June 7, 2010
Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) held its 2010 commencement ceremony on June 6 at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo. This year, the commencement recognized the achievements of 234 students in the class of 2010, including undergraduates, and Master and Doctorate programs.
The TUJ ceremony was held as a continuation of the 123rd commencement of Temple University’s main campus in Philadelphia, USA on May 14, and was attended by seven delegates from the main campus headed by President Ann Weaver Hart and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Patrick J. O’Connor, together with Mr. Phillip P. Hoffman, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy.
Of particular note for the class of 2010 is that over 30 percent of the 140 undergraduates receiving their degrees are international students who have studied for their 4-year degree entirely at TUJ. Of these international students, nearly 60 percent are from the U.S., with the remainder representing 14 different countries and regions. This prominent contribution of international students to the graduating class is sure to grow in the future.
The graduates were honored in speeches by President Hart and Minister-Counselor Hoffman. They congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and wished them continued success in the future.
Midori Kaneko, chairperson of the TUJ Board of Governors and General Manager–Communication of GE Healthcare Asia Pacific, then gave the ceremony’s keynote address. She told the graduates, “I would like to leave you with three key words drawn from my experience working for global organizations and with great leaders. What it takes to be truly successful in your future development are: Leadership, Ownership and Citizenship.” She concluded, “The world is expecting a lot from you!”
Representatives of the graduating class then addressed the audience, followed by the highlight of the ceremony, the presentation of diplomas. 140 undergraduate degrees were awarded, together with 85 Masters and 9 Doctors degrees. This year, the combined commencement at the main and Japan campuses honored a total of 8,215 graduates, the largest number of graduating students in Temple’s history.
The number of foreign students who directly applies to TUJ from their own country has increased significantly since 2005, when the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology designated TUJ as the first “Foreign University Japan Campus”. Today they comprise approximately 30 percent of the students in the undergraduate program. When combined with students who live in Japan as foreign residents on non-student visas, international students comprise 40 percent of the current undergraduate body, majority of whom complete a full 4-year undergraduate program at TUJ.
In addition, TUJ accepts short-time study abroad students from various foreign universities, including Temple’s main campus, for a period from one semester up to one year.
After graduation, 25 percent of TUJ’s international students find jobs in Japan, making a valuable contribution to Japanese society and its economy. The majority of graduates spread out around the world, actively participating in the global community where they can apply the benefits of their long-term involvement in Japanese society. For TUJ’s Japanese graduates, their high employment rate, both in Japan and overseas, is recognition of the quality of their English proficiency, presentation skills, and critical thinking fostered by their studies at TUJ.
