The Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering launched the KOSEN Collaborative Education Program in April 2023 for third-year transfer students (quota: 20) from advanced courses at nine National Institutes of Technology (KOSEN) in the Kyushu–Okinawa region. By leveraging the strengths and educational resources of both the department and KOSEN advanced courses, the program aims to advance the quality of engineering education.
KOSENs provide early, intensive specialization in fields such as mechanical, electrical and electronic, and materials engineering, cultivating graduates with strong practical expertise and skills. After completing the five-year KOSEN regular program and entering the advanced course, selected students transfer into the department as third-year students. Through the program, they further deepen their specialized competence, acquire the ability to apply information science to engineering domains, and develop broad perspectives and practical problem-solving skills through problem-based learning. The overarching goal is to foster “π-shaped” engineers who combine deep expertise with interdisciplinary breadth.
The program also enriches the learning environment by bringing together diverse student backgrounds. KOSEN transfer students’ hands-on, trial-and-error strengths complement the theoretical foundations of students who have studied in the department since the first year, reflecting the philosophy of “Mens et Manus” (mind and hand).
Participants remain enrolled in both institutions, and by completing requirements and earning credits for each, they receive a Bachelor of Engineering from Kyushu University and a certificate of completion from their KOSEN advanced course.
