Temple University Japan Campus (Setagaya Ward, Tokyo) is the largest and longest-established Japanese campus of a foreign university in Japan. Since its opening in 1982, the school has carried out initiatives tailored to the times and needs of students. Senior Deputy Chie Kato talked about new initiatives in recent years, including the opening of a new base in Kyoto scheduled for January 2025, the establishment of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, which started in September 1, and the start of the introduction of an e-sports certificate program. We spoke to the university president and Vice President for Academic Affairs Yasuko Taoka.
Temple University Japan Campus Kyoto school building (Marian Hall)
It is possible to obtain a degree from an American university in Japan.
Temple University is a comprehensive university of Pennsylvania State University with its main campus in Philadelphia, United States. This is a university with a long history, having opened in 1884, and currently has approximately 3 students studying there. It has seven campuses in the state and overseas branches in Rome and Tokyo. Established in 7, Tokyo's Japan Campus (TUJ) attracted attention as the first American university to have a Japanese branch. In 1982, it was designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a foreign university in Japan, and is now legally recognized for credits and degrees. As of March 2005, it is the only American university that students can enroll in and graduate from in Japan.
All classes are held in English, and you can earn credits and degrees based on the same standards as our main school in the United States. There are approximately 2200 undergraduate students pursuing degrees at TUJ. Of these, 36% are Japanese, 34% are American, and the rest are students from other nationalities, coming from approximately 70 countries including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
``This is an American university.For Japanese people, you can study in an American environment while staying in Japan.For foreign students, even if you can't speak Japanese, you can live in Japan and learn about diverse cultures.'' , you can earn credits while acquiring an international sensibility.Furthermore, the tuition fees are lower than at our school in the United States, and I think the fact that you can receive the same graduation certificate as our school is a big attraction. There are many short-term exchange students who study in Japan for a year or so from highly rated universities such as Harvard, Tulane, Wake Forest, and Carnegie Mellon University, and you may find yourself inspired by them.'' (Senior Vice President Kato)
When I interviewed the university in February 2024, students from various countries were walking around the campus and English was being exchanged.
Chie Kato Senior Vice President
Scheduled to open on the Fujimori campus of Seibou Jogakuin in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto
TUJ Kyoto, scheduled to begin operations in January 2025, will open on the Fujimori campus of Seibou Jogakuin. Some of the land and buildings of Kyoto Seibou Junior College, which closed in September 1, will be renovated and used. Seibo Girls' High School, which was looking for someone to lend it to, made an offer, and Temple accepted.
``The new campus is in a good location, right next to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, and the building is bright and has an international feel. Seibo Jogakuin's educational policy is student-centered, and they are also putting effort into international education. These aspects are similar to our university, and our mutual passions matched, so we decided to sign a contract.For students, studying in Kyoto would be attractive, and for our university, it would be an opportunity to increase our presence in the Kansai region. I believe so.'' (Vice President Kato)
For a while after opening, the center will mainly offer courses for short-term students from overseas, but it will gradually expand. Of course, a course will be established from the time of opening that allows students who enroll in Kyoto to graduate in Kyoto.
“At first, we plan to start with 120 to 30 students, but we will also allow students in Kyoto to take courses in Tokyo online, and vice versa.We would also like to offer courses that can only be taken in Kyoto. (Senior Vice President Kato)
Department of Tourism and Hospitality to start in fall 2023
When you think of courses unique to Kyoto, you might imagine that tourism-related courses would be a good match, but in fact, TUJ has established a Department of Tourism and Hospitality starting in the fall of 2023. At our school in the United States, our department is highly rated around the world, consistently ranking in the top 10 in the ``World University Academic Ranking'' (Shanghai Ranking).
"This department has been established due to many requests from students for a long time.You can learn about not only hotels but also various events and the entertainment industry.In the case of TUJ, students can learn English. In addition to being able to speak Japanese, there are many students who can speak multiple languages, including their own language, and who are bicultural and can adapt to environments with multiple cultures and customs. There are probably many domestic companies that would like to hire students who have good sense.'' (Vice President for Academic Affairs Taoka)
A feature of this department is that it includes an internship as a compulsory subject. Particularly for students in their final year before graduation, they spend the entire semester (several hundred hours or more) working as a trainee at a company or organization, gaining long-term work experience. Currently, as the program has just started, there are no students doing internships in this department yet, but in the future, they are planning to train at hotels, resorts, tourism bureaus, etc. in Japan and overseas.
In addition, for those who wish to study at our American school, we offer the ``Fly to Philly Program,'' which allows you to study abroad for up to one year with tuition fees in Tokyo, and actually do an internship at our American school. It is also possible to learn while doing so. (Philly is a nickname for Philadelphia. All students are eligible on the condition that they have achieved a certain level of academic performance.)
