Hyogo University of Teacher Education

The Hyogo University of Teacher Education is a national-run higher education institution in Katō, Hyōgo, Japan.

Established in 1978, Hyogo University of Teacher Education was set up as a teacher training institution and educational research centre, but expanded with the opening of its Joint Graduate School in the Science of School Education PHD programme in 1996. Since then, the university has expanded further, and has a number of satellite campuses in nearby Kobe and along the Kato coast.

Today, the university offers a range of courses at undergraduate and graduate level, but its mission remains as an institution for the betterment of society through the means of education.

The university's student population is relatively small at around 1,525, according to data collected for the Times Higher Education 2018 Japan University Rankings. Some 1.7 per cent of that total are international students.

The university has a selective admissions policy – around 30 per cent of the total applicants are accepted onto courses according to university data.

Hyogo University prides itself on its international student exchange programmes and visiting students are encouraged to take part in the Kato Family Friendship Project, which hosts events and cultural experiences within the local community.

Similarly, Hyogo runs a number of extracurricular field trips with the purpose of showcasing Japanese culture and history.

Campus facilities include a cafeteria, café, bookshops, barber shop, community and common rooms, a post office and a bank.

Kato is well connected by bus and train, for which students can buy discounted tickets. The town itself is relatively small – around 40,000 people – but the city of Osaka is around an hour’s drive away. The Kato region is known for its rich history, natural surroundings and nearby green spaces.