Oct 10, 2014

Rikkyo University Selected for 2014 "Top Global University Project (TypeB : Global Traction Type)

Keyword:INFORMATION

OBJECTIVE.

Rikkyo University has been selected for 2014 "Top Global University Project (Type B: Global Traction Type) " by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The University was selected for its concept of "Global Liberal Arts Education x Leadership Education x Self-Transformation - The Evolution of Rikkyo as a World-Class University -".

Launched this year, the "Top Global University Project" is being implemented to strengthen the international competitiveness of higher education in Japan. To this end, the project is providing priority support to universities dedicated to thorough internationalization and university reforms.

There are two categories in the Top Global University Project. "Type A: Top Type" is targeted at top universities carrying out world-class education and research with the capability of ranking in the top 100 universities in the world. "Type B: Global Traction Type" is aimed at universities that continue to challenge themselves by conducting pioneering work based on past achievements and have a leading role in promoting the globalization of Japanese universities.

In the category of "Type B: Global Traction Type", for which Rikkyo University successfully applied, 24 universities were accepted out of 93 applications.

About “Global Liberal Arts Education x Leadership Education x Self-Transformation - The Evolution of Rikkyo as a World-Class University -”

Under this concept, Rikkyo University is implementing three associated initiatives organically and strategically: (1) Curriculum Reform, (2) Student Consciousness Reform and (3) Governance Reform. In terms of specific measures, Rikkyo University is building on the 24 strategies in the international vision it announced in May 2014, “Rikkyo Global 24,” with the aim of being an institution that has the creativity and development potential to lead other universities and the power to transform itself. To this end, the university is making further improvements and advances in unique initiatives, such as the liberal arts education it has been providing for 140 years and its pioneering leadership education, and working to create a world-class educational system by constructing a network with liberal arts universities in Europe and America and engaging in dialogue with such universities.

Curriculum Reform
There are five specific areas of focus for the Curriculum Reform under the university overall concept: (1) “New” Leadership Education, (2) Rikkyo Undergraduate Program, (3) Global Education Sub-Majors, (4) Global Liberal Arts Program and (5) International Graduate Student Collaboration Program.

(1) “New” Leadership Education
The university will nurture “new” global leaders by utilizing the achievements of the Global Leadership Program in the General Curriculum and the Business Leadership Program in the College of Business. Specifically, the university will ensure that these results filter through to the specialist educations provided by each of the colleges and forms of extracurricular education such as the Athletic Association.

(2) Rikkyo Undergraduate Program
The Rikkyo Undergraduate Program is a four-year curriculum framework in which liberal arts subjects, specialized subjects and extracurricular activities are organically linked to give students a vision of their learning during the four years of their degree. The university will restructure the program into a unified, university-wide course (program) providing a learning environment in which the four years of a degree are split into three periods in accordance with a student’s level of growth: an introductory period, a formative period and a completion period. In this structure, learning is tailored in accordance with a student’s results in each period. In addition, the university will set the first year of a degree as the introductory period in which the student will gain a grasp of the fundamentals of learning the liberal arts. To this end, the university will operate a “Rikkyo First Term Program” targeted at training students in the basic attitudes required for studying at a university.

(3) Global Education Sub-Majors
To provide students with the “cross-discipline skills” they need to bridge different cultures or other areas of specialization, the university will establish a selection of sub-majors that make full use of the diversity provided by its 10 colleges (for the acquisition of at least 16 credits) and offer them to all undergraduates. The university aims in this way to expand opportunities for students to take sub-majors that go beyond the limits of their colleges or departments. Each of the sub-majors will provide several subjects arranged in modules under international and cross-discipline fields and opportunities for overseas activities such as summer programs and overseas internships .

(4) Global Liberal Arts Program
The university will newly operate a Global Liberal Arts Program (GLAP). In this program, students will be able to graduate by only taking subjects offered in English for which post-admission specialist fields are not determined at the time of admission (and which do not belong to particular colleges).
Students belonging to GLAP will be required to study abroad for one year. Before studying abroad, the students will live together in mixed dormitory accommodation and take intensive tutorial lessons. Following their return to Japan, they will choose one of two types of specialist education courses based on the interests and awareness of issues acquired in the course of their studies up to that point.

(5) International Graduate Student Collaboration Program
The university will establish an International Graduate Student Collaboration Program that can be completed only in English for international students from Indonesia and other ASEAN countries as well as various countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Student Consciousness Reform
Aiming to sustainably ensure large-scale mobility for its students, the university will develop an environment to nurture autonomy among students and provide them with a global outlook. Initiatives in this area will include giving students motivation to get overseas experience through regular curricular activities such as summer programs during vacation periods, encouraging them to mix with international students in the Global Lounge, and providing leadership education through extracurricular activities. The university will also give students an appetite to study the world and be globally engaged through various regular curricular and extracurricular programs.

Governance Reform
The university will create mutual links among the Governance Reform and the two others: the Curriculum Reform and the Student Consciousness Reform. By doing so, the university will maximize the mobility of its students, faculty and staff and enhance the international recognition and competitiveness of Rikkyo University.
(1) Evaluation, training, etc. in consideration of international recognition
(2) University-wide application of subject numbering and GPA, establishment of flexible university schedule, etc.
(3) Realization of speedy decision making by such means as establishing a body to promote internationalization
(4) Participation by foreign nationals in decision-making bodies, etc.
(5) Increasing percentage of female faculty and staff
(6) Establishment of Diversity Council
(7) Introduction of global, university-wide entrance exam
(8) Thoroughgoing public release of educational information

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