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Message from Dean, Division of International Affairs

Dean, Division of International Affairs

Founded in 1886 as a law school, Kansai University (KU) is one of the leading universities in Japan with a history spanning some 140 years. Currently, KU has 13 faculties, 13 graduate schools, and two professional graduate schools with approximately 30,000 students across its five campuses. KU's motto is gaku no jitsuge, which means harmony between academia and the real world.

Our campuses offer ample opportunities and activities for students and faculty to immerse themselves in different languages and cultures. We also offer groundbreaking international programs that promote student mobility with our partner universities. For example, the KU Global Frontier Curriculum offers both domestic and international students the opportunity to study content courses in a variety of fields in English. We also offer courses using interactive online collaboration with students at overseas universities. Through these programs, students as well as faculty can engage in an intercultural environment within the university.

KU is also actively committed to sending students to and receiving students from overseas universities. These student exchanges bring more diversity to the campus. In addition, we are significantly increasing the number of courses that encourage domestic students to study together with international students. The experiences gained in these courses contribute greatly to the development of students with diverse perspectives and adaptable ways of thinking.

Our hope is that KU will eventually become so internationalized that there will be no need for a division specifically dedicated to internationalization. That is the goal which we are currently working toward.

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About Division of International Affairs

Division of International Affairs’ Location, Opening Hours and Activities

Location

2nd Floor, Building 1, School 2

Hours

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday

Activities
  • Promotion of exchange and execution of agreements with overseas universities
  • Dispatch of Kansai University researchers to overseas universities and acceptance of overseas researchers to Kansai University
  • Dispatch and acceptance of exchange students based on partnership agreements
  • Dispatch of approved students, and dispatch of approved students to Providence University
  • Setup of recommended school for approved students (midterm foreign language training) and taking care of admission procedures
  • Implementation of overseas language seminars and short-term programs
  • Consultation for studying abroad
  • Provision of information on studying abroad and school events via websites, university handbooks, etc.
  • Services relating to acceptance of foreign students
  • Planning and carrying out of various events and introduction of exchange events hosted by outside organizations
  • Issuance of Division of International Affairs newsletter A Tiny Ripple
  • Implementation of Japanese Language and Culture Program
  • COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) Support

Center for International Education, European Center and Institute for Innovative Global Education (IIGE)

The following two centers and one institute have been set up by the Division of International Affairs as bases for international education and research.

Center for International Education

The Center for International Education provides education services to international students on studying the Japanese language or conducting research in Japan and to Japanese students on studying abroad before and after their stay abroad.

European Center

The Japan-EU Research Center has been established for the purposes of promoting studies on Japan and the EU, facilitating collaborative research and academic exchange for studies on Japan and the EU, and introducing Japanese culture to EU countries.

Institute for Innovative Global Education (IIGE)

IIGE will act as the platform for COIL initiative in Japan for this MEXT project. One of its main goals is to promote exchange between students in Japan and U.S. to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Division of International Affairs Administration

  • Osamu Takeuchi

    Dean, Division of International Affairs
    Vice President
    Director, IIGE
    Professor, Faculty of Foreign Language Studies

  • Mitsuru Inada

    Vice Dean, Division of International Affairs
    Director, Center for International Education
    Professor, Faculty of Engineering Science

  • Toshihiro Sawayama

    Vice-Dean, Division of International Affairs (International Research and Cooperation)
    Director, European Center
    Professor, Division of International Affairs

Office Staff, Full-time Professorial Staff

To answer questions and provide consultation for exchange students

Professor Eiichi Yamamoto

Prof. Yamamoto studied English linguistics at Osaka University of Foreign Studies. He has taught English to undergraduate students and linguistics (especially pragmatics) to graduate students for more than 30 years. He was granted government funding to conduct the "Education GP" project for three years (2008 – 2010). Since then, he has been providing support for prospective students on studying abroad. In the project’s archive, there are more than 200 digital materials for students both within and outside the University to study. He hopes to enable as many students as possible to have cross-cultural experiences and to improve their language skills, making good use of his experience.

