The University of Shiga Prefecture
The University of Shiga Prefecture is a public university corporation in Hikone, Japan, offering four undergraduate faculties and four graduate schools in environmental science, engineering, humanities, and nursing. Founded 1995 and governed by Shiga Prefecture, it serves domestic students, regional industry, and the local community through tuition, public funding, and lifelong-learning programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersHikone, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The University of Shiga Prefecture does
The University of Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県立大学 / 公立大学法人滋賀県立大学) is a public university corporation founded in 1995 and headquartered in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is wholly governed by Shiga Prefecture under the Public University Corporation framework, with the prefectural Governor serving as the founding representative. The institution operates four undergraduate faculties — Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Cultures, and Human Nursing — alongside four corresponding graduate research departments offering master's and doctoral degrees. Its core educational thesis is "Environment and Humans," anchored around Lake Biwa as a living campus, with heavy emphasis on field-work-based learning, regional contribution, and SDGs-aligned research (the university issued an SDGs Declaration in 2018).
The university serves three primary constituencies: domestic prospective and current students (undergraduate and graduate), industry and municipal research partners across Shiga Prefecture, and the regional community for lifelong learning. Revenue is generated through student tuition and entrance fees (e.g., 28,200 yen in-state / 42,300 yen out-of-state entrance fees; standard Japanese public-university tuition plus reduced rates for the MEXT-certified Omi-Kankojin regional revitalization program at 7,400 yen/unit), recurring prefectural government operating subsidies, and ancillary streams including public lectures (6,000 yen/course), an official KAMO+ online merchandise shop, commissioned research, and intellectual property activities managed through its Industry-Academia Collaboration Center. Distribution is primarily on-campus at Hikone, with on-demand online lecture delivery and a Community Exchange Center supporting regional outreach.
Strategically, the institution is preparing to extend its footprint by establishing Shiga's first College of Technology (高等専門学校) in April 2028, expanding into a new educational vertical. It pursues regional partnerships (Mitsui Outlets Park Shiga Ryuo, Takama Co., Shiga prefectural municipalities) and has built supporting infrastructure including the USPo campus portal, career services, an annual Research Seeds Collection publication, and a research seeds-to-SDGs mapping initiative. There is no commercial AI/ML product development; AI is addressed only through a student-facing generative AI usage guideline. The university employs 251-500 staff, has no external investors or M&A activity, and derives its operating base from public funding and tuition.
The University of Shiga Prefecture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The University of Shiga Prefecture
- Legal name
- 滋賀県立大学 (The University of Shiga Prefecture)
- Website
- https://usp.ac.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The University of Shiga Prefecture is a public university corporation in Hikone, Japan, offering four undergraduate faculties and four graduate schools in environmental science, engineering, humanities, and nursing. Founded 1995 and governed by Shiga Prefecture, it serves domestic students, regional industry, and the local community through tuition, public funding, and lifelong-learning programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The University of Shiga Prefecture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hikone
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
The University of Shiga Prefecture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Enrollment Fees: The university generates revenue through student tuition fees and enrollment fees from undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Public Funding: As a public university corporation (公立大学法人), receives operational funding from Shiga Prefecture government.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Graduate program tuition for 近江環人地域再生学座 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Public lecture fees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Entrance fees (入学料) |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The University of Shiga Prefecture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University of Shiga Prefecture is a public university offering four-year undergraduate programs across four faculties (Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Cultures, and Human Nursing), along with corresponding graduate schools providing master's and doctoral degrees. It also delivers lifelong learning offerings such as public lectures, on-demand video courses, the MEXT-certified Omi-Kankojin Regional Revitalization Program, and the Omi-Rakuza student volunteer program, supported by career services and a campus portal.
Product overview
The University of Shiga Prefecture is a public university offering a comprehensive higher education portfolio comprising four undergraduate faculties (Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Culture, and Human Nursing), four corresponding graduate research departments, and various lifelong learning programs. The institution operates as a unified platform centered on its core academic programs, supplemented by community engagement modules including public lectures (公開講座), the Omi-Kankojin Regional Revitalization Program (近江環人地域再生学座), and the Omi-Rakuza volunteer program (近江楽座). Supporting infrastructure includes the campus portal system (県大ポータルUSPo), career services, and the annual Research Seeds Collection for industry collaboration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KAMO+ (かも+) — Official Online Shop: The university's official online shop selling university merchandise and products from experimental farms.
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Four-year degree programs across Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Culture, and Human Nursing faculties, designed for prospective domestic and international students seeking higher education with emphasis on practical field work and regional engagement.
- Graduate Programs Master's and doctoral research degrees offered through four graduate schools (Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Cultures, and Human Nursing), for students pursuing advanced research and academic careers.
- Omi-Kankojin Regional Revitalization Program (近江環人地域再生学座) A MEXT-certified professional development program (Brush up Program) that trains regional innovators and coordinators to drive community revitalization, with tuition priced at 7,400 yen per unit (88,800 yen per year for full 12-unit program).
