Super Global Universities

Super Global Universities (スーパーグローバル大学創成支援 Sūpā gurōbaru daigaku sōsei shien) is a funding project by the Japanese government, beginning in 2014. The project aims to enhance the globalization of the country's public and private universities so that graduates can "walk into positions of global leadership".^[1]

History

In 2009, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) began a program to encourage foreign students to study at Japanese Universities. The program was called Global 30. 13 Universities participated by creating and offering English-only undergraduate programs. It was felt that English-only programs would encourage foreign students to come. Studying Japanese was an option, but not a requirement. The program was concluded in 2014 and replaced with the Super Global Universities program.^[2]

Program

The Super Global Universities program began as an initiative of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe who stated its aim was to help more of Japan's universities rank in the top 100 worldwide. This requires the hiring of more foreign professors and increasing foreign student attendance at Japanese universities.^[3] According to Martin Ince of QS World University Rankings, Prime Minister Abe stated “the number of foreign students at a university will define its success”^[2][4]

The program is slated to run from 2014 to 2023. It's total budget is ¥7.7 billion ($US 77 million). The funds will be used to hire faculty who are either foreigners or Japanese nationals who have graduated from foreign universities. Designated universities will also establish curricula for undergraduate degree programs, provide financial support for international students, and actively recruit students worldwide.^[1]

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) adopted a two-track approach, ranking institutions in one of two categories.

• Type A—(Top Type) The Top Type is for world-class universities that have the potential to be ranked in the top 100 in world university rankings. Each Type A university will receive ¥420 million ($US 4.2 million) annually.^[1]
• Type B—(Global Traction Type) The Global Traction Type is for innovative universities that lead the internationalization of Japanese society, based on continuous improvement. Each Type B university will receive ¥170 million ($US 1.7 million) annually.^[1]

Selected universities

In September 2014, the ministry announced the selection of 37 schools for the Top Global University Project.^[5]

Type A (Top Type)

• National Universities
  • Hokkaido University
  • Tohoku University
  • University of Tsukuba
  • University of Tokyo
  • Tokyo Medical and Dental University
  • Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Nagoya University
  • Kyoto University
  • Osaka University
  • Hiroshima University
  • Kyushu University
• Private Universities
  • Keio University
  • Waseda University

Type B (Global Traction Type)

• National Universities
  • Chiba University
  • Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
  • Tokyo University of the Arts
  • Nagaoka University of Technology
  • Kanazawa University
  • Toyohashi University of Technology
  • Kyoto Institute of Technology
  • Nara Institute of Science and Technology
  • Okayama University
  • Kumamoto University
• Prefectural Universities
  • Akita International University
  • University of Aizu
• Private Universities
  • International Christian University
  • Shibaura Institute of Technology
  • Sophia University
  • Toyo University
  • Hosei University
  • Meiji University
  • Rikkyo University
  • Soka University
  • International University of Japan
  • Ritsumeikan University
  • Kwansei Gakuin University
  • Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

References

1. Maruko, Mami, “Universities aim to boost their global ranking”, The Japan Times, 22 October 2014
2. Taylor, Veronica, “Japanese universities reach for global status”, East Asia Forum, 30 December 2014
3. Kakuchi, Suvendrini, “Not just international but ‘Super Global Universities”, University World News, 21 November 2014
4. Ince, Martin, “Prime Minister Abe to Accelerate Internationalisation of Japanese Universities”, QS Intelligence Unit, 19 May 2014
5. "Selection for the FY 2014 Top Global University Project" (PDF). MEXT.