Temple University Japan’s Expanding Influence: A Humorous Look
Well, hold onto your textbooks, folks! On November 25, 2024, Temple University Japan Campus (yes, the very same one where you could either learn to be a global citizen or just figure out an exponentially more confusing maths problem) struck a collaboration agreement with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education. And what’s the aim, you ask? Oh, just the small task of reshaping the educational landscape while sipping on matcha lattes! No biggie.
According to President Matthew Wilson, the plan involves pumping up career opportunities for high school students and doling out some teacher training that doesn’t require a top hat and a monocle. And let’s not forget the research bit—because what educational initiative is complete without a slew of surveys that would make even the most passionate statistician yawn?
And just to throw a cherry on top, they’re planning to open a shiny new base in Kyoto come January 2025. I mean, who wouldn’t want to experience international education in the city home to more temples than you can shake a stick at? Look at them go, expanding faster than my waistline during the holiday season!
Bringing the Global Perspective to English Education
Now, let’s talk about the pièce de résistance—the Academic English Program (AEP). Think of it as a transformative experience where Kansai high school students can ditch their dictionary and embrace their inner global citizen. Also, if you’re a teacher looking to finally crack the riddle of advanced English, TUJ is rolling out programs designed for that too! So, prepare for a more insightful English lesson than that time you mistook “there,” “their,” and “they’re” in your Year 7 English essay.
But seriously, this is great news! They want to build a solid foundation for long-term cooperation, which, let’s be honest, is as tricky as finding a parking space in Tokyo. Yet, somehow, they’re managing to do it with more finesse than I open a can of soda—very cautiously with a touch of danger.
A Stellar Track Record
Now, if you’re about to move from Osaka to Tokyo thinking it’s all about Japanese sake and karaoke, you ought to know that in the past decade, TUJ has tripled its undergraduate student enrollment. We’re talking from 0 to over 2,500 students faster than I can finish a plate of sushi. With over 80 countries represented, TUJ has become like the United Nations but with less political arguing and more sushi rolls.
Not to toot their own horn – but beep, beep – their growing partnerships with prefectures across Japan show that they’re committed to strengthening educational initiatives for kids across the region. If you’ve got 1,000 kids mingling in English immersion programs every summer, you know they’re going to come out as confident as a cat on a hot tin roof!
Words from the Potentate of Education
In the eloquent words of TUJ President Matthew Wilson, “We are very much looking forward to working with them.” Ah, Matthew! Such optimism! It’s the kind of positivity you can only get from a person whose office hasn’t seen a messy cup of coffee in ages.
About TUJ and Temple University
Founded in 1982, TUJ has been the long-standing flagbearer for international education in Japan. Think of it as the premiere international buffet where no one has to worry about calorie counting because, quite frankly, we’re too busy figuring out the difference between a Master’s in Management and a Master’s in Who Knows What!
And with plans to open a Master’s in Communication Management in Kyoto, they’re making sure nobody misses the chance to further their education—because there’s always an opportunity for someone to misplace their thesis at TUJ.
So, dear readers, as Temple University Japan Campus sets its sights on educational excellence across Kansai, one can only wonder what will come next. Perhaps a reality show featuring teachers and students trying to navigate through English text such as “hold the bacon” when ordering brunch! Who knows? But one thing’s for sure: with their track record, they’re not just raising the bar—they’re launching it into orbit!
For more zany updates, check out those links below where you can dive deeper into TUJ’s world!
On November 25, 2024, the Temple University Japan Campus (TUJ), located in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, under the leadership of President Matthew Wilson, formalized a significant collaboration agreement with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education. This partnership aims to provide a range of innovative opportunities for high school students, enhance teacher training to elevate educational quality, and conduct in-depth surveys and research to address pertinent educational challenges. With TUJ set to inaugurate a new campus in Kyoto in January 2025, this collaboration will play a crucial role in fostering the exchange of human and intellectual resources in the Kansai region and amplifying the scope of international education in Osaka.
Through this landmark agreement, TUJ plans to leverage its prestigious graduate school and its well-regarded Academic English Program (AEP). This initiative will open new international career pathways for high school students in Osaka Prefecture while simultaneously enhancing English education through specialized teacher training aimed at improving quality. TUJ and the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education are committed to establishing a robust framework for long-term collaboration, with the objective of yielding valuable educational outcomes for students and faculty across the region.
This agreement was catalyzed by TUJ’s notable accomplishments in Tokyo. Currently, TUJ is enrolling students from about 80 different countries and regions, seeing undergraduate enrollment exceed 2,500 for the first time—a remarkable tripling over the past decade. In addition to this growth, there are over 2,700 students actively pursuing degree programs within various faculties, including the Graduate School of Education, Master of Management, and Law School. The upcoming launch of the Kyoto campus marks a significant milestone in TUJ’s expansive 40-year-plus history.