To answer questions and provide consultation for exchange students

Professor Keiko Ikeda

After over ten years of living in the United States and Canada, Prof. Ikeda has finally returned to her hometown, Osaka. During her time overseas, she encountered any number of exchange students at the secondary, tertiary and postgraduate levels. She believes that the purpose of overseas study is not merely to get to know the people of and learn about the country where they have gone to study but to have international exchange with those who have also come to study there from all over the world. Language is a tool for them to have rich intercultural communication during their study abroad. She hopes that she can assist everybody at Kansai University in realizing such an experience.

To answer questions and provide consultation for exchange students

Professor Alexander Bennett

Prof. Bennett came to Japan as a secondary school student, and then as an undergraduate student. He developed a keen interest in the traditional martial art of kendo. Through training diligently in this art over many years, he has gained unique insights into Japanese customs, history, and society, and the Japanese language. His motto, "If you don’t sweat in your youth, you will weep in your old age," was passed on to him by his kendo teacher, and has guided him through life in Japan as a non-Japanese. He believes that life goes by far too quickly, and encourages students to seize the moment with a "pioneering spirit," to have "no fear of failure," and to "give it their all." In other words, "sweat in your youth."

For questions and consultation about international cooperation

Professor Toshihiro Sawayama

For international cooperation and to make a contribution at the international level, "learning" is obligatory. By "learning," Prof. Sawayama means the combination of theory with actual accomplishments. The Division of International Affairs offers a wide variety of classes, and opportunities for domestic and international volunteer work. This is not simply for solving global issues, such as the eradication of poverty and environmental problems, but also includes problems Japan faces, such as multiculturalism and an aging population. All of these problems require participation and planning by enthusiastic people with a "cool head, but warm heart."

For questions and consultation about Japanese language learning

Professor Tomoki Furukawa

Having studied Japanese language education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, he has worked in this field at various educational institutions, including local Japanese community centers, Japanese private language schools, and Japanese and Chinese universities. He has met many foreign students, and while it may be somewhat of a cliché, he feels that if students have clear goals, feel positive towards their current environment and circumstances, and enjoy studying abroad, there is a higher possibility of learning. "Failure is the foundation of success." It is his wish that students not be afraid or embarrassed, but rather that they take the initiative and be proactive. He will do all he can to support students so that they can be successful in their "study abroad."

Division of International Affairs Professorial Staff Office Hours

Office hours are specific periods of time by the teaching staff of the Division of International Affairs, are personally available for consultation and answering questions for students.
Please make sure to contact the teaching staff in advance to visit their office. For Pfof. Sawayama, please contact him 2 days before to schedule an appointment.
Office hours are unlocked opportunities for the students. Please feel free and take advantage of using "Office hour".

  • <Consultation for Study Abroad：Outgoing , Incoming>

    Prof. Eiichi YamamotoFriday 13:00 p.m. – 14:30 p.m.
    (Division of International Affairs Office)
    yamamoto@kansai-u.ac.jp

    Prof. Keiko IkedaThursday 12:30 p.m. – 13:30 p.m.
    (Division of International Affairs Office)
    ＊ Online in principle
    keikoike@kansai-u.ac.jp

    Prof. Alexander BennettThursday 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
    (Researchers Office 7F private room)
    alex@kansai-u.ac.jp

  • <Consultation for International Cooperation, International Volunteer>

    Prof. Toshihiro SawayamaWednesday 12:10 p.m. – 13:00 p.m.
    (Researchers Office 2F)
    sawayama@kansai-u.ac.jp

  • <Consultation for Japanese Language Learning> For International students only.

    Prof. Tomoki FurukawaThursday 14:30 p.m. – 16:30 p.m.
    (Division of International Affairs Office)
    furukawa@kansai-u.ac.jp