Our Philosophy

National University Corporation Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) originated 120 years ago with the predecessor institutions, Kyoto College of Textile Fiber and Kyoto College of Technology. Over this time, we have developed a unique academic culture rooted in the spirit of Kyoto, a cultural heart of Japan. Our university culture focuses on the pursuit of Knowledge, Beauty, and Skill. The impact of this? KIT has produced countless alumni who have significantly contributed to scholarship, art, culture, and industry.

As a 21^st-century national university corporation^*, we take our obligation to respond to the trust society has placed in us seriously. We do this through the execution of autonomous and responsible university governance, seeking solutions to today’s global challenges as we strive to build a sustainable future for humanity. In fulfilling our mission, we pledge to continue in our role as a Kyoto-rooted pioneering international institute of science and technology committed to innovation and the creation of unprecedented future-enhancing value.

Philosophy

1. ART×SCIENCE
   Integrating the artistic mindset—one that inspires dreams, fuels the scientific imagination, and sparks leaps of innovation—with the practical, data-driven solutions of science, our ideas take concrete form and we create new value.
2. LOCAL×GLOBAL
   Combining the high-quality craftsmanship and trust cultivated through Kyoto Thinking with the exploration of solutions to global sustainability challenges embodied in Global Thinking, we create new value.
3. TRADITION×INNOVATION
   Paying homage to Kyoto’s rich history and cultural traditions, we apply modern techniques and refined skills to the creation of lasting value that is unique, reliable and not easily replicated.

Social Mission

From our position as a national university, we harness Kyoto’s wealth of knowledge and technical expertise in advancing education and research. Through the creation of new value and the development of next-generation social systems, we strive to contribute to the construction of an aesthetically pleasing, peaceful and prosperous society for Japan and the world at large.

Action

Our mission is embodied in the following strategic actions:

1. KIT, as a public intellectual resource, is establishing systems for structural and comprehensive reform and the advancement of education and research.
2. Employing Kyoto Thinking concepts, we function as a hub, building global networks of leading intellectual institutions and promoting the exchange of human resources, ideas, and information.
3. By leveraging our regional roots, KIT drives regional revitalization, fosters industrial innovation, and contributes intellectually to the creation of a “Kyoto Valley,” a crucible for new industry.
4. KIT is developing interdisciplinary systems that foster novel academic fields for industrial innovation and future societies, becoming a driving force for transforming economic and social mechanisms through new value creation.
5. KIT is strengthening its governance system to preserve autonomy and enhance transparency through a Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) management framework to assure continuous incremental internal quality improvement.

What Distinguishes KIT from other Japanese Universities: The Benefits of a KIT Education

The pursuit of Knowledge, Beauty, and Skill at KIT is deeply rooted in Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage.
We value:

• Craftsmanship distinguished by exceptional quality, advanced technology and trust-based relationships
• The creation and dissemination of outstanding systems and styles
• Kyoto’s enduring thousand-year heritage of wisdom and wealth of cultural and artistic diversity
• Learning from and applying ideas inspired by Kyoto communities
• Design thinking that solves problems and art thinking that envisions future possibilities
• The integration of diverse disciplines to create new academic fields

At KIT, science and technology is taught in ways that foster human sensibility, honor harmony with nature, and contribute to a sustainable, spiritually enriched society.

Human- and Environment-Oriented Scholarship

Kyoto, a historic center of Japan’s artistic and intellectual traditions, has shaped the nation’s cultural systems and institutions for centuries. Building on over 120 years of academic heritage, KIT emphasizes humanistic science and technology, fostering sensitivity, harmony with nature, and innovations that contribute to a sustainable and spiritually enriched society.

As a science- and technology-focused institution, our single undergraduate School of Science and Technology and single Graduate School of Science and Technology offer distinctive programs across diverse fields—from applied biology, materials science, and electrical engineering to mechanical engineering, information and human sciences, textile science, and architecture and design—all dynamically creating practical solutions for society.

An Educational Environment Informed by History and Nature

With its 1,200-year heritage, Kyoto continues to serve as a living center of artistic, cultural, and intellectual activity, attracting distinguished scholars and creators from around the world.

Situated in the north-Kyoto neighborhood of Matsugasaki, an area known for its agricultural roots dating back to 794, when Kyoto became Japan’s capital, the KIT campus lies in a verdant landscape at the foot of the Rakuhoku mountains, surrounded by numerous historic sites. Immersed in this setting of rich history, natural beauty, and intellectual vitality, students and researchers grow as creative thinkers and deepen their aesthetic sensibility.

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*A self-managing, budgeting, and hiring institution receiving support and oversight from the Ministry of Education (MEXT).