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Professor Masakazu Iino,\u00a0Dean, Center for International Education
After graduating from Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics, Professor Iino worked for the Bank of Japan. He holds masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He was an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles, and J.F. Oberlin University prior to becoming professor at Waseda’s School of Political Science and Economics. Currently, he is a professor at the Faculty of International Research and Education, teaching at both the School of International Liberal Studies and Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies. He specializes in sociolinguistics.<\/p><\/div>\n
Waseda University Study Abroad Network \u2013 high in numbers and quality<\/h3>\nUnder Waseda Vision 150, what is the objective of expanding study abroad programs? How does CIE plan to do this?<\/h6>\n
Waseda Vision 150 intends Waseda University students to become ambitious individuals who make contributions in our global society. The global leaders we envision will not only reach new heights on the world stage but support regional communities with a global perspective as well.<\/p>\n
To realize Waseda Vision 150, we aspire to have all Waseda University students study abroad, in comparison to the 2,541 students who went abroad in the year 2012. Our study abroad plan focuses on both quality and quantity.<\/p>\n
In terms of quantity, we have agreements with over 600 universities and institutions worldwide, the largest study abroad network in Japan. Within this network, students can select from a wide range of programs according to their needs, based on language fluency level and their goals.<\/p>\n
To assure\u00a0high quality, we are increasing the number of exchanges with top universities abroad, including Peking University, Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Columbia University (USA), National University of Singapore, Oxford University (UK), and Paris Institute of Political Studies.<\/p>\n
To become an active speaker, not just a learner of language<\/h3>\nWhy should students study abroad?<\/h6>\n
Compared to the times of Japanese missions going to Sui China and Tang China, studying abroad has become a much more familiar\u00a0reality. If anyone should ask if studying abroad is worth the\u00a0money and time, my answer is absolutely yes. I believe there is no more\u00a0beneficial investment towards the future of university students.<\/p>\n
Especially for those Japanese students who have lived in a materialistically and socioeconomically affluent comfort zone, they will face challenges and conflict when immersing themselves in a different\u00a0cultural environment. They will be forced to question their norms and overcome obstacles that come their way, helping students change dramatically for the better.<\/p>\n
In addition, non-English-speaking countries are a growing\u00a0presence in business and academia recently. What is required of leaders from those countries is to speak English with confidence, not necessarily with a good accent, pronunciation, or\u00a0grammar. We need to be good English speakers, not learners. As a matter of fact, successful businesspersons from non-English countries do not speak perfectly according to the standards of native speakers, but they can boldly convey their thoughts and ideas.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, English education in Japan overly emphasizes speaking like a native. I want Waseda students to let go of this common notion and encourage them to have vitality and communication skills to\u00a0converse with people from all backgrounds on equal footing.<\/p>\n
What kind of struggles did you have when you studied abroad?<\/h6>\n
I studied abroad for the first time when I was in high school. I stayed in Texas in the United States for a year. Because I lived in a conservative, devoutly Christian area, everyone in the family except me went to church on the weekend.<\/p>\n
What I remember most from this experience was the humble lifestyle of middle-class American families paying off loans. Japan at the time was disillusioned by the image of the United States as a superpower, so I learned a lot from the gap between this image and the reality in front of me. My research focus\u00a0today is related to this experience.<\/p>\n