Chronological Development

1945

Tanimoto English School, the forerunner of Kansai Gaidai University, was founded with the hope of creating an institution which would emphasize on promotion of international understanding.

1968

A professor and nineteen students from the University of Arkansas participated in a Kansai Gaidai-sponsored summer seminar, marking the first Asian Studies Program offered to students from abroad.

1971

Reciprocal exchanges were initiated with US institutions with credit transfer arrangements.

1972

With a liberal arts focus, the Asian Studies Program was formally designed as a one-year study abroad experience specifically for international students. Its curriculum is developed in such a way as to meet the diverse requirements of undergraduate students worldwide.

1980

Founded in 1977 and accredited by the Hawaiian government in 1979, Kansai Gaidai Hawaii College was opened. This satellite campus made Kansai Gaidai the first Japanese institution with an overseas campus.

1982

The Tanimoto Memorial Hall for International Education, also known as the Center for International Education, was constructed exclusively for the Asian Studies Program, adjacent to the main campus in Katahoko. The educational facility contained classrooms, faculty offices, lecture halls, a computer room, a fully equipped language laboratory, a student lounge, and ceramic and Japanese brush painting studios.

1984

The relocation of the branch campus from Mandai, Osaka, was completed. The campus at its new site in Hotani, Hirakata, provides its students with improved educational and structural facilities. The educational programs were focused on international communication.

1985

A new international dormitory was opened to accommodate the ever-increasing number of Asian Studies Program participants.

1987

Kansai Gaidai sent two students for a Dual Degree Program for the first time.

1990

The number of overseas affiliated institutions reached 100. The number of students who had participated in the university sponsored study abroad programs passed the 10,000 mark.

1994

As part of the University's ongoing efforts to upgrade its academic environment, Kansai Gaidai completed construction of its new library, significantly increasing its resources for student and faculty research.

1996

Globally oriented academic programs were significantly expanded with the opening of the School of International Communication on the Hotani Campus. The School aims to produce professionals in the fields of business and intercultural communication who will provide pragmatic solutions to problems encountered in working and communicating across cultures.

1997

The new International Seminar House was opened to provide housing for more international students.

1998

The Academic Japanese Program was launched to provide international students with an advanced-level command of Japanese language with opportunities to enhance their abilities by enrolling in regular undergraduate courses taught entirely in Japanese.

2000

To meet the challenges of the coming century, Kansai Gaidai announced a move of the entire Katahoko campus to a new locale in Nakamiya, Hirakata.

2002

The construction and the relocation of the entire Katahoko campus to Nakamiya was completed. The facilities of the Center for International Education were greatly expanded and improved.

2003

An apartment style international student dormitory, Seminar House III, was constructed to accommodate the ever-increasing number of international students.

2005

In order to respond to the needs for international student dormitories, Seminar House IV was completed in August 2005.

The number of countries and regions in which KG has inter-institutional relations reached 50. In the last five years, 21 countries have been added.

2007

The number of overseas affiliated insitutions reached 300.

2008

The total number of Asian Studies Program participants has exceeded 10,000 students since its inception in 1972.