Super Global University Project in Japan and its Impact on Undergraduate Foreign Language Courses —A Case Study of Rikkyo University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
In response to the development of economic globalization, the
Japanese government has implemented a series of policies since the late 20th
century, aiming to enhance the internationalization of universities. However,
these efforts did not yield significant results. It was not until the introduction
of the "Super Global University" project in 2014 that the Japanese government
shifted its focus from solely attracting foreign students to guiding universities
in carrying out internationalization reforms. Subsequently, universities
achieved substantial reform outcomes. Taking Rikkyo University and Tokyo
University of Foreign Studies as examples, this paper explores how they
aligned with the requirements of the "Super Global University" project and
implemented foreign language curriculum reforms in conjunction with the
cultivation of international talent. On one hand, both universities implemented various reforms in accordance with the requirements of the project, such as
increasing diversity and mobility, establishing support systems for international
students, and enhancing the language proficiency of Japanese students. On
the other hand, they also carried out foreign language curriculum reforms
with their own characteristics. Rikkyo University focused on interdisciplinary
curriculum reforms across the entire institution, aiming to cultivate bilingual
and bicultural talent. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies divided its original
language departments into different colleges with the goals of regional studies
and professional applications, nurturing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary
talent primarily in the humanities and social sciences. The experiences of these
Japanese universities in cultivating international talent and implementing
curriculum reforms have certain reference value for Chinese universities in the
development of foreign language courses.