Education U of Tokyo to launch 5-year arts and sciences program with 50% foreign students

[thomas]

The University of Tokyo is set to inaugurate a five-year integrated bachelor's and master's degree program in the humanities and sciences during the fall of 2027. This visionary initiative aims to cultivate a cohort of scholars and professionals equipped to grapple with pressing global challenges, including climate change and dwindling biodiversity. The program, housed within the newly established "College of Design," will span five years, comprising four years of undergraduate study and one year of master's-level exploration. Notably, all courses will be conducted in English, fostering a truly international educational environment. By aligning its academic calendar with prestigious institutions in the United States and Europe, the University of Tokyo seeks to attract students from diverse backgrounds, transcending national borders and fostering a community of world-class researchers.

The program will accept about 100 students per year, roughly the same number as the university's Faculty of Medicine, half of whom will be from overseas. Enrolled undergraduates will also be able to take classes in the new program. The curriculum will be multidisciplinary, covering the humanities, arts and sciences, and tailored to students' interests. In order to broaden their perspectives, students will be required to undertake a one-year internship at a company or enroll in a study abroad program. The university will explore various types of entrance examinations in order to bring in students with diverse backgrounds. It plans to publicize an outline of the examinations in fiscal 2024. The university will recruit academics from around the world for the program and hopes to attract researchers from domestic and overseas companies and universities, using the profits from its endowment fund. International students studying for undergraduate degrees at the University of Tokyo make up just 2% of all undergraduates. The number of female students is also low, accounting for around 20% of all undergraduates. The university has set goals such as increasing the share of undergraduate international students to 30% of the total and that of female faculty members to 40% by 2049. By establishing the new program, the university hopes to increase diversity, promote internationalization and strengthen its research capabilities.

University of Tokyo to start interdisciplinary 5-year program | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The University of Tokyo plans to introduce an interdisciplinary program aimed at nurturing individuals capable of addressing global challenges.

www3.nhk.or.jp

University of Tokyo to launch new 5-year program with 50% foreign students

The University of Tokyo plans to launch a new five-year combined Bachelor's and Master's degree program in fall 2027, with half of the roughly 100-student capacity to comprise foreign students, a university source said Monday.

english.kyodonews.net

Paywall alert:

University of Tokyo to launch 5-year arts and sciences program

Combined bachelor's and master's curriculum aims for 50% foreign students

asia.nikkei.com

 

[johnnyG]

The university will recruit academics from around the world for the program and hopes to attract researchers from domestic and overseas companies and universities, using the profits from its endowment fund.

One key point would be whether those hired would be on contract (and limited to five years), or would they have any (reasonable?) chance for tenure/正社員 there at Todai? Like, is there a strong commitment to this new program, or not? Will a few, older senior faculty--who are already ensconced--control everything, with the newbies doing all the work? Or will those newbies be allowed to shine, if they are able to do so?

I happen to know someone who graduated from Todai some years ago (second department of science), who then went to the US for some work and is now finishing a PhD in bioinformatics. Fully bilingual/bicultural, seems to know/use a lot of Python/R (and taught intro to grad level stats early on as a part of it), but doesn't want anything to do with academics here (or there). Female, too.

 

[ashleyclausen]

The University of Tokyo is set to inaugurate a five-year integrated bachelor's and master's degree program in the humanities and sciences during the fall of 2027. This visionary initiative aims to cultivate a cohort of scholars and professionals equipped to grapple with pressing global challenges, including climate change and dwindling biodiversity. The program, housed within the newly established "College of Design," will span five years, comprising four years of undergraduate study and one year of master's-level exploration. Notably, all courses will be conducted in English, fostering a truly international educational environment. By aligning its academic calendar with prestigious institutions in the United States and Europe, the University of Tokyo seeks to attract students from diverse backgrounds, transcending national borders and fostering a community of world-class researchers.
I think it's the right thing to do because the university is the perfect place to teach students not only the info related to their major but also create cooperation between students from different countries and faculty members to make the uni diverse and multicultural.

University of Tokyo to start interdisciplinary 5-year program | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The University of Tokyo plans to introduce an interdisciplinary program aimed at nurturing individuals capable of addressing global challenges.

www3.nhk.or.jp

University of Tokyo to launch new 5-year program with 50% foreign students

The University of Tokyo plans to launch a new five-year combined Bachelor's and Master's degree program in fall 2027, with half of the roughly 100-student capacity to comprise foreign students, a university source said Monday.

english.kyodonews.net

Paywall alert:

University of Tokyo to launch 5-year arts and sciences program

Combined bachelor's and master's curriculum aims for 50% foreign students

asia.nikkei.com

This sounds like a great plan. First of all, I like the problem, it sounds very interesting and informative, and I like that there will be so many foreign students. Diversity and internationalization are very important now, and I think educational institutions are the perfect places to work on their improvement.
My sister will graduare school in three years, and she is thinking about that program.