Asato
- 1976-1980 Genshū Asato
- 1980-1984 Genshū Asato
- 1984-1988 Hiroe Takamiya
- 1988-1992 Takematsu Kakazu
- 1992-1996 Yoshiharu Heshiki
- 1996-2000 Yoshiharu Heshiki
- 2000-2004 Isao Namihira
- 2004-2008 Tomoaki Toguchi
- 2008-2012 Moritake Tomikawa
- 2012-2016 Tamotsu Ōshiro
- 2016-2020 Eiken Maetsu
- 2020-2024 Eiken Maetsu
- 2024-2028 Hajime Asato
External relations
University credits equivalence system
Okinawa International University has agreements for equivalence of credits with several universities in Okinawa Prefecture and in Japan.Universities in Okinawa Prefecture
Other Japanese universities
- Daito Bunka University
- Matsuyama University
- Kyoto University of Advanced Science
- J. F. Oberlin University
- Kumamoto Gakuen University
- Meijo University
- Open University of Japan
- Sapporo Gakuin University
International Exchange Programmes
Okinawa International University has agreements for exchange programmes with universities in ten different countries.- Australia
- *Macquarie University
- Canada
- *Vancouver Island University
- China
- *Tianjin Foreign Studies University
- *University of Macau
- France
- *Rennes 2 University
- Germany
- *Osnabrück University
- South Korea
- *Gachon University
- *Hannam University
- *Pukyong National University
- Spain
- *University of León
- Taiwan
- *Tunghai University
- United States of America
- *Henderson State University
- *Southern Utah University
- Vietnam
- *FPT University
Collaborations
In Okinawa Prefecture
- 1997 : Agreement with the village of Higashi concerning the construction of Okinawa International University House of Seminars
- 2014 : Foundation of the University Consortium Okinawa, including Okinawa Prefecture’s universities, junior colleges and colleges of technology
- 2017 : Agreement of collaboration with Ginowan City Board of Education
- 2017 : Agreement of collaboration with the Okinawa Accountants Association
- 2019 : Agreement of cooperation with Japan Transocean Air and Ryūkyū Air Commuter
- 2020 : Agreement of collaboration with the city of Ginowan
International Collaborations
- 1994 : International Academic Seminar Okinawa – South Korea
- 1997 : Agreement of international collaboration between the Institute of Ryukyuan Culture and the Honam Studies Research Center of Chonnam National University
- 2002 : Agreement of academic collaboration between the Institute of Ryukyuan Culture and the Institute for China-Ryukyu Relations of the Fujian Normal University
- 2003 : International symposium "Okinawa in the context of globalisation"
Affiliations, certifications
- 1997 : Approved as a permanent member of the Japan University Norma Association
- 2005 : Certified as complying to the university evaluation norma by the Japan University Norma Association
- 2009 : Agreement with the Study Abroad Foundation concerning international student exchanges
- 2010 : Obtention of the "Eco-action 21" certification
Former partnerships
Personalities associated to the university
Professors and former professors
- Masaaki Aniya – Historian
- Yasuo Kurima – Historian of Okinawa
- Masakazu Kuzuwata – Professor of the department of Japanese culture of the College of global and regional culture, Japanese medieval literature
- Hiromori Maedomari – Professor of the department of regional economics and environmental policy of the College of economics, theories on Okinawan economy
- Yoshirō Tamanoi – Economist
- Hiroyuki Teruya – Political analyst
- Moritake Tomikawa – Economist, former vice-governor of Okinawa
Alumni
Politics
- Shukichi Hokama – Former mayor of Yonaguni
- Shōkichi Kina – Musician, former member of the House of Councillors
- Yasukuni Kinjō – Member of the House of Representatives, former member of the Okinawa Prefecture Assembly
- Toshio Shimabuku – Former mayor of Uruma
Academia
- Naoki Kawamitsu – Economist and historian, professor at the Doshisha University
Arts
- Kōhei Ariwaka – Painter
- Ryūichi Ishikawa – Photograph
Show business
- Kōsuke Emori – Comedian
- Higamoeru – Comedian
- Hīpū – Comedian
- Asano Irei – Singer
- Shin'ya Kinjō – Comedian
- Atsuko Kyan – Model
- Takako Miyahira – Film director
- Kazuhiro Taira – Film director
- Kiyosaku Uezu – Musician
Sports
- Yukihide Gibo – Footballer
- Ken Ishikawa – Former footballer
- Arata Kinjō – Karateka, double gold medal at the Karate World Championships
- Ryō Kiyuna – karateka, gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games
- Riku Nagahama – Boxer
- Masato Tomoyose – Professional baseball referee
- Takuya Uemura – Karateka, double gold medal at the Karate World Championships
Media
- Ryūtarō Miyata – Radio presenter
- Kazumasa Ōta – Radio presenter
- Ayako Sakihama – Meteorologist
- Taiga Yoshimi – Radio and television presenter