Kyushu University EU Centre

Aims and Objectives

The Kyushu University EU Centre was established in December 2010 as an institution in Kyushu University to promote and support the activities of the European Union Institute in Japan, Kyushu (EUIJ-Kyushu) administered by a consortium of Seinan Gakuin University, Fukuoka Women’s University, and Kyushu University, which began its operation in April 2011. EUIJ-Kyushu was one of the academic institutions worldwide which had provided students, researchers, and the public with various opportunities to broaden their knowledge of all aspects of the EU and its member countries, and had disseminated information related to the EU.
EUIJ-Kyushu ended its 5-year operation in March 2016. As a result of its wide-ranging activities, including EU-DPs, it had developed into a beneficial programme in the field of education and research related to the EU. Now, the EU Centre is set to continue building on this accomplishment as it begins its new term from June 2016.

The Kyushu University EU Centre conducts the following activities aiming to foster the knowledge of and promote a better understanding about the European Union (EU):
(1) Research and educational activities related to the EU
(2) Academic and educational exchange activities with the EU
(3) Outreach activities related to the EU
(4) Promoting collaboration between domestic and overseas EU institutes
(5) Implementation of EU Research Diploma Programmes

As the main educational activity of the EU Centre, we provide EU Study Diploma Programmes (EU-DPs). EU-DPs are unique interdisciplinary educational programmes focusing on EU-related research. The programmes provide opportunities for students to learn about the EU, which has been striving for economic development through regional　 integration, as well as to learn about the history, philosophy, science and technology of the EU and the member states behind the European integration.
(The academic journal, EUIJ-Kyushu Review, which was first issued by EUIJ-Kyushu, is being discontinued with the end of the JMCoE-Q activities on 31 August 2019.)

EUIJ-Kyushu Archives

I was appointed as the director of the EU Centre in December 2022. Together with all the colleagues from a variety of disciplines, I will be working for the further development of the Centre.

Let’s think about the reasons for studying “Europe” at Kyushu University even though we are located very near to neighboring Asian countries.

First, Europe is important as a benchmark when considering the future of Asia. After the Second World War, several movements for regional integration took place in Europe, during which the EC-EU has been gathering these impetuses together and achieved its integration with unprecedented depth. To study in detail the history and the recent developments of the European integration, together with the unique challenges for those who achieved such a deep integration, will help us to better envisage the future of Asia.

Second, the EU acts as a forerunner, tackling common issues of our modern society. Our government’s debt is much higher than that of Greece, which led to the euro area crisis. Many EU countries have been facing an aging population, increasing income gap, and other problems common in modern society. Also, the issues of immigrants and refugees in Europe are challenges for which the entire global community should be responsible. A thousand lessons can be drawn from Europe, which has long been tackling these challenges common to our modern society.

Third, Europe is important as a global actor. There is no country in Europe that surpasses Japan in population and GDP. However, as an integrated economic area, with a population of more than 500 million and more than 20% of the world GDP, the EU behaves as an important global actor in politics, economics, and science. For all those who work and study in universities that seek to become more global, it is necessary to understand the EU better and to cooperate with the EU in every research field.

The EU Centre seeks to intellectually address these challenges, through offering opportunities for researchers and students from various disciplines to bring together and deepen their knowledge of the EU and Europe. Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Jiro Hasumi
Director, EU Centre
Kyushu University

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EU Centre Committee (As of April 2023)

Chairperson of the Committee
Kenji IWATA, Trustee　(Vice President)

Director of the Centre
Jiro HASUMI, Professor / Faculty of Law [Term: until March 2024]

Vice Director of the Centre
Mark FENWICK, Professor / Faculty of Law [Term: until May 2023]

Committee Members

Advisor
Machiko HACHIYA, Former Director of the Kyushu University EU Centre, Former Professor, Faculty of Law, Kyushu University (Until May 2023)


EU Centre Committee / Sub-Committee
・ Educational Affairs Sub-Committee
・ Promotion & Outreach Sub-Committee
・ Research Affairs Sub-Committee
・ Coordination Sub-Committee


> EU Centre Regulations (PDF) <only Japanese version available>

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Kyushu University EU Centre

C-208, East Zone 1, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku Fukuoka 819-0395, JAPAN
TEL: +81 (0)92 802-2190
FAX: +81 (0)92 802-2187
MAIL: eucentre(a)jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp (*please change "a" to @) 

> Directions to Ito Campus


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