There is no graduate school for the Department of Tourism and Hospitality on the Japan Campus, but depending on your ability, you may be able to enter a graduate school at our main campus in the United States.
Yasuko Taoka Vice President for Academic Affairs
Learn esports through a credit-based program and earn a certificate of completion.
In May 2023, we introduced an e-sports program into our undergraduate curriculum, which has attracted worldwide attention in recent years. A certificate of esports completion will be awarded to students who complete designated subjects, with the aim of acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry. A condition for completion is to complete all four classes: ``Introduction to eSports,'' ``SNS,'' ``Legal and Ethical Challenges of eSports,'' and ``Revenue Production.'' All of these courses are set as elective courses that all students can take, and they can also be included as credits for graduation.
``In Japan, I get the impression that things are still starting to happen, but in the United States, it's a big event and a huge market, similar to existing sports like baseball. , focuses on the aspects necessary to turn esports into a business.We deal with themes such as branding using SNS, contracts with game companies and streaming companies, and ethical issues such as shooting games. I’m coming.” (Vice President for Academic Affairs Taoka)
By the way, TUJ has an official e-sports representative team, and the members are selected by students based on their playing skills, and they regularly train and participate in various tournaments.
The classes are tough, but I want people with ambition to come.
There is no entrance exam at Temple University Japan Campus, and admissions are determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic records from high schools and universities, English proficiency test scores, and self-introductions written in English. Application requirements include high school grades (average score of 5 or higher on a 3.0-level scale, average score of 4 or higher on a 2.0-level scale) and English proficiency (79 points or higher on the TOEFL iBT). If you lack English proficiency, there is also a ``conditional admission (Bridge Program)'' that allows you to take undergraduate courses while studying English and aim for regular admission. However, it seems difficult to continue studying, whether it is regular admission or conditional admission.
"Almost all classes are held in small groups of around 20 people. They check whether you can ask questions and speak up during group work.Also, if you attend a one-hour class, you will spend five to six times as many hours outside. If you don't study, you won't be able to keep up with classes and get grades.In addition to writing ability, skills such as communication, presentation, and discussion are essential.Furthermore, flexibility to accept diversity is required. If you want to receive a good education, become a person who can play an active role in the world, or who can take a leadership role, please come and join us.As a university, we will continue to do innovative things and contribute to society and society. We want to meet the needs of our students.'' (Senior Vice President Kato)
In order to improve the quality of learning, we are increasing the number of teachers, and currently have 67 full-time teachers, and about 200 including part-time teachers. Although there may be many academic challenges compared to other universities, there is no doubt that you will have a stimulating and rewarding student life.
Chie Kato Senior Vice President Concurrently Vice President for Enrollment Management
After graduating from the University of the Sacred Heart in 1987, she was in charge of developing a franchise business for English classes for elementary and junior high school students at a company affiliated with Dai Nippon Printing. She moved to the United States in 1991 and received a master's degree in English teaching in 1993. After returning to Japan, she worked at the Japan English Proficiency Test Association (Eiken), where she became a member of the Children's Eiken (now Eiken Jr.) Conducted test production as a development member.
Since 1997, she has been assigned to the Public Relations Department of Temple University Japan Campus (TUJ). In 1999, he became Director of Communications, responsible for the university's public relations, student recruitment, and marketing communications. In 2003, he became Director of External Affairs in the President's Office, and served as a negotiator with the Japanese government and related organizations such as the U.S. Embassy in order to improve the status and status of foreign universities in Japan.As a result, in February 2005, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Since then, it has been officially designated as a foreign university in Japan. This made it possible to sponsor student visas for foreign students, and the number of Western students at TUJ has since rapidly increased, with the undergraduate program growing from 2 students in 1999 to 500 students as of 2024. Since 2200, he has served as Vice President for Enrollment, and since 2008, he has served as TUJ Senior Vice President.
Yasuko Taoka Vice President for Academic Affairs
Known as a researcher of ancient Greek and Latin languages and their literature, he is also involved in editing the academic journal ``Classical Language Teaching Methods''. He holds a bachelor's degree in classical studies from Grinnell College (Iowa), and a master's degree and doctorate in classical studies from The Ohio State University. Since 2007, he has been chair of the classical studies department and associate professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and International Trade at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Since 2017, he has been the Dean of Arts and Humanities at Wayne State University (WSC), USA. At WSC, a large school with over 4 students, he oversees five departments in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (5 majors including art, design, journalism, history, political science, geography, linguistics, literature, theater, and music). From October 20, he will serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Temple University Japan Campus. In addition to supervising TUJ's 2021 undergraduate majors and 10 graduate programs, he also handles research activities, faculty and staff recruitment, student registration management, grade evaluation and credit recognition, the Academic Affairs Department, inter-university cooperation, and the development of new educational programs. It oversees all aspects of the university's academic activities.
