Kobe University

, also known in the Kansai region as , is a leading Japanese national university located in the foothills of Mount Rokkō in the city of Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture. It was established in 1949, but the academic origins of Kobe University trace back to the establishment of Kobe Higher Commercial School in 1902, which was renamed as Kobe University of Commerce, and Kobe University of Economics. Kobe University is one of the oldest and largest national universities in Japan, as well as one of the highest ranking national universities in the country. It comprises 14 graduate schools and 11 undergraduate faculties, and holds about 16,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Overseas students accounted for 1,179 members of the student body as of 1 May 2021. It also has 3,102 staff members, including professors, associate professors and administrative officials. Kobe Higher Commercial School was one of the oldest institution with business and economics majors in Japan. Because Kobe is also the first collegiate business school in Japan, Kobe has been called the birthplace of Japanese higher education in economics and business administration. Furthermore, the Graduate School of Law was established from the legal studies section of the former Kobe University of Economics and has become a leading institution in the field of legal and political studies. The Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, founded in 1919, is a prominent research institution for international economics and international management. Kobe Hospital was established in 1869; it was a training center for medical practitioners, which was one of the oldest institutions in the modern medical education in Japan. History The roots of the university can be traced back to 1902, when the was established. Its first president was . In 1929 this school was renamed , and it was further renamed in 1944, .