About APU

APU applied for and was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) “FY2011 Re-Inventing Japan Project”. The successful application was made under the concept title of “APU-SEU* Global Collaborative University Education (GLUE) Program”. *SEU is short for St. Edward’s University, a university located in Austin, Texas in the United States. Austin has a sister city agreement with Oita City.

Beginning this year, the “Re-Inventing Japan Project” is a new MEXT project that provides targeted financial support for international programs for Japanese and international students, and aims to support the development of graduates with the skills needed to adapt to the rapid pace of globalisation in higher education. APU was adopted under Type-B applications: “Establishment Aid for Cooperative Education with Universities in the USA etc”, while Ritsumeikan University was adopted as a Type-A application: “Support for CAMPUS Asia Hub Formation”.

Through this program, APU and SEU aim to develop graduates with the skills they need to succeed in a globalized world through developing opportunities for pre-enrollment study abroad programs, joint study programs in America and South East Asia, and double-degree programs. The two parties will also encourage greater cooperative learning between their respective students, and raise students’ levels of language and communication skills, and cross cultural understanding.

St. Edward’s University and APU share many similarities including campus size and philosophy. Furthermore, St. Edward’s University is held in high regard in the US as one of the nation’s foremost liberal arts colleges and is situated the City of Austin – sister city to Oita. Through this program we look forward to further regional internationalisation and student exchange.