The National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College is located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost island, and enjoys a mild climate throughout the year with abundant tropical sunshine, is close to the ocean and is surrounded by rich nature.

Established in 2002, the college buildings and dormitories are relatively new, and the facilities and equipment are state-of-the-art. Two courses are available: a five-year regular course and a two-year major course. International students can transfer to the third year of the five-year regular course. Learn the most advanced technology in the southernmost part of Japan and extend your dreams from Okinawa to the world!

Greetings from the President

Learn in Okinawa, Fly Worldwide, and Brighten Up Your Future to Be the Cutting Edge from the Southern Island

Established in 2004, National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College is the newest of Japan’s 51 national colleges of technology, located in the rich natural environment of Henoko, Nago City. From the start, the school was designed to reflect the unique character of the region by offering four specialized departments—Mechanical Systems Engineering, Information and Communication Systems Engineering, Media Information Engineering, and Bioresources Engineering—each accepting 40 students per year. The Liberal Arts Department also supports common foundational learning. In 2009, a two-year Creative Systems Engineering course was added to promote advanced education for students who complete the initial five-year program. Students who complete this advanced course can earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Every year, more than 20 job openings are available for every graduate, and our employment rate is nearly 100%. After completing the general education course, about one-third of students go on to further studies—either by transferring into the third year of a four-year university or by continuing into our advanced course.

This five- to seven-year continuous technical education model, which begins after junior high school at age 15, was developed in Japan and is unique even by international standards. Other countries are now beginning to adopt this original “KOSEN Model.” Because of its strong educational results, the term “KOSEN” is now recognized around the world. Under the guidance of the National Institute of Technology, Okinawa KOSEN also sends faculty abroad to train local teachers and support student education. In particular, two KOSEN schools in Thailand now offer five-year programs, and their libraries and open-style school buildings were designed based on the Okinawa KOSEN campus.

More than 20 years since our founding, we are now nearing a total of 3,000 graduates, including those from the advanced course. These graduates are active not only in Okinawa but across Japan and around the world. They are highly valued in society and help support Japan’s economic growth in a sustainable way.

Today, many industries and research projects are expanding on a global scale. To create new technologies and continue research, we must think about the future from a worldwide perspective. This means there is a growing need for engineers and researchers who can work with a global mindset.

Even in the 21st century, many global challenges remain unresolved. If we do not take action, there is concern that humanity may not be able to continue living safely on this planet. People around the world must work together to identify problems and promote solutions through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, we must embrace new ideas and technologies, such as industrial structural changes—the key initiative of Society 5.0—and digital transformation, and adapt flexibly to the changing needs of society. In this environment, KOSEN students—trained to become creative and practical engineers—have an important role to play. Our programs focus on hands-on experiments and training, early exposure to practical engineering, and project-based learning (PBL), all designed to stay at the cutting edge of education. In addition, our school offers unique programs in areas such as aviation technology, drone and underwater robot development, health and pharmaceutical product development based on Okinawa’s natural resources, and tourism and community design. These efforts aim to develop individuals capable of creating new value for society.

Under our school motto, “Learn in Okinawa, Fly Worldwide, Brighten Up Your Future, Be the Cutting Edge from the Southern Island,” we are committed to growing as a trusted institution that develops practical and creative engineers, all while working closely with the local community. We sincerely appreciate your continued support as we work toward that goal.

                                                                                                                                          Koji Suzuki, Ph.D.