Keio University: Institution Main

About Keio University:

Founded in 1858, Keio University (慶應義塾大学 Keiō gijuku daigaku  or 慶大 Keidai ) is the oldest private learning institution in Japan.  Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University, traveled to Western countries and brought back Western ideology and applied notions of Western education to his school, Keio gijuku, the predecessor to Keio University. 

Outside the school, Fukuzawa, who is portrayed on Japan's 10,000 yen note, was also one of the first statesmen of Modern Japan.  Many Gijuku students were sent to study in the West and became leaders of the Gijuku and in the fields of academia, as well as social and economic leaders of Japan.

Keio University inherited Fukuzawa's ideals and provides innovative and practical education based on society's needs.  Keio has a wide range of programs and unique materials.  Key areas include: Letters, Economics, Law, Business and Commerce, Medicine, Science and Technology, Policy Management, Environment and Information Studies, Nursing and Pharmacy.

Keio's School of Library and Information Science was opened in the spring of 1951 as a first formal college-level school for librarianship in Japan. It was assisted by the American Library Association.  Dr. Robert L. Gitler was the first director of the School.  The School is an integral unit of the Faculty of Letters in Keio University.

The objectives of the School are to train professionals for various types of libraries or information related organizations, to stimulate and promote research in the field of library and information science, and to become a center of the field. It has produced many leading librarians, information specialists, researchers, and faculty members and its contribution to the advancement of library and information science in Japan has been outstanding.

Keio University  was designated as one of Japan's Global 30 institutions.  Created by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology the "Global 30" Project Establishes Core Universities for Internationalization to function as the principal schools for receiving and educating international students. In 2009, 13 universities were selected. These core universities have established English degree programs and will play a major role in dramatically boosting the number of international students educated in Japan as well as Japanese students studying abroad.  As one of Japan's most internationalized universities, the University of Tokyo offers excellent opportunities for foreign students through this program.