1) Background of the relocation (through 1991)

Kyushu University decided to form the new campus to solve the following problems:

1. The University's separate campuses have been an obstacle to smooth co-operation and links between general undergraduate-education courses and specialty/graduate courses, and to collaborative research.
2. Deterioration and a lack of available space have made it difficult to upgrade and diversify educational and research facilities. A shortage of green spaces has also contributed to a lack of balance in the campus.
3. Because the Hakozaki Campus is located on the approach to Fukuoka Airport, noise by aircraft has formed a significant obstacle to education and research. There has also been concern about the possible recurrence of accidents.
4. Redevelopment and maintenance of facilities has been difficult because of restrictions placed on intensively used, multi-story buildings in the Hakozaki area, due to various factors such as limitations on the height of buildings under aviation laws and regulations.

The above difficulties underlaid Kyushu University's decision to build a New Campus. In 1990, examination of the “proper form for a New Campus in the 21st century (including redevelopment on the present site)” resulted in a proposal for “early examination of the concept of relocation of all departments to an integrated campus.” In response, selection of candidate sites proceeded based on site conditions and various administrative issues. In October 1991, the Board of Trustees approved the “Kyushu University New Campus relocation concept (President's proposal),” which set the New Campus location in the Motooka/Kuwabara district in Fukuoka City's Nishi-ku, where it now exists.

Meanwhile, in 1991 the “outlining and simplification of guidelines for establishing universities,” a revised Ministry of Education regulation, broadly deregulated universities by allowing them to independently set educational curricula and degree requirements rather than following uniform government mandates. A national movement for “university reform” spread rapidly. Kyushu University adopted a strategy of emphasizing its Graduate School in education and research by upgrading and improving it (the “Basic concept for university reform at Kyushu University [June 1992]”). Subsequently, the university carried out reforms in all areas, including education and research, management and operations, and collaboration with society, in accordance with the “Proposed broad outline for reform of Kyushu University (1995).” The New Campus is to be the stage upon which this new ideal for Kyushu University will be realized in spatial terms.