TOEIC Newsletter125

スローガン付きロゴタイプ縦組み TOEIC® Newsletter English Education and Use of the Case Study Kumamoto University .......................... 2 TOEIC® Program in University Waseda University ................................ 4 Project Report Ritsumeikan University ....................... 6 Information ............................................ 8 vol.125 July 2015 Case Study Kumamoto University Striving to Be a Truly Global University That Links Local Communities to the World, Using the TOEIC® Test to Cultivate Globally Active Human Resources Kumamoto University has been selected as a Type B (Global Traction Type) university under the Top Global University Project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Here we take a look at the university’s initiatives under the project, which focuses on internationalization and community contribution. In the 2013 academic year, Kumamoto University began administering the TOEIC test to all students upon enrollment and to second year students during the second semester to accumulate data used for reviewing its English education scheme. The university aims to globalize its curriculum by using the TOEIC test for such purposes as gauging students’ English proficiency and enhancing learning motivation. Driving Globalization through World-Class Research – globalized education at an early stage. Kumamoto University Linking the World to Local Communities also plans to accelerate the pace of its own internationalization by doubling the number of exchange students on its campus, Through its participation in the Top Global University Project, bringing their number to 10% of the overall student body. “A Kumamoto University aims to become a global university capa- greater number of international students and a diverse range ble of connecting local communities to the world. Isao Taniguchi, of languages spoken will serve to vitalize our campus,” the university’s president (as of the interview date), states more President Taniguchi explains. “Also, making our campus more about the aspirations of the university, nothing: “Kumamoto multicultural will motivate Japanese students to study abroad.” University has a long history stretching back to the days of the Fifth High School, where Lafcadio Hearn (Yakumo Koizumi) Restructuring the University to Promote once taught. For more than 100 years, we have cultivated lead- Globalized Education – Adding English Tests to the ers in Japan. Recognizing this historical role, we would like to Faculty of Engineering’s Entrance Examinations in assume a role today as a national university that spurs the the 2015 Academic Year globalization of the local area.” The Top Global University Project at Kumamoto University Kumamoto University is in the process of reorganizing its edu- includes the effort to promote globalization through the culti- cational structure to make it more globalized. The university vation of high-caliber researchers and engineers capable of also plans to introduce liberal arts courses in English to bring guiding the future of Japan. Ultimately the goal is to contribute those courses in line with international standards. to the world, and toward that end, the university will promote As President Taniguchi points out: “Students majoring in world-class research on such topics as AIDS, molecular embry- science and engineering who hope to become globally active ology and genetics, and advanced magnesium technology. In researchers and engineers have a particular need to communi- this way, the university intends to increase overseas joint cate in English. Unfortunately, many students in our Faculty of research, invite researchers from across the world, and enhance Engineering do not like English and are not proficient in the its international competitive edge. In addition, the university language. Moreover, if students are to succeed later in creating hopes to facilitate globalization in local communities through something new, they will need a diverse perspective and cre- the Kumadai Global Youth Campus Project, a joint initiative ativity outlook, which are two traits that can be cultivated with local high schools that exposes high school students to through the acquisition of broad knowledge that encompasses n Kumamoto University – TOEIC® Average Scores of New Students in the 2013 Academic Use of the TOEIC® test at Year (by Undergraduate School) Kumamoto University TOEIC Test Scores First Year (Apr. 2013) Second Year (Dec. 2014) l Providing an overseas study grant of 700 ¥300,000 to each of the top 10 achievers l Recognizing credits for liberal arts 600 courses in foreign languages as credits earned for graduation l Establishing a TOEIC test seminar for 500 improving the foreign language proficiency of administrative staff 400 l Planning to use the scores from the TOEIC test administered upon enrollment in the selection process of stu- 300 dents eligible for the Global Leaders Special Development Course (tentative name) 200 l Considering to adopt external tests, including the TOEIC test, as an 100 advancement or graduation require- ment for undergraduate courses or Master’s degree programs, as well as a 10 criterion for accepting new students Faculty of Faculty of Faculty of Faculty of School of School of School of Faculty of Letters Law Education Science Medicine Health Sciences Pharmacy Engineering 2 Case Study Kumamoto University Kumamoto University Isao Taniguchi Seisuke Yasunami Tamiko Ikegami President (as of the interview date) Associate Professor Education Support Team, Academic Research Center for Higher Education Affairs Unit, Students Services Division history, literature, and other humanities fields. We hope that school so that they can be used to gauge improvements in offering our students English-language liberal arts courses will English proficiency across undergraduate programs.” During be a way to encourage them to recognize the need for English the first semester of students’ second year, the university also skills and grasp the importance of a liberal arts education.” administers the TOEIC test to those majoring in science and In line with this educational reform, all departments in the technology since they are likely to be active on the global stage Faculty of Engineering have added English tests to their 2015 in the future. In the 2013 academic year, the Faculty of Engineering entrance examinations, whereas in the past only a few depart- began administering the TOEIC test to its students six times, ments had included English tests. President Taniguchi has high specifically, once each semester for the first three years. hopes in the students at Kumamoto University, as he explains: In the 2014 academic year, Kumamoto University began “The role of a university is not to teach ‘known’ things, but providing an incentive to high achievers on the TOEIC test by rather to examine topics that are not yet fully known and offering an overseas study grant of ¥300,000 to the top 10 per- encourage students to explore them on their own. My hope is formers on the test (i.e., the two students with the highest that our students will earnestly study English so that they can aggregate score on the test during their first- and second-year; play an active role in the increasingly globalized society 10 or the student with the highest score from each undergraduate 20 years from now.” school; and those who achieved the biggest score improve- ment between their first and second year, while also satisfying All First- and Second-Year Students Take the certain criteria). Tamiko Ikegami, a member of the Educational TOEIC® Test – Scores to be Effectively Utilized by Support Team of the Student Services Division's Academic Teachers and Students Affairs Unit, says that the university provides this grant “as an incentive to encourage overseas study and English learning.” Starting with new students in the 2013 academic year, Kumamoto The TOEIC test scores will also be used in the selection pro- University has been administering the TOEIC test to all under- cess of applicants for the Global Leaders Special Development graduate students twice, specifically, upon enrollment and in Course* (tentative name), another initiative under the Top the second semester of the second year (see the graph above). Global University Project. Also, Kumamoto University is The purpose is to accumulate data that can be used to help expanding its use of the TOEIC test in order to promote further improve students’ English proficiency and serve as a basis for globalization of the university itself. The university may also considering how to design the university’s English education. incorporate TOEIC and other external tests in its entrance Seisuke Yasunami, associate professor at Kumamoto examinations and establish a TOEIC test seminar to improve the University’s Research Center for Higher Education, elaborates linguistic ability of its administrative staff. on reasons behind introducing the test. “The test results are * Global Leaders Special Development Course (tentative name): A combination shown to individual students for self-assessment and to improve of English-language courses and overseas study opportunities aimed at provid- their linguistic ability, and provided to each undergraduate ing fully globalized education to students selected from each undergraduate school and department for their outstanding English proficiency. A global university open to the world Introduce an educational system based on global standards to ensure educational compatibility and

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