Greetings from the Director Kyushu University is located in Fukuoka, the gateway to Kyushu, and has long enjoyed a geographical and historical proximity to the rest of Asia. It stands as a beacon of academia, open to all of Asia, attracting a wealth of distinguished international students and researchers from across the regions of Asia and Oceania. We are dedicated to nurturing talent capable of thriving on the global stage while simultaneously amassing a treasure trove of human capital and intellectual property through the formation of networks within these regions. In April 2019, the university leveraged its strengths to launch the Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS), which is aimed at fostering practical research and educational endeavors across Asia and Oceania and addressing societal challenges in a unified effort across the university. Many of the social issues we face today are complex, interconnected problems that cannot be solved through the application of expertise and technology alone. For instance, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations in 2015, which aspire for a sustainable and better world by 2030, requires tackling a broad range of issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, inequality, conflict, and human rights abuses. This necessitates a collaborative effort that transcends organizational and disciplinary boundaries. Our university, with its integrative knowledge spanning the humanities, social sciences, life and natural sciences, and arts and engineering, is well-poised to contribute to solving these social issues, and Q-AOS is expected to play a pivotal role as a platform for this purpose. We believe that if we can start by addressing current issues in Asia and Oceania and link these to the suppression of future social problems, we will be able to contribute to realizing a more sustainable society. Approximately 80% of our international students come from Asia or Oceania, with many of our Japanese students also experiencing travel and study in these areas. These individuals are becoming the core of regional alumni networks, fostering connections and ensuring this fellowship continues through various initiatives such as the Kyushu University Forums, which are held across different countries and regions. Beginning in AY2024, Q-AOS is committed to intensifying its engagement through on-demand responses to local demands and on-site collaboration with local organizations, in a move to broaden activities driven by its departments focused on raising its international presence. I sincerely appreciate your continued support as we work to create positive change in Asia, Oceania, and beyond. President, Kyushu University Director, Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS) Tatsuro Ishibashi Mission / Vision - Mission Drawing upon Kyushu University’s long history of performing research and educational activities in Asia and Oceania,we will create a new academic field at the higest level and bring about innovation for Asia, Oceania, and the world. - Vision By tackling social issues in Asian and Oceanian countries with all the Kyushu University, we will contribute to resolution of these issues through both solutions to the problems of today and prediction of the issues expected to be faced tomorrow.Furthermore, we will essentially contribute to resolution of SDGs and Future SDGs. Institute Organization
