Ariake Kosen (Kosen means national institute of technology) was founded by the national government in 1963. In 2016, its five departments (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Information Engineering, Chemical Science and Engineering, and Architecture) were reorganized under a single heading—the Department of Creative Engineering. This department is further divided into two divisions, each of which contains three related courses of study. The Division of Environmental and Energy Engineering includes the Energy Course, Applied Chemistry Course, and Life and Environmental Science Course, while the Division of Human and Welfare Engineering includes the Mechanics Course, Information System Course, and Architecture Course.  In the second semester of the second-year, the students are placed into one of the six courses.200 students are admitted yearly into the Kosen. The five-year program thus contains about 1,000 students in total. Ariake Kosen has already sent 9,472 graduates out into various fields in industry. Almost all of them play a very important role in society.

　The college incorporates both specialized and general education into a curriculum that encourages students to be the equal of university students in specialized knowledge and capacity, and trains them to be excellent practical engineers.

　Graduates of the regular five-year program at a National Institute of technology (KOSEN) are awarded the title of Associate, which is a qualification conferred upon completion of KOSEN education.

　The Advanced Course, consisting of Advanced Production and Information Systems Engineering Course, Advanced Chemical Science and Engineering Course, and Advanced Architecture Course, was founded in 2001, and 689 students have graduated thus far. The Advanced Course is making further developments to educate highly skilled engineers.

　Under the School Education Act of Japan, graduates of a National Institute of technology (KOSEN) may obtain a Bachelor’s degree by completing the required credits in an advanced course at a KOSEN, by taking courses as a non-degree student at a university, or through other approved study programs, and then applying to the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE). If they successfully pass the assessment conducted by NIAD-QE, they may be awarded a Bachelor’s degree by NIAD-QE.

　The campus lies on a hill called Hagio-dai which is on the outskirts of Omuta City, Fukuoka Pref. and is about 5 km away from both Omuta Station and Arao Station. The dormitory is located in the east of Arao City, Kumamoto Pref. and it is a 5 minute walk to the campus.

　The students are expected to develop their skills of cooperation, live an active and engaged life, and be creative. The program helps students lead a wholesome life in both mind and body. Kosen advises them to cultivate friendship, trust, and harmony through various extracurricular activities in addition to their formal instruction.