Kyoto University of Art and Design Selected for MEXT's "Industry-Academia Collaboration Re-skilling Ecosystem Construction Project"

Kyoto University of Art and Design (KUA, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City / President: Taku Sato) has been selected for the "Industry-Academia Collaboration Re-skilling Ecosystem Construction Project" (Menu 2 Industry Growth / Domain: Creative) for fiscal year 2025 supplementary budget, with its "Content Business Human Resource Development Program."

Overseas sales of content originating in Japan already exceed 5 trillion yen, a scale second only to automobile exports, and the government's goal (New Cool Japan Strategy) is 20 trillion yen by 2033.

Existing recurrent education in the arts tends to focus on improving creative skills (production techniques). In contrast, this program is characterized by its aim to develop human resources who can enhance the competitiveness of content businesses and expand revenue. It will be offered in units of content fields such as "music," "video," and "illustration," targeting employees of content companies, as well as students and working adults who are considering employment or career changes in the industry in the future. The curriculum will reflect corporate needs, with the involvement of the business divisions of collaborating companies.

Details of this program are scheduled to be released in September 2026.

Project Overview Project Name: Content Business Human Resource Development Program

Selected Project: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) FY2025 Supplementary Budget Industry-Academia Collaboration Re-skilling Ecosystem Construction Project Menu 2 "Industry Growth"

Implementing Body: Kyoto University of Art and Design Project Period: FY2026

Selection Results

MEXT Website https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/ikusei/manabinaoshi/mext_00030.html

About Kyoto University of Art and Design (KUA) Kyoto University of Art and Design is a comprehensive art university, one of the largest in Japan, with approximately 24,000 students enrolled in both its on-campus and correspondence courses. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.

The on-campus courses (10 departments, 24 courses in the Faculty of Art) emphasize the relationship between "society and art" and undertake over 100 "Social Implementation Projects" annually in collaboration with companies and local governments. It provides practical education that addresses real-world social issues through the power of art and design.

The correspondence courses (5 departments, 19 courses) were established in 1998 as Japan's first four-year correspondence course program at an art university. It is one of the largest art universities among private correspondence universities in terms of enrollment, with diverse students learning from across Japan and overseas. It provides an environment where individuals of any age or experience can study art.

Location: 2-116 Kitashirakawa Uryuyama-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 606-8271 URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/