Sending Universities

Established as the first research-driven university in Korea, Pohang University of Science and Technology is a flagship institution with exceptional STEM research output. POSTECH was founded by POSCO, one of the world's leading steel companies, and was inspired by CalTech in its low student-to-faculty ratio, higher intake of graduate students than undergraduates, and impressive campus environment – a radical departure for the norm in 1980’s Korea. POSTECH rose quickly to become one of the most prominent young research universities in the world and is now in the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings, top 15 in QS Asia University Ranking and top ten in Korea. Each year, POSTECH welcomes just 300 new undergraduates, budding engineers and scientists who are actively encouraged to be involved in graduate research through their courses.

On the southern island of Kyushu, the Prefectural University of Kumamoto blends the traditions of its surroundings with the wisdom to push through challenges and build a future of hope. On the compact, tree-lined campus, 2,200 students focus on their study of letters, environment and symbiotic sciences, and administrative studies. Since 1947, the university has evolved a supportive, encouraging, engaged community in this, the City of Forests and Water.

Korea’s first national university, Pusan National University’s courses initially focused purely on humanities and fisheries. PNU has now grown to accommodate 15 colleges and several highly regarded graduate schools, where tradition and academic excellence are nurtured. While its mechanical-engineering department is especially celebrated, its education in healthcare, biosciences, Nano-, and biotechnology are also exceptional. Many of its schools have been awarded ongoing government-funded research projects, and the university places high value on research and publication. 

Qingdao University of Science and Technology is a multi-disciplinary university with a focus on engineering and a coordinated development of science, engineering, liberal arts, economics, management, medicine, law, art and education. The university is a national 111 Plan project construction unit, a key construction university in Shandong Province and a famous school with applied basic talents training.

Rikkyo University located in Tokyo and founded in 1874 began with St. Paul's School. It was established by the Episcopal Church missionary Bishop Channing Moore Williams as a private school that taught Christian Bible studies and English. At that time, Japan was rushing to catch up with the advanced nations of the West, and the field of education also had a strong utilitarian tendency. Knowledge and technology were often seen as tools for material prosperity and self-advancement. Rikkyo went against the trend of the age, modeling after the traditional liberal arts colleges of the West, which has successfully continued to develop to this day. 
 

Rikkyo University was founded in 1874 as a small Christian private school teaching Bible and English studies. Since then, it has developed as one of the top liberal arts universities in Japan and is located in Tokyo.

College of Intercultural Communication (CIC) was established in 2008. The CIC curriculum includes a for-credit Study Abroad Program, where students depart in their 2nd year for one semester or one year. CIC believes “The force of globalization moves the world and its peoples, every community and every citizen. CIC approaches this dynamism by turning knowledge into practice to solve complex problems”.

Established in 1639, Ryukoku University has the longest history of university education and research in Japan. It inaugurated the first faculty of science and engineering, as well as the nation's first faculty of agriculture in a Buddhist university. Now it has  faculties and graduate schools in literature, economics, business administration, law, science and technology, sociology, international studies, policy science, and agriculture, as well as a junior college, a law school, and its overseas base, Ryukoku University Berkeley Center.
Through its exchange programs with over one hundred partner universities, Ryukoku places great importance on teaching Japanese language and culture, offering programs both for beginners and those preparing to enter undergraduate and graduate programs.