Establishment of the International Education Center

Purpose

Japanese society is undergoing major changes due to a rapidly declining population, stemming from a falling birthrate and an aging population, while also addressing the advancement of globalization. Universities, to respond to these challenges, are expected to develop human resources who can respond to the "Society 5.0" era, where the integration of both the virtual and physical space will lead to an economically stable and socially advanced human-centric society. Iwate University's primary mission is to transform Iwate, a region that often experiences challenges before other prefectures, into a sustainable society with a strong connection with the international community through the development of human resources.

The International Education Center is a cross-departmental and inter-grade educational organization that takes a global approach to address and solve local issues through the cultivation of awareness and development of knowledge and skills of all students. Their mission is to provide education that contributes to the improvement of interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge utilization, which are strongly desired fundamental skills for a member of society. The center also aids in the development of language skills, both in classes and outside of the curriculum, that would be difficult for faculty or graduate schools to individually implement.

To achieve their mission, the International Education Center will build a global education curriculum map and implement comprehensive international education, spanning from enrollment to graduation or completion.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Planning and management of language skill development programs
(1) English education
(2) Japanese education
(3) Foreign language education (other than English)

2. Planning and management of the Global Fundamentals Development Program
(1) Global Village activities
(2) IHATOVO Global Course / Global Mileage System
(3) International Education Subjects (International Liberal Arts Education, Joint Education)

3. Planning and management of programs to develop global responsiveness
(1) Practical education for solving local issues
(2) Study abroad support (dispatch and acceptance)