- Public Lectures (公開講座・公開講義) Lifelong learning program offering video-on-demand and in-person lectures on topics including humanities, science, and regional culture for community members at 6,000 yen per course.
- Omi-Rakuza (近江楽座) Student Volunteer Program Extracurricular student volunteer program enabling students to learn, grow, and contribute to the local community through regional activities and projects.
- Career Support Services Employment guidance, job postings, internship opportunities, and career counseling for students and graduates.
- KAMO+ (かも+) Official Online Shop The university's official online shop selling university merchandise and products sourced from experimental farms.
Companies that use The University of Shiga Prefecture
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The University of Shiga Prefecture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The University of Shiga Prefecture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Takama Co., Ltd. (高麻株式会社)minorCollaboration to create eco-bags using Lake Biwa reeds (葦布/よしぬの). Students from the Life Design Department handled product planning and design.
- Mitsui Outlets Park Shiga Ryuo (三井アウトレットパーク滋賀竜王)minorComprehensive partnership for joint research, educational人才培养, and SDG promotion. University students design projects for the outlet, creating community engagement opportunities.
- Shiga Prefecture Local GovernmentscoreAgreements with local municipalities for cooperation on regional development, community engagement, and educational programs.
- Shiga PrefecturecoreAs the establishing organization for this public university corporation, Shiga Prefecture provides governance and operational support.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The University of Shiga Prefecture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ritsumeikan University: A large private university with a major Kansai-region presence and a Kinugasa campus close to Hikone, competing directly for the same student pool and offering overlapping programs in engineering, science, and humanities.
- Osaka Metropolitan University: Formed from the merger of Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University, this is a much larger public university in the same Kansai region with overlapping programs in environmental science, engineering, and nursing. A scaled-up peer with overlapping target students.
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology: A national Japanese university focused on graduate-level science and technology research. Comparable in its emphasis on engineering and applied science research with regional industry engagement, but at a more research-intensive tier.
Emerging players
- Kyoto University of Advanced Science: A newer Japanese private university with strong programs in engineering, science, and bio-environmental fields that increasingly competes for science-oriented students in the Kansai region.
Direct peers
- Kyoto Prefectural University: Another prefectural public university in the Kansai region with a similar small-faculty structure and a regional contribution mandate. Directly comparable in governance model (prefectural public university corporation), scale, and mission.
- Aichi Prefectural University: A prefectural public university serving a similar regional mandate with comparable faculty breadth including nursing and humanities. Directly comparable as a Japan prefectural university corporation with a community-engagement focus.
- University of Fukui: A Japanese prefectural/national university of comparable size with a similar mix of science, engineering, and humanities faculties. Both institutions operate as public universities serving regional populations with research-led undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Prefectural University of Hiroshima: A prefectural public university established in the 1990s with a similar faculty structure focused on regional contribution, health sciences, and environmental studies. Closely comparable in scale, founding era, and public-corporation governance.
Regional players
- Mie University: A neighboring national university in the Kansai/Chubu region with comparable faculty breadth in education, medicine, engineering, and humanities. Comparable in scale and regional mandate, though operating under national rather than prefectural governance.
- Shiga University: A national university also located in Shiga Prefecture, serving overlapping prospective students and competing for the same regional research funding and industry partnerships. A direct geographic competitor within the same prefecture.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The University of Shiga Prefecture social profiles
Digital presenceThe University of Shiga Prefecture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The University of Shiga Prefecture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The University of Shiga Prefecture subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The University of Shiga Prefecture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The University of Shiga Prefecture M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The University of Shiga Prefecture
What does The University of Shiga Prefecture do?
The University of Shiga Prefecture is a public university offering four-year undergraduate programs across four faculties (Environmental Science, Engineering, Human Cultures, and Human Nursing), along with corresponding graduate schools providing master's and doctoral degrees. It also delivers lifelong learning offerings such as public lectures, on-demand video courses, the MEXT-certified Omi-Kankojin Regional Revitalization Program, and the Omi-Rakuza student volunteer program, supported by career services and a campus portal.
Is The University of Shiga Prefecture a public or private company?
The University of Shiga Prefecture is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The University of Shiga Prefecture founded?
The University of Shiga Prefecture was founded in 1995. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The University of Shiga Prefecture based?
The University of Shiga Prefecture is headquartered in Hikone, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does The University of Shiga Prefecture make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are public Funding.
Who are The University of Shiga Prefecture's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ritsumeikan University, Osaka Metropolitan University and Nara Institute of Science and Technology. Kyoto University of Advanced Science is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Kyoto Prefectural University, Aichi Prefectural University, University of Fukui and Prefectural University of Hiroshima. Regional players are Mie University and Shiga University.
Does The University of Shiga Prefecture have an API?
No public API is recorded for The University of Shiga Prefecture.