The Institute of Tropical Agriculture has planned and implemented international joint study and JICA projects regarding tropical and subtropical issues, coordinated between Kyushu University divisions and accepted foreign students and trainees. In line with the abovementioned medium-term goals and plans, the institute for sharing within Kyushu University has cooperated with a wide range of university divisions, including not only the Faculty of Agriculture Social but also the Graduate Schools of Social and Cultural Studies, Design and Sciences, to contribute to the university's internationalization in education, research and social contributions. However, since Kyushu University became a national university corporation, contract projects involving the institute have increased and become shorter, smaller, diversified and subdivided, imposing a greater load on the institution.
Meanwhile, the institute's international education capacity is failing to satisfy the growing demand for acceptance of students and trainees from developing countries. The institute must increase the number of teachers and sections to continue operations as a major tropical research center to tackle global environmental and food problems. Therefore, the institute must reorganize itself to create an international development section for international development research. At the same time, the institute must build networks with relevant organizations to enhance its information functions and vitalize its future operations.
The Institute of Tropical Agriculture, which now has two sections, will promote international research mainly at overseas bases under the concept of "local field research meeting local needs." It will create an international development section to cooperate with overseas universities and energetically obtain large competitive research funds. The institute will thus have three sections -- Tropical Crops & Environment, Land-water Resources & Environment Conservation, and International Development.
Some members of the institute will participate in the proposed Promotive Center for International Education and Research of Agriculture in (1) above to implement Asia-leading operations (see Figure 2).