The Objective and Purpose of Establishment
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the major development of information and communication technologies and networking has helped rapidly develop the global economy. However, the world today is facing many issues, such as economic inequality and environmental issues.
Meijo Asian Research Center had served as the core of intellectual creation. It has long been promoting academic exchanges and research development between researchers who are engaged in Asian studies inside and outside Japan, focusing on rapidly-growing Asian regions to understand them and contribute to their sustainable development.
The year 2026 marks Meijo University’s 100th anniversary. As an intellectual platform that provides education and conducts research, in the future, we will utilize the knowledge we have accumulated so far to introduce Aichi?and Japan as a whole?to the world while expanding our focus to a wider area. This will allow us to develop and facilitate mutual understanding between countries and regions around the world.
Meijo University is promoting the Internationalization Plan 2026, which aims to make integration, sophistication, and internationalization the focal points of education and research by the 100th anniversary of the university.
Many international students study at Meijo University. It is located in Aichi, Chubu region, which has strong economic relations with countries and regions around the world, mainly in the manufacturing industry. Aiming for sustainable development in Japan and the world, accumulating knowledge and offering education have become a priority in the region. There are high expectations for multifaceted international research that approaches the dynamism of the social economy of countries around the world and its relationship with Aichi, Chubu region.
Each region around the world has a different history and culture, and the values of each region are diverse. As regionalization progresses along with globalization, it is necessary to better understand diversity and promote it as the entire region’s appeal and energy, rather than regarding it as a source of conflict. To do so, Meijo University has developed Meijo Asian Research Center to establish Meijo International Education and Research Center (MIERC) in April 2022 as an international education and research base.
MIERC aims to teach the Japanese language and Japanese studies mainly to exchange students, in addition to understanding countries and regions around the world and contributing to their sustainable development. To function as the core of intellectual creation and contribute to the sustainable development of countries around the world through academic and educational exchange, MIERC introduces the history, culture, and economy of Aichi, Chubu region and Japan to overseas countries. In addition, Meijo University has a comprehensive academic base and infrastructure that includes social science, natural science, engineering, and humanities. MIERC utilizes this to develop a network between instructors, students?including international students?graduates, researchers, and research institutes inside and outside Japan that are interested in international fields.
The Three Approaches of MIERC
We aim to contribute to international and regional societies as the core of intellectual creation, utilizing Meijo University’s intellectual resources and international network to contribute to the sustainable development of countries and regions around the world.
1. Contributing to the sustainable development of countries and regions around the world
Since the beginning of the 21st century, countries around the world have continued to develop remarkably. On the other hand, many countries have been facing various issues, such as socioeconomic inequalities, environmental issues, and internal conflicts. These issues are becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Meijo University has accumulated multifaceted research in fields that include natural science, social science, and humanities. At MIERC, we leverage the base and network of the university to promote the sustainable development of all countries and regions around the world and study their strategies.
2. Facilitating mutual understanding between Japan and the world
Aichi, Chubu region?where Meijo University is located?is the center of the manufacturing industry in Japan. It has been expanding globally and creating interdependent relationships with countries and regions around the world. Closing the gap between international economies through investment and trade will have a significant impact on the society and environment in countries around the world. We will cooperate with countries around the world to plan pro-cyclical development that creates a balance between economy, society, culture, and the environment and improve the quality of life.
3. Sharing the appeal of Aichi and Japan to the world
After the rise of Japan’s economic status and role in the world, many people around the world have recently become interested and curious about Japan’s history, culture, arts, and companies. At Meijo University, we accept many international students and researchers every year. We utilize their knowledge and networks to widely share Aichi and Japan’s appeal to the world.
The Functions and Activities of MIERC
Aiming to promote international education and research, MIERC leverages the intellectual base and network of Meijo University?the largest university in the Chubu region.
As for its educational functions, MIERC has started offering extensive Japanese language education and specialized courses in various Japanese studies such as history, culture, arts, and economy in English, mainly for exchange students.
As for its research functions, MIERC is a research center open for researchers who are interested in international fields inside and outside the university. It has a support function (platform function) to develop Meijo University’s international research and expands its research activities while cooperating with research institutes inside and outside Japan. MIERC’s main support functions are (1) research grants, (2) research result publication and information dissemination, and (3) international academic exchange. A research unit is formed in MIERC for each funded research project and each externally funded research project. The results of these projects can be published by holding a seminar, publishing research bulletins, or on our website to share the information. Moreover, MIERC also serves as a place to educate students and the general public and help them understand the world. We select current international themes and regularly hold symposiums and seminars.
