6 | The Japan Times | Monday, November 20, 2023

Japan Ryugaku Awards special

Japan Ryugaku Awards praise 10
schools’ study-abroad programs
EMI MAEDA
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Screenshot of the2023 ceremony

The Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education (Nisshinkyo) held
an online ceremony to announce the winners of the Japan Ryugaku Awards 2023 onSept. 1. The awards are given to universities
and vocational schools chosen by faculty
members and advisers at Japanese-language
schools recommended for international students. The award was established in 2012 by
Nisshinkyo’s Academic Research Conferenceon Japanese Language Schools for the purpose of developing infrastructure facilitating
the intake of international students.
Owing to the immigration restrictions
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, thenumber of foreign students advancing tohigher education has fallen significantly forthe past few years. Nonetheless, according
to immigration statistics, the number of foreign students qualified to study in Japan in
December 2022 surged notably. This year,
the top 10 schools — five from the eastern region and five from the west — wereselected in five categories.
The University of Tsukuba and Osaka Kyoiku University won in the national university
category.
The University of Tsukuba’s high international student presence stands out among
national universities, with over 2,600 students from nearly 120 countries. At Osaka
Kyoiku University, faculty members work
together to support international students intheir academic studies and daily life. The university also offers financial aid, scholarships
and dormitories.
In the private university science and engineering category, the Tokyo University ofScience and the Fukui University of Technology received the grand prize. The Tokyo University of Science received a commendation

AWARDS

These are 9 of the 10schools that received thisyear’s Japan Ryugaku
Awards, recognizing their
excellence in supportinginternational students.

JAPAN RYUGAKUJapan Electronics College

Kanto Industrial College

Japan Electronics College, established in 1951, has seen over 110,000
of its graduates secure positions atcompanies worldwide. To date, it has
welcomed over 4,500 international
students. Currently, the campus isbustling with over 400 students from
21 countries, studying in 20 depart- Yu Kimura
ments within nine specialized fields, Head of public relationsacquiring skills for specialized careers. With the support of thedepartmental faculty and career center staff, over 90% of international students find jobs in Japan each year.

Since its establishment in 1979,
Kanto Industrial College has
graduated more than 12,000 students who have proceeded tothe automotive industry. Ourcollege is dedicated to training
mechanics who have not only
technical expertise, but also Hiroyuki Nakagawa
possess “a strong ability to per- Chairman
severe” in the dynamic world of automotive technology.
We aspire for you to become professionals who can make a meaningful impact both in Japan and globally.

Nihon Kogakuin College, Hachioji Campus

Yokohama Design College

Our International Exchange Salon
promotes peer interaction, cultural
events and daily advice. The Education and Student Support Department and International StudentCenter assist with applications. TheHealth Support Center offers healthadvice, while the Career Support Daisei Yamano
Center guides on post-graduation Principal
paths. We also support international students through special
programs and scholarships. Each school is equipped with its own
dormitory.

YDC is celebrating its 75th anniversary. It is an institution of higher
education that provides professional education under the School
Education Law. It offers courses onvisual design, fashion, manga andillustration, among others, and has
dedicated departments for interna- Shunichi Ikeda
tional students. Both Japanese and Principal
international students share the same academic space, participating in exchange activities such as festivals, sports events and graduation project exhibitions.

Home to promising futures
for strong initiatives that guarantee international students a preparatory study support
system and extensive assistance in daily life.
The Fukui University of Technology, committed to the international community,
offers a substantial scholarship for privately
financed students, slashing tuition fees byhalf.
In the private liberal arts university category, Takushoku University and the University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences
won the grand prize. Takushoku University
has a study support office to assist international students with Japanese, including
supplementary language classes. The university provides an employment support
program specifically tailored for international
students.
The University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences offers classes tailored to theproficiency levels of international students.
Additionally, the university provides assistance in acquiring Japanese-language qualifications and hosts Japanese presentations andspeech contests.
For vocational schools, the grand prizes
were awarded to Bunka Fashion Collegeand Ehle Institute College in the societyand culture category, and to Lina me lJapan
Electronics College and the Syusei Techni-cal College in the Skills and TechnologyCategory.
Bunka Fashion College has produced creators and designers who excel internationally. This year, the college welcomed over
600 international students.
Since its inception, Ehle Institute College has upheld the development of global
human resources as a core educational
philosophy, fostering students’ growth inhuman skills and self-realization.
Japan Electronics College hosts 405 students from 21 countries, accounting foraround 14% of the student body. The college’s commitment is reflected in its remarkable employment statistics, with over 90%
of its foreign students securing jobs in thepast three years.
Syusei Technical College provides consistent support to Japanese and international
students alike. Its robust system assists students in their post-graduation endeavors, be
it employment, transitioning to universities
or achieving architectural qualifications.
In May 2023, the Diet passed the Japanese
Language Education Institution Accreditation Law to ensure proper and reliable
implementation of Japanese-language education. The law is expected to help improve
the quality of Japanese-language education.

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Takushoku University

Tokyo Denki University

Takushoku University is highly
acclaimed by international students
and Japanese-language institutions.
By sharing most of their classes withJapanese, international students
engage in daily interactions, which
dramatically enhances their Japanese skills. The university also pro- Shoichi Suzuki
vides scholarships exclusively for President
international students to ensure they can study without financial
concerns, and the learning support office for Japanese-language
instruction offers comprehensive support when needed.

Students aiming for a science orengineering degree in Japan needproficiency and thinking skills inJapanese and an understanding ofits culture. At TDU, aligned withour belief that “In the technology
breathes its creators,” we offer Japanese courses for international stu- Makoto Shishido
dents. We aim to nurture students Director, International Center
who experience personal growth while pursuing higher educationin Japan. We hope that our international students can contribute to
the future of people and society through technology.

Tokyo Metropolitan University

Tokyo University of Science

TMU, as the only public university in the metropolis, offers quality education based on research
prowess backed by rich academic
resources in Tokyo.
We offer a full degree programin English at the Departmentof Biological Sciences. Applica- Masayoshi Noguchi
tions for the fall semester will Vice President/Executive Directorof the International Centerr
begin in April. Almost all international students are granted tuition waivers and scholarships.
We look forward to welcoming you!

Since its founding in 1881, theTokyo University of Science has
maintained an education policyof “achieving excellence.”
Many graduates are actively
working for high-technology
companies. To support international students, we provide Hideaki Sakata
freshman-specific guidance, Vice President
assign a senior student as an adviser to each, manage an international dormitory and help students maintain legal residency
in Japan.

Human resources for tomorrow

Pursue an ideal state of humanity

University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences

Realize your business life in Japan
UMDS has a rich history of hosting international students. Overthe years, it has developed a deep
understanding of the skills andaptitudes Japanese companies
seek. To ensure a comprehensive
experience for them, it has estabKeigo Fujii
lished a department dedicated toPresident
offering extensive support in academics, daily life and finding employment opportunities in Japan.
For those with ambitions of working in a Japanese company, choosing UMDS is the first step toward fulfilling that aspiration.

Our core value is practicality

Pushing sustainable development

For more information on the Japan Ryugaku Awards,
please visit https://www.ryugakuawards.org/

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