September 27, 2005
Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), recorded a new high in the number of undergraduate students in the fall semester, with the total reaching 575, which was 16% higher than the 496 of a year earlier. The number of full-time undergraduate students was up almost 50%.
One reason for the enrollment increase is a larger number of overseas students, which, in turn, reflects two factors.
1. A higher number of study abroad students from the United States. These students, who numbered 72 (up from 52 a year earlier), come from Temple University and other U.S. universities, typically in their junior year, to study for one or two semesters at TUJ. The increasing popularity of TUJ’s study abroad program – it has tripled in size over the past three years – reflects efforts to enhance the students’ experience in Japan, such as by strengthening the Japanese-language program, organizing more excursions and tours around Japan, and arranging home stays with Japanese families.
2. The admission of overseas students planning to do full degree programs at TUJ. With its recognition from Japan’s Ministry of Education, TUJ can now sponsor visas for students from around the world who want to matriculate and complete their degrees at TUJ. As a result, in fall 2005 TUJ admitted about 20 degree-seeking students from the United States, France, China, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. With TUJ offering a U.S. degree in English combined with a chance to learn about Japan and Asia, the number of such students is expected to increase dramatically.
Another reason for the jump in undergraduate enrollment is the fact that a much higher proportion of local students are deciding to stay at TUJ rather than transfer to Temple’s main campus because of the attractiveness of TUJ’s revamped undergraduate curriculum. In the past two years, in response to student suggestions, TUJ added new majors in International Affairs, Psychological Studies, Art, and Tourism and Hospitality Management, as well as strengthened its Communications major. This enhanced curriculum means that many more students can achieve their academic and professional objectives at TUJ. In addition, students often prefer to stay at TUJ because of the smaller classes and the extensive internship program.
With undergraduate enrollment expected to continue rising, TUJ has taken various steps to expand and enhance its operations. These include establishing an Overseas Admissions Office to manage overseas recruiting and an Office of International Students to serve overseas students; launching searches to hire faculty members in such areas as International Affairs, Asian Studies, and Japanese; and working on plans to build a large, multipurpose campus building – the Temple Educational Center – in central Tokyo.