TUJ has established partnerships with Ehime and Nagasaki prefectures through memorandums of cooperation and collaboration, signed in March 2024, and a similar agreement with Yamanashi prefecture dated December 2022. Furthermore, we boast comprehensive collaboration agreements with Setagaya Ward and Minato Ward in Tokyo.
As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening these partnerships, more than 1,000 students from elementary to high school participate annually in AEP’s English immersion program each summer. This intensive course, featuring a “100% English immersion” approach, is guided by experienced instructors and TUJ students from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, who deliver tailored support based on the students’ English proficiency levels.
■Comment from TUJ President Matthew Wilson
“The signing of the agreement with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education is an important step in further increasing TUJ’s educational influence in the Kansai region. We offer easy-to-understand programs to help educators learn advanced English. We aim to leverage TUJ’s expertise and resources to build a long-term educational foundation in the Osaka region and develop the next generation of learners and leaders. We are very much looking forward to working with them.”
■About TUJ and Temple University
Since its establishment in 1982, TUJ has achieved outstanding results in promoting intercultural exchange and internationalizing higher education. It is the largest and longest-established foreign university in Japan, and currently attracts students from approximately 80 countries and regions. TUJ is positioned as the flagship campus in Asia of Temple University, a comprehensive university of Pennsylvania State University with 360,000 alumni, and was designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as the first Japanese campus of a foreign university in 2005.
In addition to undergraduate programs, TUJ responds to the diverse needs of the local community through continuing education programs, AEP, and other programs. Additionally, we offer graduate programs such as the Graduate School of Education (master’s and doctoral degrees), the Master’s in Management, and the School of Law, and we plan to open a Master’s in Communication Management at TUJ Kyoto in the fall semester of 2025.
▼Contact information regarding this matter
Public Relations/Marketing Support Department
Address: 1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
TEL：03-5441-9801
Email: [email protected]
### Interview with TUJ President Matthew Wilson: Expanding Educational Horizons
### Interview with TUJ President Matthew Wilson: Expanding Educational Horizons
**Interviewer:** Matthew, thanks for joining us today. TUJ has recently signed a collaboration agreement with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education. Can you tell us a little about what motivated this agreement?
**Matthew Wilson:** Absolutely! We’re excited about this partnership because it aligns perfectly with our mission to enhance educational opportunities throughout Japan. By collaborating with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education, we aim to provide innovative programs for high school students and improve teacher training, creating a solid foundation for a brighter future in education.
**Interviewer:** It sounds ambitious! You also mentioned enhancing career opportunities for students. What kind of initiatives are in place for that?
**Matthew Wilson:** Our Academic English Program (AEP) is a key component here. By immersing Kansai high school students in English, we’re not just teaching a language; we’re opening doors to international opportunities. We want our students to be confident global citizens, ready to tackle any challenge in the international arena.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of international, you’re planning to open a new base in Kyoto come January 2025. Exciting times ahead! How will this expansion impact the local educational landscape?
**Matthew Wilson:** We anticipate that having a presence in Kyoto will significantly enhance our reach. It’s all about sharing resources, knowledge, and opportunities with local students and teachers. Plus, who wouldn’t want to study in a city filled with history and culture? It’s the perfect backdrop for international education.
**Interviewer:** You’ve had quite a track record with student enrollment, tripling numbers in just a decade. What’s behind this growth, and how do you plan to sustain it?
**Matthew Wilson:** Our growth is a testament to the quality of education we provide and the diverse cultural environment we foster. We represent over 80 countries, which enriches our campus life exponentially. We’ll continue to focus on creating strong partnerships and adding programs that are relevant to today’s job market, keeping our curriculum dynamic and engaging.
**Interviewer:** With over 1,000 students participating in the AEP each summer, how do you ensure the program meets the diverse needs of these learners?
**Matthew Wilson:** Great question! Our experienced instructors and TUJ students from various cultural backgrounds create a supportive and tailored learning environment. We assess proficiency levels and customize lessons to help students maximize their potential, all while ensuring it’s a fun and engaging experience.
**Interviewer:** Sounds like you’ve got your hands full! What’s next on the agenda for TUJ?
**Matthew Wilson:** We’re looking to deepen our partnerships with more prefectures to broaden our educational impact, and we’ll keep pushing the envelope on what international education can look like. And who knows, maybe a reality show about students navigating English challenges is in our future!
**Interviewer:** (laughs) Now that would be something! Thanks for sharing your insights, Matthew. Exciting times are ahead for TUJ and the students!
**Matthew Wilson:** Thank you! We look forward to all the new adventures that await us in the world of education.
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This light-hearted interview highlights the positive developments at Temple University Japan while showcasing President Wilson’s enthusiasm for these initiatives.
