ISI will jointly establish a new academic department in October 2028. Japan’s First Joint Degree Program (JDP) at the Undergraduate Level Offered by a National University Mar.24,2026
Kyushu University and the University of Glasgow held a press conference on March 23 at the Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Centre on Kyushu University’s Ito Campus to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent toward the establishment of a Joint Degree Programme (JDP). The programme, scheduled to begin in October 2028, will mark the first undergraduate‑level joint degree between a Japanese national university and an overseas institution. Representatives from both universities and members of the media attended the event, reflecting growing expectations for international collaborative education.
At the outset of the conference, Professor Araya, Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation at Kyushu University, addressed the audience. He emphasized the significance of the new programme, stating that through fieldwork conducted in both Japan and the United Kingdom, students will gain a deep understanding of real‑world environmental challenges and be nurtured as globally active professionals capable of contributing on the international stage.
Representing the University of Glasgow, Professor Konstantinos Kontis, Dean for Global Engagement (China / East Asia), and Professor Fabrice Renaud, Head of School, Social & Environmental Sustainability, delivered remarks highlighting the global importance of social and environmental sustainability. They noted that by jointly delivering education, the two universities will provide students with more practical and multifaceted perspectives on addressing pressing global issues.
Following the presentations, the signed Letter of Intent was unveiled, accompanied by a commitment from both institutions to steadily advance preparations toward the programme’s launch in October 2028. The event left a strong impression that concrete steps toward an international joint degree are now firmly underway.
For more details > JDP site 
Photo caption:
Representatives from both universities pose together around the signed agreement.
Senior Vice President Johan Lauwereyns, President Tatsuro Ishibashi, Dean Araya, Professor Kontis, Professor Fabrice.