Group photo of students of JGU taken at TUJ Kyoto.
Building on a partnership established in 2024, Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), welcomed about 40 students from India’s premier university, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), for a custom-designed summer program. The initiative offered students an immersive academic and cultural experience across both Kyoto and Tokyo, blending classroom learning with firsthand exposure to Japanese institutions, including a rare visit to the Japanese parliament.
In recent years, TUJ has rapidly expanded its collaborations with leading domestic and international universities, fueled by growing global recognition and a surge in student enrollment. Just one year after formalizing its partnership with JGU, the relationship has deepened significantly. This includes TUJ hosting JGU students in Kyoto and TUJ Dean Matthew Wilson being invited to speak at the second India-Japan Higher Education Forum, held in Tokyo in June 2025 and hosted by JGU. The forum brought together leaders from top Japanese universities such as the University of Tokyo and Sophia University.
Curriculum Exploring Japan in an Asian Context
The three-week program focused on Asian economic and political evolution as the context for Japan’s historical development strategies and how they continue to shape the country’s business, management, and policy environment. TUJ designed the curriculum to provide JGU students with a well-rounded understanding of Japan’s socioeconomic landscape while fostering an appreciation for cultural and national differences across Asia.
The program began on June 14 at TUJ Kyoto, which officially launched in January 2025. Students engaged in a combination of classroom lectures, interactive discussions, and field trips, offering a well-rounded perspective on Japan’s development. On June 26–27, they traveled to Tokyo to meet with TUJ faculty and students and attend a political science lecture by Assistant Professor Michael Cucek. The Tokyo visit culminated in a rare educational tour of the Japanese parliament. The program concluded on July 5.
Groundbreaking First Visit
David Satterwhite, TUJ lecturer and Kyoto experiential education coordinator, expressed his admiration for the JGU group, particularly their intellectual depth and curiosity.
“We had far-ranging discussions on socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and political topics, introducing them to diverse dimensions of Japan within an Asian context, while I also learned quite a bit from them about current issues in India,” Satterwhite said.
He added: “A genuinely mutual rapport was built in our three weeks together, with many expressing an interest in returning to Japan, and it was a privilege to provide both an overview and range of perspectives on Japan and Kyoto, as none had ever visited before. I think the seeds were planted ― and watered― for successive visits in coming years.”
Expands Global Partnerships
TUJ continues to broaden its international and domestic partnerships in higher education. In addition to JGU, TUJ has established collaborations with the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in India and Universidad Anáhuac Mayab in Mexico. In Japan, TUJ regularly engages with its partner universities, including Meiji University, Showa Women’s University and Musashi University.
Ahead of the launch of TUJ Kyoto, Temple Japan signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2024 with Kyoto-based Ryukoku University, an institution with nearly 400 years of history. The agreement supports student exchange, joint use of facilities, cultural activities, and broader educational collaboration.
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- Temple’s Academic English Program Deepens Collaboration with Showa Women’s University, Strengthens Domestic Partnerships (August 6, 2025)
- TUJ Kyoto Hosts Inaugural Global Symposium Bringing Together Scholars from Japan, Europe, Asia, and the United States (March 27, 2025)
- Ambassador Speaks to TUJ Students on India-Japan Partnership and Regional Cooperation (February 21, 2025)