Proceedings of 2017 JSEE Annual Conference – Tokyo, August 30, 2017 W−08 Introduction of Undergraduate Study Abroad Program in Australia from Tokyo City University Koji Homma1 1. Professor, Dr. of Engineering, International Centre, Tokyo City University, 1-28-1 Tamazutsumi, Setagaya, Tokyo JAPAN 158-8557, [email protected] Abstract Tokyo City University Australia Program (TAP) is a part of the Globalization Program and is a collaborative education program developed by Tokyo City University and Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. Tokyo City University Australia Program aims to produce global leaders with practical, specialist skills, building on TCU’s long history of hands-on technical education. The achievement of the program for students will be that they may learn, think and talk in English. TAP is composed of preparatory education in Japan during the student’s first year (TAP in Japan) and the five months study abroad program during their second year (TAP in Australia). TAP students take English lessons and global citizen coaching during the preparatory education period and four Liberal Arts subjects in addition to improving English subjects during study abroad period. There are various sub programs to accelerate interaction with native Australian students and international students from many countries. The program educates global citizens with the flexibility, vision and communication skills to deal with changing needs. Keywords: Study abroad, Australia, Globalization 1. Tokyo City University Australia Program (TAP) In 2015, Tokyo City University (TCU) began a new partnership, the Tokyo City University Australia Program (TAP), with Edith Cowan University (Perth, Western Australia). Under the program, 200 students from TCU have studied for five months at Edith Cowan University (ECU) using a jointly developed curriculum. As the number of applicants far exceeded the number of places from the first year implementing the program, the capacity of the program has been expanded. Since the first year, the number of students participated in this program have been increasing steadily up to 230 in 2016, 260 in 2017 and will reach 300 in the nearest future. TAP is the first step in international education at TCU. TAP students are recruited and selected soon after they enter TCU. The Tokyo City University Australia Program comprises English preparatory classes led by a native speaker during the student’s first year at TCU, and five months overseas study in Perth, Western Australia during their second year. Western Australia, where the students will study, is a culturally diverse state with many residents from Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It provides a fantastic environment for TCU students to work on the English ability and cross-cultural understanding needed to become independent, global citizens. 2. Contents of Program and its Goal TAP is a part of TCU’s Global Citizens Program in the relations between Japan and Australia. The goal at the completion of preparatory education (1 year) is TOEIC 550+. The study abroad program in Australia (5 months) consists of both English and general education classes. The goal at the completion of study abroad in Australia is TOEIC 650+. As TAP is the first step of the globalization program for the first and second year students at TCU, there are also the second step which includes many follow up programs for the third and fourth year students after TAP which aims to further educate their English ability, enhance their global communication ability and the final goal at the graduation is TOEIC 750+ as shown in Figure 1. Immediate after the entrance of the university, TAP students take the preparatory English classes and the Global Citizen Training Program for a year. Students will learn what is needed as a global citizen while developing their English skills in Japan. TAP students undertake 2 hours of English preparation in small groups of under fifteen students with native speakers per day for 5 days a week over 100 days in total, aiming at a TOEIC score of 550 at their departure for Australia. Through the global personnel training in Japan, TAP students also learn how to communicate in diverse contexts as global citizens by lectures of various internationally active professionals. The curriculum was specifically designed for TAP students. Study Abroad in Australia is a program jointly developed by Tokyo City University and Edith Cowan University. The study abroad period is divided into two quarters. During the first quarter (9 weeks), the TCU students mix with other international students for intensive English classes. In the second quarter (7 weeks) they take liberal arts education classes from ECU academic staff. TAP participants undertake twenty one credit points over five months, equivalent to one semester, at ECU. Each semester is broken into two terms. During the first term, students study intensive academic English, before putting their new English skills to the test in specially designed liberal arts subjects in the second term. The English education 51 Proceedings of 2017 JSEE Annual Conference – Tokyo, August 30, 2017 such as Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening is held at ECU’s in-campus language school, the Edith Cowan College (ECC), where they will mix with students from all around the globe. During the second term, TAP students take four Liberal Arts subjects. Two kinds of classes are taught in the general education subjects. Firstly, liberal arts subjects that ECU customized especially for TAP. Secondly, integrated subjects team-taught by lecturers from both universities. The title of Liberal Arts subjects are International Relations, Social, Cultural and Media Studies, Collaborative Design and any of Urban Movement and Analysis or Introductory Applied Mathematics depending on the participating faculties at TCU. Participating Faculties are 6 of all that are Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Knowledge Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Informatics, Faculty of Urban Life Studies, and Faculty of Human Science. Each liberal arts subject includes a tutorial in its contact hours. Although tutorials are not common in Japanese universities, they are held weekly in small groups in conjunction with lectures. TAP tutorials are instructed by ECU lecturers. This is common style in Australian standards. TAP students must study very hard to deepen their understanding and broaden their knowledge through tutorials. Figure 1. TCU Global Leader Program The TCU global leader program will never complete with TAP for 1st and 2nd year students. After returning home, various post-TAP programs are prepared for 3rd year and 4th year students, such as Oversea Internships, Native Speaker-Led English Classes, Overseas Language Programs and Daily English Conversation Classes. TAP students can enhance their language skill continuously by taking the specialized subjects to be conducted in English by native or near-native academic staff at TCU. TCU has already been promoting recruitment of foreign lecturers with the level of associate professor. In addition, overseas internship offers opportunities for challenging overseas again. In addition to practicing what students have learned at overseas universities, they can participate in a few weeks internship at a company with overseas affiliation to conduct professional experience. Moreover, students who reach IELTS 6.0 or higher have opportunities to exchange studies. Five of the first year TAP returnees have already taken regular lectures at the ECU as exchange students. At the time of graduation, the goal is to be able to make academic presentations at international conferences. 3. Enrichment of the program in Australia TAP in Australia is designed to have a variety of extracurricular activities in addition to the regular coursework at Edith Cowan University. With cooperation from ECU and the West Australian government, we prepare a range of activities to allow students to use English in their daily life, as the global citizen doesn’t mean just speaking English using language skills. There are TAP Activities and Volunteer Buddy Program, ECU Student Village life, English Language exchange program (LEP) and Let’s Be Active in TAP (LBA), TAP Activities and Volunteer Buddy Program are designed to help students realize their potential as adaptable global citizens with an international outlook and high communication skills. All students participate in these activities. ECU has developed a comprehensive Experiencing Australia program including both on and off campus activities throughout the 19 weeks. Buddies are recruited from all ECU Schools and are trained as supporters of TAP students and conversational partners as well. Students participate in various extracurricular activities with Buddies and deepen interaction through practical English conversation. Even more important is the everyday life. TAP students live in the ECU Student Village. The Student Village is made up of five and six bedroom units with private bedrooms and shared living, kitchen and 2 bathroom areas. We have requested that the Village to spread to place one or two TCU student per apartment where possible. Students are able to be roommates with ECU Australian students and international students from around the world, including the Middle East, South-East Asia and China, and learn about diverse cultures. 52 Proceedings of 2017 JSEE Annual Conference – Tokyo, August 30, 2017 such as Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening is held at ECU’s in-campus