TUJ Dean Matthew Wilson (left) and Ryukoku University President Takashi Irisawa (right) in a photo taken after signing the MOU. Photo courtesy of Ryukoku University.
Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) is set to launch its multi-building satellite location in central Kyoto in January 2025. TUJ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 25, 2024, with the nearly 400-year-old Ryukoku University to foster student exchanges, joint facility usage, cultural activities, and other educational initiatives.
The new collaboration with Ryukoku University, located within walking distance of the TUJ Kyoto location, marks another significant milestone in TUJ’s growth in the Kansai region. It also underscores TUJ’s dedication to global cooperation and diverse learning environments, while building on its over four-decade history as the largest and longest-running foreign university in Japan. TUJ hosts students from about 80 countries and regions, and undergraduate enrollment has more than tripled in the past decade, surpassing 2,500 students for the first time in the fall 2024 semester. Together with graduate programs in education, business and law, the total enrollment in TUJ’s degree-seeking student body exceeds 2,700.
Under the MOU, TUJ and Ryukoku University aim to explore collaborative opportunities including joint student activities, club events, joint educational and culture programs, shared courses and collaborative academic research and conferences. The collaboration with Ryukoku University adds to nearly two dozen agreements that TUJ has forged with Japanese universities and a growing number of foreign universities. TUJ formed agreements with India’s O.P. Jindal Global University and Mexico’s Universidad Nahuac Mayab earlier this year, and India’s Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology last year. At the government level in Japan, TUJ has entered into collaborative agreements with Ehime, Nagasaki and Yamanashi Prefectures, as well as Setagaya City and Minato City in Tokyo.
Comments
Takashi Irisawa, President of Ryukoku University, said, “Ryukoku University, as part of its long-term plan (Basic Concept 400), looks ahead to our 400th anniversary in 2039 by embracing Buddhist SDGs and advancing initiatives that ensure no one is left behind. As part of these efforts, we have welcomed many international students from countries including Ukraine and Syria. With the increasing number of international students, various cultural exchange events have regularly been held on our campus. Hosting international students provides an exceptional opportunity to offer our students valuable experiences and inspiration.
TUJ Kyoto is just a short walk from our Fukakusa campus. By welcoming a diverse group of international students from Temple University, we look forward to cultivating a more multicultural campus and fostering numerous exchanges, both within formal classes and extracurricular activities. These efforts will extend beyond students to include faculty collaboration on joint research and staff exchanges aimed at nurturing global talent. We are committed to actively promoting these initiatives.”
Matthew Wilson, Dean of Temple University, Japan Campus, noted that the MOU with Ryukoku University is a welcome step forward for TUJ as it deepens its roots in the academic and cultural landscape of Kyoto. “By working together with a nearby institution renowned for its nearly 400 years of educational excellence, we are excited to create new and transformative opportunities for our students and faculty to spend time on Ryukoku’s nearby main campus while engaging in meaningful cross-cultural exchanges, innovative educational programs and collaborative academic endeavors. This new relationship reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering global connections and enhancing the educational experiences of Temple University students from around the world.”
About Ryukoku University
Founded in 1639 as the educational institution “Gakuryo” (Buddist seminary) under the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji sect, Ryukoku University has upheld the spirit of Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land Buddhism) as its guiding principle. The university strives to nurture individuals with rich humanity, profound knowledge and well-rounded education who can contribute to the development and improvement of society. Currently, the university is a comprehensive institution with 10 faculties, one junior college division, and 10 graduate schools, and a student body of approximately 20,000.
Guided by the philosophy of “Jisei Rita (introspective altruism)” as its philosophy, the university has been a pioneer in cultivating individuals and initiatives that can contribute to society, engaging in efforts related to the SDGs, social transformation, and collaboration with local communities.
About TUJ
Established in 1982, TUJ has excelled in building bridges between cultures and advancing the globalization of higher education. It is the largest and longest-running branch campus of a foreign university in Japan and currently hosts students from nearly 80 different countries and regions. The Japan campus is the flagship Asian operation of Temple University, a leading public university in Pennsylvania, with more than 360,000 alumni worldwide. In 2005, TUJ was recognized by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and officially designated as a Foreign University, Japan Campus.
In addition to a wide range of undergraduate degree programs, TUJ offers non-degree programs through its continuing education and Academic English Program to serve various needs of the local community. The university also provides graduate programs, including the Graduate College of Education, the Master in Management program and the Law program. In the fall 2025 semester, TUJ will introduce a new Master of Science in Communication Management program in Kyoto.
Other related stories
- Temple University, Japan Campus Expands Partnerships with Top-Tier Universities in India and Mexico Focusing on new Kyoto location (September 19, 2024)
- Temple University Continues Setting New Enrollment Records, Exceeding 2,700 Degree-Seeking Students in Japan (October 23, 2024)
- Temple University Leadership from Main and Rome Campuses Meet with Partner Universities in Japan (May 30, 2024)