Relationship of Willamette University and Tokyo International University (TIU)
In 1965, a Japanese educator, Taizo Kaneko, from what is now known as Tokyo International University (TIU), wrote to 50 colleges and universities throughout the United States seeking to establish a partnership with an American higher education institution. His goal for his students in Japan was to create international learning opportunities to live and learn with American students. Of the 35 responses that he received, only Willamette University’s President G. Herbert Smith accepted the invitation, and an official partnership was established. This led to a long-term successful international exchange relationship for students, faculty, and staff.
This visionary relationship was further strengthened and solidified by the establishment of Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) in 1989. The function of TIUA was to offer a 10-month study abroad program for the students of Tokyo International University (TIU). Called the American Studies Program, the academic curriculum of TIUA classes started mid-spring semester as an intensive English language program where students focused on English language skills such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Over the summer, students were able to study content area subjects taught by the faculty of Willamette University with language support provided by TIUA faculty members. By the fall semester, students were eligible to take selected Willamette courses. In addition to academics, students were integrated into Willamette’s campus through residential life and co-curricular programming and activities. In return, the international exchange was also extended to the students of Willamette University for a Japanese Studies Program (JSP) where students can take courses at TIU in Japanese language, culture, and society as their study abroad experience. To immerse the Willamette students into the Japanese culture, participating students in JSP are placed in local homestays with Japanese families.
With the advent of the pandemic in 2020, the American Studies Program at TIUA was halted and was on hiatus for nearly three years. As the world slowly emerged from the health and travel restrictions of the pandemic, the operations and maintenance of ASP were handed over to Willamette University. Willamette relaunched a new version of ASP with a new curriculum design that debuted in Spring 2023. The Willamette program now is a tailored study abroad program for students from TIU that is still located on the TIUA campus.
The mutually enriching international exchange program now runs concurrent to the Willamette academic calendar, with students arriving in the fall semester and joining other new students during Opening Days and all other university events. This partnership continues to be dedicated to bringing fulfilling international educational opportunities not just to the ASP students but to the Willamette University community as a whole through cultural engagement, joint courses, and the enrichment of the intellectual diversity of the the student body.
Contact Information
American Studies Program
Willamette University
900 State St
Salem, OR 97301
Tel: (503) 373-3330
ASP-info@willamette.edu