Mie University (三重大学; Mie Daigaku, abbreviated to 三重大 Miedai) is a national university in Tsu, Mie, Japan. As with other 'national' universities, 'Miedai' has been a national university corporation since April 2004, when state-funded universities were partially privatised. In 2006, it was ranked 250th in the Times Higher Education Supplement list of the world's best universities. Mie University was founded on 31 May 1949 with two faculties: Liberal Arts and Agriculture. These gave way to the establishment's present composition of six faculties: Humanities, Medicine, Education, Bioresources, Engineering and Common Education - the latter dealing with cross-faculty courses such as English language teaching. Its 'Center for International Exchange' promotes international links and issues involving the global community. The institution is Mie's only 'national university', located in the city of Tsu in the Kansai region, within easy reach of Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya. The campus is situated in the north-east of the city, close to the coast of Ise Bay.