| 1985 | (December) | Chaired by Takekazu Ogura, an ODA Study Group submitted its report to Shintaro Abe, then Minister for Foreign Affairs. The report proposed the establishment of an "International Development University", which would provide an "advanced educational and research facility to train future Japanese development practitioners and accept trainees and students from developing countries". |
| 1987 | (July) | The Conference on the Establishment of the "International Development University" was held to pursue the recommendations of the above report. The conference submitted a basic concept of proposal for the "International Development University" to Tadashi Kuranari then Minister for Foreign Affairs. |
| 1989 | (July) | The Working Committee for the Study of an Advanced Educational Institute for Development Assistance (chaired by Shigeto Kawano) published a report of survey and review results and proposed a phased approach for realisation of the "International Development University" concept. |
| 1990 | (March) | FASID was established. |
| 1992 | (October) | Establishment of the Research Centre for International Development, now called the International Development Research Institute (IDRI) as a research arm of FASID. |
| 1993 | (July) | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the Study Report on Training of Development Assistance Professionals in Japan, prepared by a working committee chaired by Shigeto Kawano. |
| 1994 | (April) | In order to promote the concept of an "International Development University", FASID began a new program for the development of "software" for education on international development at a graduate level, as well as a major research program focusing on Asian development experiences. |
| (August) | At the behest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a committee named the "Study Committee on Educational System for Training of Development Professionals" was set up under the chairmanship of Shigeto Kawano. Its mandate was to come up with specific recommendations for an educational system that might form the basis for the "International Development University". In addition, in order to make an efficient use of the committee's resources, a subcommittee named the "Working Committee on Curriculum" was set up under the direction of Yasue Katori. This subcommittee looked into the question of a model curriculum for education at a graduate level. |
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| 1995 | (July) | The Working Committee on Curriculum submitted its final report entitled Report on the Curriculum for a Master's Degree Program to Produce Development Professionals. |
| 1996 | (from July) | Implementation of new programs which support graduate school education including support for new courses aimed at qualitative improvements in practical education and fieldwork support, which is important for enhancing skills for on-site problem-solving in developing countries. |
| 1997 | (January) | Establishment of the Board of Research Counsellors as part of the IDRI of FASID. |
| (October) | Established FASID Leadership Academy as part of first-year programme under FASID's three-year Research Enhancement Plan. |
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| 1998 | (September) | As part of the endeavours of implementing the Tokyo Agenda for Action adopted at the Second International Conference on African Development (TICAD II) in October, FASID hosted a preparatory meeting for the Asia-Africa Research and Capacity Building Network for African Development, which was established in 1999. |
| 2000 | (April) | FASID and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) commenced the Joint Graduate Program on International Development Studies. |
| 2002 | (April) | A PhD Program was included in the Joint Graduate Program on International Development Studies. |
