To respond effectively to the many complex and diverse challenges that higher education has faced in recent years, it has become essential for universities to learn from one another across institutional boundaries, both in terms of practical experiences and more formally at the level of policy and institutional frameworks, especially in the areas of internationalization and the enhancement of university management.
The OIST International Graduate School Administration Forum aims to be an effective part of this response by bringing together university administrators from national, public, and private universities. The forum promotes collaboration by enabling participants to share experiences, perspectives, and practices. This year's primary focus is on international student recruitment and student mobility, industry-academia collaborative education, and student support.
Participants openly engage in small groups with the challenges and initiatives of their respective institutions. By relating to other approaches, they develop practical insights that can inform and strengthen university administration and institutional practice. At the previous forum, 33 participants from 18 universities and relevant government agencies took part in lively discussions, learning from each other, all the while building new professional relationships and strengthening networks across the Japanese higher education ecosystem.
OIST will co-host this year's forum together with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU). With an overlapping commitment to internationalization, both universities have developed effective approaches to recruiting international students and to creating environments that support students, faculty, and staff from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds. At the same time, their differing missions have shaped unique institutional contexts that come with issues specific to each institution. By showcasing these complementary perspectives, the forum provides a valuable opportunity for participants to reflect on their own institutional practices and generate ideas that may inform future collaboration and institutional development.
Building on the direction set by OIST and APU, participants will explore what internationalization means in the context of each university's unique mission, history, and institutional characteristics. From there, they will examine the practical challenges and opportunities that accompany increases in internationalization. The aim is to strengthen meaningful relationships between administrators, thus inspiring new collaborations for themselves and their universities.
Last year’s program is provided below as the current program is being finalized. The final version will be sent to participating universities as soon as it’s ready.
https://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/j-peaks/2025/12/9/administrationforum2025
| Date: | November 25 - 27, 2026 |
| Venue: | OIST Main Campus |
| Participation Fee: | 15,600 yen
Includes lunch and dinner on Days 1 and 2. |
| Target: | University Officials and Staff (Capacity: 40 participants) |
| Language: | Japanese/English (Simultaneous Interpretation services will be provided) |
(The content is subject to change.)
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Nov. 25 |
Registration |
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Nov. 26 |
OIST/APU Sharing Perspectives: Student Support |
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OIST/APU Sharing Perspectives: Industry Collaboration
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Facilitated DiscussionsFollowing the perspective-sharing sessions, participants will break into small groups to discuss selected sub-topics, exchange experiences, and explore practical approaches and emerging ideas. |
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Topic Table An informal, participant-driven space for conversations beyond the formal program. Participants are welcome to join discussion tables on topics proposed by fellow participants. |
Registration form
Registration period: August 10 - October 31, 2026
List of Participating Universities *It will be available shortly.
For information on nearby hotels, please refer to the list below. Please note that OIST does not provide accommodation, shuttle bus services, or other transportation arrangements. Participants are kindly requested to make their own arrangements.
Please submit your inquiry through Inquiry Form.
If you wish to cancel your registration, refunds will be provided for cancellations made by November 5th (Thu) via the above inquiry form in accordance with OIST regulations. Cancellations made after that date are non-refundable.
OIST will provide further details for the refund after a cancellation request has been made.
Should unforeseeable circumstances, such as natural disasters or other exceptional events, prevent your attendance, please contact us via the designated inquiry form above so that we may provide appropriate guidance.
The OIST International Administration Forum, a platform for sharing practices and discussing challenges in meeting the needs of international graduate education, was held from November 26 to 28. In its second edition, the Forum focused on the following four key areas:
In addition, the Forum featured practical workshops led by experts on topics such as international student recruitment strategies and effective, respectful communication practices that support the well-being of international students.
As universities increasingly face the need to respond to diverse student and researcher populations through organizational flexibility and strategic initiatives, the Forum served as a valuable platform for learning, networking, and professional exchange. Through the sharing of knowledge and the development of practical skills, it aimed to enhance the capabilities of university staff, foster future collaboration and partnerships, and contribute to the continued organizational growth and advancement of higher education institutions.
https://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/j-peaks/2025/12/9/administrationforum2025
Since opening in 2012, OIST Graduate University has attracted more than 300 outstanding students from around the world. In doing so, OIST has developed a truly international graduate school, requiring constant effort in overcoming the challenges that entails. OIST, as a graduate university without departments, faces difficulties in recruiting young talent, when compared to universities organized along more traditional lines.
As competition to attract international students intensifies, what strategies and mechanisms are required to continue to attract and retain outstanding students from Japan and overseas? In addition to provision of advanced education and research facilities and a good living environment, internationally competitive student support is critical to the success of our students. The professional staff of the OIST Graduate School find their varied skills, knowledge, and diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, cultivated through their extensive overseas experience, invaluable in assisting students as they navigate their path to a PhD degree. It is of the utmost importance that a graduate school provides international students with the necessary support and resources to enable them to concentrate on their studies, but furthermore this effort should have benefits for students that go beyond graduation. To ensure students ultimately find their place in their chosen fields, what strategies and effective career guidance should be provided to help students develop their career paths and professional networks?
The International Graduate School Administration Forum will explore the initiatives taken at OIST, and how to overcome common challenges faced by international graduate schools critical to raising and maintaining global reputation and visibility. It will also serve as a great opportunity for future collaboration among Japanese Universities collectively striving to become internationally recognized institutions dedicated to their students’ success.
Forum Flyer