Akita International University (国際教養大学, Kokusai Kyōyō Daigaku), or AIU, is a public university located in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Established in 2004 and modeled on American liberal arts colleges, AIU is one of the few universities in Japan offering all of its courses in English. It has currently 108 partner institutions from all over the world. Its undergraduate program offers bachelor’s degrees in Global Business and Global Studies, and its graduate program offers master’s degrees in Japanese Language Teaching, English Language Teaching, and Global Communication Practices. The undergraduate program at Akita International University is unique in Japan. All courses are taught in English, with the exception of foreign language classes. Non-native English speaking students are prepared for using English in the classroom through the intensive English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program. Akita International University campus is located in Akita city (population about 325,000), the capital of Akita prefecture (population about 1,093,000).