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Though founded in 1967, Ashikaga Institute of Technology points to a local tradition of education dating back to Ashikaga Gakko which was supposedly founded in the 9th Century and reckoned to be Japan¡¯s oldest academic institution.

Remains from the Gakko are among the tourist attractions in the city of Ashikaga whose colourful history includes giving Japan its dynasty of Ashikaga shoguns who were the rulers for more than 200 years between the 14th and 16th centuries. The city is about an hour out of Tokyo by train.

The university's distinct history traces back to the foundation in 1925 by 17 Buddhist temples in the city of Ashikaga Jissen Women¡¯s School. It retains the Buddhist philosophy of "harmony is to be valued" associated with the 6th Century thinker Prince Shotoku.

From its foundation the university, aims to develop "thinking engineers" and "engineers with a human touch" developed through the introduction of master's courses in 1990 and doctorates in 1996. It retains a strong organisational link with the Junior College which opened in 1979 and the Junior High School.

Engineering remains the main focus with divisions specialising in mechanical engineering, architecture and civil engineering, systems and information engineering and electrical and electronics engineering. The study of child education and nursing began in 1996.

The university's research centres include the Sleep Research Centre dating to 2003 and the Integrated Research Centre founded in 1998.

The campus is equipped with a wind and solar park whose devices include three 13-metre long windmill blades, 30 smaller wind generators and clocks powered by both water and solar power.