Nihon University Chooses Canvas to Connect and Unify the Learning Experience of More Than 100,000 Users

As Japan's largest private higher education institution, Nihon University is implementing Canvas to provide tailored educational services to students across its programs

SYDNEY — October 22, 2024—Instructure, the leading learning technology ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS, announced that Nihon University, the largest private higher education institution in Japan, has chosen Canvas to replace the multiple learning management systems currently used by its 16 colleges, unifying learning and teaching experiences. 

This decision, reached after a comprehensive proposal review, underscores the university’s commitment to become a global leader in data-driven education and building an open, interactive classroom experience that facilitates collaborative and personalized learning, all while offering a learning environment that is 100 percent cloud-based.

The Canvas implementation will extend beyond the university’s primary education programs, encompassing junior college, specialized schools, and their affiliated K-12 schools. With this broad scope, Nihon University anticipates an active Canvas user base of more than 105,400 users, including students, pupils and staff members.

“Historically, each of our colleges has independently used differing LMS systems. Canvas provides a unified LMS experience and unlocks several new features to elevate the student learning experience,” said Fuminori Nakamura, Chairperson of Committee for Digital Transformation in Education at Nihon University. “Canvas will be one of the core tools that supports diverse learning activities and enables the recording and visualization of learning outcomes.”

The evaluation and selection process considered six different providers, including Canvas which was already integrated into a portion of Nihon University. “Canvas’s robust collaboration features and ability to conduct comprehensive and detailed analyses, along with its integration and connectivity with other data in line with our university's strategy, was a crucial deciding element,” Nakamura said. “Our university’s digitalization strategy is designed to help us become one of the world's leading data-driven educational institutions. By adopting Canvas across the entire university, we can better utilize data to optimize student outcomes on a personalized level,” added Shinichiro Ohnuki, President of Nihon University.

Instructure’s channel partner in Japan, Ddrive, leveraged its international insights and knowledge of the local education sector to support Nihon University’s migration to Canvas. “We see Ddrive as a partner committed to helping us advance towards becoming a leading data-driven educational institution with Canvas at its core,” Nakamura said.

“Institutes across Asia-Pacific understand how an education ecosystem, powered by an open and extensible LMS, empowers teachers, increases student engagement, and fosters unique and equitable learning opportunities,” said Harrison Kelly, Managing Director of Asia Pacific at Instructure. “We are proud that Canvas is the choice for Nihon University and is leading international universities in meeting the needs and expectations of new generations of students looking for modern, flexible and personalized learning experiences.”