Japan’s Higher Education Internationalization Policies and Their Impact on Foreign Language Courses in Science and Engineering Universities —A Case Study of Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology
This study aims to investigate the impact of Japan’s internationalization policies on the content of foreign language courses in science and engineering universities, using Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University as case studies. The analysis focuses on how the reform of foreign language courses contributes to the cultivation of international talents. The findings indicate that Japan’s internationalization policies emphasize enhancing students’ international competitiveness by improving their foreign language proficiency, particularly in English. Tokyo Institute of Technology has improved students’ foreign language application abilities and international communication skills by offering practical, stratified English courses and adding second foreign language courses aligned with international standards. In contrast, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, considering the characteristics of medical education, emphasizes the language skills and international awareness of medical personnel, providing small class instruction and diverse foreign language courses to enhance students’ professional competencies and international communication abilities. Through specific case analysis, this study reveals the implementation and effectiveness of Japan’s internationalization policies in different types of institutions, providing a reference for the reform of foreign language courses in higher education in China.