Kyushu University and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign agreed in 2019 to recognize each other as strategic partnership universities. On September 5, 2023, a delegation led by President Robert J. Jones of the University of Illinois visited Kyushu University’s Maidashi Campus to share information on student exchanges and collaborations, particularly in the field of medical engineering.

During this visit, the delegation visited the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and The Grainger College of Engineering, both located at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They received an overview of the distinctive features of each school and exchanged views on student and researcher exchanges, as well as participation in a global consortium for medical engineering collaboration. Additionally, the delegation toured the Simulation Center within the College of Medicine, Carle Foundation Hospital, and the Siebel Center for Design, and engaged with local students and Japanese researchers, making it a highly beneficial visit to understand the education and research at the University of Illinois.

The medical schools of both universities are scheduled to sign a student exchange agreement in November 2024. Following the signing, they plan to strengthen their partnership through mutual cooperation, including the exchange of students and further collaboration in research fields such as medical engineering.