Project Overview
Empowering Multicultural Professionals Globally Through Japanese Language: Real and Virtual Cross-Cultural Experiences
In September 2022, Toyo University’s “Program to Develop the Japanese Language Ability and Multicultural Communication Skills of International Professionals through Intensive Business Japanese Study” was selected for the “FY2022 Inter-University Exchange Project: Creation of Inter-University Exchanges in the Indo-Pacific Region” of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). By channeling the school’s internationalization initiatives up until now and further promoting overseas study abroad to students, we aim to train business professionals with multicultural communication skills.
- What is the “Inter-University Exchange Project: Creation of Inter-University Exchanges in the Indo-Pacific Region”?
- By training global business professionals who can be active in international society, this program, supported by MEXT, aims to strengthen global expansion of college education through international education cooperation initiatives for both Japanese college students studying abroad (outbound) as well as receiving international students. For FY2022, the theme is “Creation of Inter-University Exchanges in the Indo-Pacific Region,” and Toyo University is one of 14 institutions selected to participate.
Our Project
Our project focuses on two-way exchanges with partner universities overseas with inbound and outbound study abroad as the two axes. We offer unique experiences, including internships during study abroad terms to cultivate professionals who can serve as bridges between Japan and the world. Our project consists of two parts:
- Developing business professionals with high level of Japanese language proficiency through intensive business Japanese study
(study aboard at Toyo University) - Toyo University will accept students who have passed Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or higher or have been recommended by the head of the Japanese department at project partner universities for up to two semesters. Through our well-established intensive business Japanese courses at our school, participants will acquire high-level practical Japanese skills and train to become business professionals who can further improve their understanding of Japan.
- Developing business professionals with multicultural communication skills and global mindset
(study abroad from Toyo University) - We send our students to partner universities or their affiliated language schools, participating students for one semester or more where they will serve as class assistants for Japanese language classes and implement Project-Based Learning* (PBL) planned before their departure.
*Project-Based Learning is one type of active learning recommended by MEXT, and this style of lesson uses a problem-solving model.
In addition, we also implement online activities such as the Toyo Model UN and International Students Meetings (ISM) to provide fulfilling opportunities for international exchange, even for students who cannot travel overseas. Through these initiatives, we aim to cultivate versatile business professionals with multicultural communication skills.
| Country | University |
|---|---|
| UK | York St. John University |
| UK | Cardiff University |
| Australia | Curtin University |
| USA | The College of New Jersey |
| Korea | Busan University of Foreign Studies |
| Korea | Inha University |
| Korea | Daegu University |
| Thailand | Chulalongkorn University |
| Thailand | Srinakharinwirot University |
| Thailand | Chiang Mai University |
| Thailand | Burapha University |
| Indonesia | Darma Persada University |
| Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan State World Languages University |
| Italy | The University of Bologna |
| Italy | The University of Florence |
| Italy | The University of Turin |
| The Netherlands | Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUSA) |
| Canada | Douglas College |
| Georgia | Free University of Tbilisi |
Reference
- Inter-University Exchange Project Official Website
- Inter-University Exchange Project (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
