Kristiania partners with Japan University of Economics (JUE)
Kristiania bachelor students will have the opportunity to take a semester abroad in Japan, while students from Japan can come to Kristiania on exchange. The agreement also includes staff mobility opportunities.
Kristiania is further strengthening its internationalisation efforts. On 17 September, Kristiania signed a new collaboration and exchange agreement with Japan University of Economics (JUE).
The agreement with Japan University of Economics is the third agreement Kristiania has signed with institutions in Japan in just the past six months. Exchange opportunities with Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo and Kansai Gaiadai University in Osaka were agreed upon already last Summer.
International partnerships are an important part of Kristiania’s strategic ambitions, creating new opportunities for students and academic communities to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and learn across national borders.
– International collaboration allows us to learn from one another, build strong academic relationships, and provide our students with valuable experiences in an increasingly globalised world. When we share many of the same perspectives on education and research, it creates a strong foundation for an exciting partnership, says Rector Solfrid Lind.
About Japan University of Economics (JUE)
Japan University of Economics has its main campus in Fukuoka, located on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, just a short ferry ride from Busan in South Korea. The university also has a smaller campus in Tokyo, close to the world-famous Shibuya Crossing.
Japan University of Economics and Kristiania share a similar educational philosophy and common values. Both institutions emphasise practice-oriented and career-focused education, applied research, and strong links between academia and industry.
Faculty members at both institutions bring extensive professional experience from their respective fields. In addition, the academic portfolios of the two institutions overlap significantly.
Expanding collaboration in Asia
The new exchange agreement with JUE complements several recently established exchange partnerships in both Japan and South Korea. These agreements form part of a broader initiative to increase academic exchange and collaboration with Asia.
The new partnerships also align with Norway’s Panorama Strategy, which aims to strengthen long-term academic relations and cooperation with priority countries outside Europe, including Japan and South Korea.
Through these agreements, Kristiania contributes to the internationalisation of Norwegian higher education and helps create new opportunities for knowledge sharing and student mobility. As part of this initiative, students choosing exchange programmes in Asia may be eligible for additional scholarship funding.
Growing interest in Asia
Interest in Asia, and particularly Korea and Japan, has grown rapidly in recent years, both among travellers and within higher education.
– We see that Asia is becoming increasingly attractive as a destination for exchange and collaboration, both for students and academic staff, says Axel Eikner, Senior Advisor in the Unit for Research and Internationalisation.
Eikner has worked with international partnership agreements for several years.
– We have worked strategically towards Japan and South Korea in recent years, resulting in new agreements for student and staff exchange. Our focus on these countries is guided by the government’s Panorama Strategy, but also by the growing interest among both academics and students, he explains.
The Japanese delegation
Representing Japan University of Economics were Rector Asuka Tsuzuki, Dean of the Faculty of Economics Yuzo Tashiro, and Jiro Inoue, Head of International Affairs.
Japan University of Economics is part of the Tsuzuki Education Group, one of Japan’s largest educational organisations, which includes six universities. Founded in 1956, the group promotes an educational philosophy that closely aligns with Kristiania’s mission.
Asuka Tsuzuki is the granddaughter of the founders, Yorisuke and Sadae Tsuzuki. She has continued their vision of education as a means for individuals to realise their potential and opportunities. Like Kristiania, the university’s goal is to prepare students not only for their studies, but for life beyond graduation.
Strong commitment to internationalisation
Japan University of Economics has made internationalisation a key strategic priority and is among the universities with the highest number of international students in Japan.
International collaboration broadens horizons, offers new perspectives, and provides experiences that help students better understand and contribute to an increasingly interconnected and globalised world.
As a knowledge-based nation, Norway depends on international cooperation. The world is changing rapidly, and many of the challenges we face today are global in nature. For that reason, it is both meaningful and necessary for students and higher education institutions to collaborate across borders and continents.
