University Consortia
APRU: Association of Pacific Rim Universities
The Association of Pacific Rim Universities （APRU） was established in 1997 with aim of fostering cooperation in education, research and enterprise thereby contributing to the economic, scientific and cultural advancement in the Pacific Rim. APRU has grown rapidly to become a reputable international organization of premier research universities in the Pacific Rim. APRU is now composed of 42 universities. Tohoku University joined APRU in 2008. APRU organizes student-centric activities, research-centric activities, and human capital development activities. APRU holds annual meetings for presidents and senior staff of the APRU member universities to discuss and plan APRU's future activities.
AEARU: The Association of East Asian Research Universities
The Association of East Asian Research Universities（AEARU）is a regional organization founded in January 1996, with the goals of
forming a forum for the presidents of leading research-oriented universities in East Asia and of carrying out mutual exchanges between
the major universities in the region. Expectations are that this regional union, on the basis of common academic and cultural backgrounds
among member universities, will contribute not only to the development of higher education and research but also to the opening up of a
new era leading to cultural, economic and social progress in the East Asian region. AEARU activities include workshops, student summer
camps, student sports competitions, and various types of international symposia. These activities are held throughout the year to promote
mutual exchanges of ideas and information and to develop close bonds between the member universities.
AEARU is now composed of 17 universities from China （6）, Japan （6）, Korea （3）, and Taiwan （2）. Tohoku University joined AEARU
in 1998 and serves as a member of the Board of Directors from January 2012 for a term of 2 years having actively engaged in its activities.
T.I.M.E.: Top Industrial Managers for Europe
T.I.M.E. was established in 1989 as an international network of leading higher educational institutions which
specializes in engineering. Its door has been open for non-European institutions since 2005 and Tohoku University was
accepted as the first Asian member together with Keio University in 2007. It is now composed of 53 member institutions
from 20 countries. Its main focus is master-level Double Degree Programs and it now has over 2,500 bilingual, bicultural
engineer graduates. T.I.M.E. launches other innovative exchange programs through task forces formed by member
institutions to foster internationally competitive engineers for tomorrow's world.
In July 2008, Tohoku University was selected for the Support Program for International Cooperation and Collaboration
- support for comprehensive strategy - by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology （MEXT）,
for unprecedented large-scale exchange programs with T.I.M.E. member institutions.