Waseda, a global driving force that continues to contribute to the world —The 10-Year Trajectory of the Waseda Ocean Concept
Waseda University aims to accelerate the achievement of the goals of Waseda Vision 150, a medium- to long-term plan for the university’s 150th anniversary, opening the university to the world. In 2014, Waseda was selected as a top model of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Top Global University (TGU) Project. We will introduce the achievements of our university over the 10-year period of this project.
We hope that by viewing the trajectory of this project at our university, we can inform you of the status of our university's reforms and help those involved in universities to promote internationalization.
Accomplishments
WASEDA’S TGU PROJECT, 10 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS
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1
Develop education and research programs to solve global challenges and innovate the future
We worked to disseminate knowledge about education and research systems and governance reform throughout the university through measures by model units, and to build a human resource development system that utilizes an education and research network with universities around the world.
- Proactive reforms involving model units rolled out across and entrenched in the university
- Developing university-wide programs for addressing worldwide issues
- Expediting the circulation of international understanding
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2
Globalize education and research programs
We worked on the construction of an educational system with an international interface with the world’s leading universities, as well as measures and reforms to attract diverse and excellent students from around the world.
- Increasing students’ international mobility
- Attracting talented students from abroad
- Producing alumni equipped for global leadership
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3
Fundamentally reform the faculty recruitment system and university governance
We established a system to widely recruit faculty members who meet global standards from all over the world, drastically reformed governance to align authority and responsibility within the organization, and established a financial structure that allows continued investment in education and research even after the end of the project.
- Attracting top teaching talent from around the world
- Enabling better and bolder decision-making
- Securing the funding to drive forward reforms
Our Seven Global Units
OUTCOMES OF MODEL UNITS
Under the Waseda Ocean Initiative, we have selected seven internationally competitive research fields as model units, made proactive and strategic intensive investments, and promoted the improvement of our international presence in each research field. We will introduce the achievements of each model unit over the past 10 years.
Data
WASEDA’S TGU PROJECT IN NUMBERS
422→867
Number of inter-university partnership
We have used inter-university partnerships to send our students abroad and take in students from around the world. In AY 2015, we had partnerships with 422 institutions in 79 countries; we have partnerships with 867 institutions in 91 countries in AY 2023. These partnerships benefit students as we can provide them with programs that suit their particular needs by creating more options for studying abroad. They also benefit Waseda as we create a more diverse and stimulating campus by accepting more talented international students from partner institutions.
142→239
Number of international teaching staff
We have disseminated a university-wide recruitment policy and actively recruited international teaching staff. Consequently, we have taken on 239 international teaching staff, exceeding the final target of 222. Developing a globally compatible education and world-class research has created ripple benefits for Waseda’s internationalization, such as bringing in fresh ideas and perspectives.
2,661→ 4,209
Number of students attending an English-language degree program
We have increased the English-language degree programs. At the start of the project, English-language degree programs were available in six undergraduate and 11 graduate schools. As of AY 2023, English-language degree programs are now provided in seven undergraduate and 16 graduate schools, with 4,209 students enrolled—a huge increase compared to the figure of 2,661 in AY 2013. Of the 4,209 students, 3,613 are international students, meaning that the project has contributed significantly to Waseda’s internationalization.
#24
QS World University Rankings 2024 Employer Reputation
One of the metrics used in the QS World University Rankings 2024 (released June 2023) is employer reputation, which measures employability of the university’s alumni. In this metric, Waseda stands in 24th place. We are ascending in the ranks year by year. We regard this increase in rank as a testament to the success of our efforts to attract talented students and provide a learning environment that equips them for global leadership at the highest level.
0 → over300
Number of researchers appointed under the joint appointment system and visiting faculty system
We have actively used the joint appointment system (JA) and visiting faculty system (VFS) to invite talented researchers in each of the research fields from around the world and thus actively promote international joint instruction for students and international joint research with Waseda’s faculty. Consequently, over the last 10 years, the project has appointed over 300 researchers under the JA and VFS. The JA and VFS researchers engaged in international joint education, fostering trusting relationships with overseas institutions and leading to cooperation programs among undergraduate departments and among graduate schools.
10.2 → 17Billion Yen
Amount of external research funding
We have obtained a variety of external research funds, including scientific research funds, which form the basis for research in order to develop a research promotion system that does not depend on tuition fees. Our efforts over the past 10 years meant that we managed to raise our annual external research funding from 10.2 billion yen in AY 2013 to 17 billion yen in AY 2023, which is far exceeding our target. The external funds will be allocated to building organizational infrastructure for research, with the outcomes of research being fed back into education.
Videos
WATCH OUR TGU PROJECTS IN ACTION
Our university has created many videos related to the TGU project. These videos can be viewed on Waseda Open Learning, which publishes educational videos from Waseda University. Please search “Top Global University (TGU)”.
Moving Forward
WASEDA’S TGU PROJECT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP
Waseda University will continue to promote the improvement of our international presence by securing our own financial resources after the project period ends. The accomplishments of the project have become firmly fixed within the university, and developmental initiatives, such as the establishment of a school-wide graduate minor including the fields of our seven global units, have been created.
Waseda University will carry on the project to further improve the quality of education and research, and to strengthen the financial structure and governance that support it, in order to become a world leader and a university that continues to contribute to the world.