In 1959, while Okinawa is still under
U.S. administration, the Koza Gakuen foundation creates the . In 1960, the Koza Gakuen Foundation takes the name of "Ryūkyū International Junior College Foundation". In 1962, the same foundation establishes the "International University", approved by the
Government of the Ryukyu Islands, that includes the previously created junior college under the name of . In 1967, the foundation is renamed . With the reversion, the universities in Okinawa have to comply with the
rules established for the Japanese universities, which leads to numerous reorganisations. Public subsidies (1 billion yens) are granted to support those reforms, supplemented by special loans from the Japanese Private Schools Promotion Foundation (440 millions yens). Using those resources, the International University incorporates a part of the to become the current Okinawa International University. At the opening, 493 students, 18 professors and 21 employees are transferred from the Okinawa University while 1315 students, 30 professors and 34 employees come from the International University, with the new addition of 1176 students, 20 professors and 2 employees. As of , the university counts 5257 students, 202 professors and 76 employees. It has four colleges including ten departments, three graduate schools including five departments and four research institutes.
Chronology • 1959 : Creation of the by the Koza Gakuen Foundation • 1962 : Creation of the International University, approved by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands • 1972 • : Approbation of the Okinawa International University by the Private Universities Committee of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands • : Merger of the International University with part of the Okinawa University to create the Okinawa International University • : Opening of the Okinawa International University Junior College, as part of Okinawa International University • : First start-of-the-school-year ceremony, coupled with the university opening ceremony • : With the reversion, the university is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education (for the Department of Law of the College of Law, the Departments of Japanese Literature, of English Literature and of Social Sciences of the College of Literature and the Departments of Economic Sciences and of Trade of the College of Management and Economy) • 1973 : Inauguration of buildings No. 3 and No. 5 • 1974 : Inauguration of the main building, of the library and of the gymnasium • 1978 : Creation of the Institute of Ryukyuan Culture • 1980 : Inauguration of building No. 7 • 1985 : Inauguration of the extra-curricular activities building • 1986 : Inauguration of building No. 9 • 1988 : Inauguration of the social centre • 1991 : Creation of the Institute of General Industrial Research • 1992 : Inauguration of new building No. 5 • 1995 • Shut down of the second College of Letters and of the College of Education • Inauguration du International Relations Centre and of the Information Centre • 1997 • Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of Ryukyuan Culture • Creation of the Okinawa Institute of Law and Politics • 1998 • Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Business and Economics, Department of Regional Industry • Inauguration of the Foreign Langages Centre and of the new library (building No. 12) • 1999 • Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of British and American Studies • Shut down of the Okinawa International University Junior College • 2000 Inauguration of the House of Seminars • 2001 • Reorganisation of the departments of Japanese Literature, of English Literature, and of Sociology of the Faculty of Literature into the Departments of Japanese Language and Culture, of British and American Languages and Cultures, and of Social Sciences and Regional Culture of the College of Global and Regional Culture • Creation of the Department of Human Welfare of the College of Global and Regional Culture • 2002 • The "First College of Law" is renamed "College of Law" • Reorganisation of the Department of Law of the College of Law into the Department of Legal Studies • Addition of a Department of Regional Administration to the College of Law • 2003 • Creation of the Graduate School of Law, Department of Law • Creation of the Graduate School of Regional Culture, Department of Human Welfare • Inauguration of the new gymnasium, of the Extension Centre and of the counselling service • 2004 • Creation of the Departments of Economics and of Regional Economics and Environmental Policy of the College of Economics and Environmental Policy and of the Departments of Business Administration and of Industry and Information Science of the College of Industry and Information Science • : A helicopter from
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma crashes on Building No. 1 • 2006: Inauguration of the new main building • 2008 • Shut down of the Second College of Law • Adoption of a system with vice-presidency • 2009 • Shut down of the Second College of Management and Economics • Inauguration of building No. 13 • 2011 : Shut down of the First College of Management and Economics • 2016 : Inauguration of new building No. 3 • 2021 : Inauguration of the students' meetings building == Colleges and Graduate School ==