MEXT Minister Yohei Matsumoto Visits Kumamoto KOSEN Kumamoto Campus

On Friday, May 8, 2026, Yohei Matsumoto, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), visited the Kumamoto Campus of Kumamoto National College of Technology (Kumamoto KOSEN). The visit included a tour of the campus facilities and an exchange of opinions with students.

The visit began with an overview of the institution presented by Principal Kenji Hayashi, followed by an initial discussion. During the facility tour, two advanced course students provided an explanation of the clean room, which Minister Matsumoto observed with great interest.

In the subsequent forum, four students representing three departments from the Kumamoto Campus participated. The discussion was lively, starting with questions about campus life and covering topics such as motivations for enrollment, future career goals, and the unique appeal of KOSEN. Students also addressed advanced topics like the relationship with AI and the future of learning, making it a valuable experience for all participants.

At the conclusion of the visit, Minister Matsumoto shared his impressions: "I observed that practical and specialized education is being effectively implemented here. I was impressed by how each student proactively engages in their studies with a clear sense of purpose and awareness of modern challenges. MEXT intends to promote Kumamoto KOSEN’s excellent initiatives nationwide."

About Kumamoto National College of Technology

Kumamoto KOSEN was established in October 2009 through the reorganization and integration of Kumamoto Radio College (est. 1943) and Yatsushiro National College of Technology (est. 1974). Operating across two campuses with six departments and two majors, it is a higher education institution characterized by its ICT foundation and the integration of electronic information and composite engineering fields. Its mission is to develop practical, creative engineers capable of working internationally and contributing to regional society through science and technology.

In fiscal year 2024, the college was selected for the "University/KOSEN Functional Enhancement Support Project." Starting from the 2026 academic year, the educational structure has been updated to strengthen the development of high-level IT experts. At the Kumamoto Campus, three departments have been renamed to "Department of Electronic Information and Communication," "Department of Intelligent Control and Information," and "Department of Information Engineering," with revised curricula to foster talent capable of developing information technology across various fields. At the Yatsushiro Campus, new "Information Courses" have been established in each department. Furthermore, the Information Education Security Center was established to set foundational IT subjects for all departments, facilitating institution-wide development of information-related human resources.