Kansai University of International Studies is a private institution which was founded in 1987 as a women’s junior college. It adopted co-education on attaining university status with a single faculty of business administration in 1998.
The university is divided between two campuses an hour’s journey apart. The original site at Miki in Hyogo Prefecture and a newer location at Amagasaki, close to Osaka. The Amagasaki campus was opened in 2009.
Following a reorganisation in 2019, the university was divided into five faculties, with human sciences and health sciences operating at Miki and international communication, business administration and education at Amagasaki. Global studies elements, intended to give students a global perspective, are taught across all courses, while a focus on active learning has led to initiatives such as students helping with teaching maths in schools in Cambodia.
Disaster studies is a distinctive element included in teaching provision. The 20th anniversary symposium in 2018 was on the theme of "The role of universities in the era of disaster" and courses are offered in disaster management and disaster psychology.
Other unique courses available include bridal management, focused on the planning of weddings and receptions, by the business administration faculty.
Students keep ePortfolios recording learning outcomes and activities and look back on previous sessions while planning the one to come on Reflection Day at the start of each semester. A points-based Campus Mileage system, used to fund items such as cafeteria tickets, is based on academic performance and extramural activities.
In 2020 the university merged with Kobe Yamate University.
