Volume 04, Number 17

Business

Silver Celebrations
Twenty five years of international education at Temple University, Japan Campus.

Established in June 1982, Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), became the first campus of an American university on Japanese soil. Dean, Kirk Patterson admits, “the conventional wisdom of the time was that America should be learning from Japan, not the reverse” and the whole initiative was, to some people, thought to be “foolhardy”. However, this year, as TUJ celebrates its milestone 25th year in Japan, Patterson can proudly protest, “it was a farsighted and inspired move”.

With almost 3,000 students from Japan, the United States, and around the world, TUJ offers a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs and strives to be widely known and highly regarded as the leader and innovator in blending the American educational tradition with a global intellectual perspective. Being officially recognized as a Foreign University, Japan Campus, by Japan's Ministry of Education in February 2005 was a notable milestone in TUJ's history and proves their determination to achieve their vision of being the first choice for students who seek a truly international education.

Patterson reflects on the past 25 years' accomplishments stating “we are most proud of having laid the foundation for an institution that will make a meaningful, enduring contribution to our students and to our community for many decades to come”.

25th Anniversary Logo Competition

To mark the occasion students at TUJ were invited to submit entries for a 25th anniversary logo in the spring of 2007. TUJ's art major David Wang's winning design was chosen from 26 entrants and is sure to be highly visible during the six-month celebration.

Events:
To celebrate this milestone TUJ will be hosting the following series of events through the end of the year. See www.tuj.ac.jp for more details.

• Oct. 5 Change Management in Global Organization: The Case of Japan
  Venue: Tokyo American Club. Time: 4pm.
  An interactive discussion focusing on innovative ways for foreign companies to implement change within Japan's tradition- bound business culture. Panelists will be senior executives with direct experience in implementing change in Japan. Dr. James Portwood, who has extensive experience coaching and consulting with executives in the US, Europe and Japan, will moderate.


• Nov. 10 The 25th Anniversary Symposium “International Education in Japan—A Concept in Search of Substance”
  Venue: Roppongi Academy Hills. Time: 1:30pm–6pm.
  Despite accelerating globalization and much talk about “international education,” domestic perspectives and agendas still dominate education in most countries, including Japan. This symposium will therefore discuss what is meant by international education in the Japanese context and then consider the role that international education can play in Japan's future development. Two keynote speakers will look at macro-level issues and then simultaneous break-out sessions will focus on international education at the university level and on Englishlanguage education for children.
  Keynote speakers: Dr. Gavan McCormack, emeritus professor in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University Ms. Sakie T. Fukushima, Regional Managing Director, Korn/Ferry International.


• Nov. 17–18 Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ) Annual conference
  Venue: Temple University.
  TUJ's Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies (ICJS) will host the 10th annual conference of Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ). The 2007 AJJ conference invited proposals that offer critical discussions of the intersections of power in the ongoing construction of identities and negotiation of relationships in contemporary Japanese society. The keynote speaker will be Roger Goodman, Nissan Professor of Modern Japanese Studies at the University of Oxford, who will give a special presentation about “The Changing Nature of Power, Self-Identities and Relationships in Japanese Higher Education.”


• Nov. 17 Urban Regeneration, Sustainability and Economic
  Development: An International Dialogue
  Venue: Shinsei Bank Hall. Time: 10am–5pm
  Cities across the world are now being recognized as engines of economic growth and regeneration for their countries. Cities are also competing for investments and businesses that can keep them vibrant and competitive, as well as dealing with issues of environmental sustainability. This conference brings together experts from around the world, from developed as well as developing countries, to share strategies and lessons on this theme. Featured speakers include Jockin Arputham, Fred Clark, Mitsuru Senda, and Zheng Shiling.


• Dec. 5–6 Legal Risks and Obstacles Facing Japanese Companies
  Doing Business in the United States—A Primer for
  Japanese Legal Staff and Lawyers Responsible for Managing
  American Litigation
  Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus (Mita Hall).
  Time: 6:30pm.
  A conference to be held over two evenings presented by Temple Law School and the American Bar Association discussing the many obstacles facing Japanese companies doing business in the United States. Panelists of attorneys from the United States will discuss various legal issues relating to the formation of US subsidiaries, including employment and management practices, litigation strategies, and legal ethics. (US-qualified attorneys can receive MCLE credit, including ethics credit, for attending the conference.)