Japan’s top varsities target UAE students

Representatives from four of Japan’s leading universities, including Ritsumeikan University, Tokai University, Waseda University and Ochanomizu University, are set to entice the UAE’s brightest students to enrol in their institutions when exhibiting at the Japan Pavilion at this year’s Najah Abu Dhabi higher education event to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from 25 -27 October, 2016.

The Japanese higher-education promotional initiative is spearheaded by JICE (Japan International Cooperation Center), which encourages Emirati students to study in Japan.

JICE offers opportunities for UAE students and their families to directly engage with representatives from institutions with a myriad of technological, medical, commercial and humanity courses, coupled with the opportunities of experiencing Japan’s unique culture and lifestyle.

It will be the 4th time for JICE to participate at Najah – the UAE’s leading higher education event.

This year Ochanomizu University, Japan’s oldest and most acclaimed women’s university, will be participating at Najah for the first time, aiming to outreach to the UAE’s female student community.

Tokuya Kanamori, Representative, JICE Abu Dhabi Office, said: “We are excited to introduce these leading Japanese universities to students in the UAE. Their academic standard is high and well recognised, and they are welcoming international students from around the world. Ritsumeikan University, Tokai University and Waseda University have a history of receiving a number of UAE students and offer a variety of courses in both English and Japanese. For female students, and their parents, who wish to further their academic pursuits amongst an all-female student body, Ochanomizu University is an exceptional choice. In addition to the provision of excellence in education, international students from the UAE will also gain a unique educational and social experience by living within the Japanese culture and communities. These experiences, we believe, provide them with a unique professional and social edge compared to their peers.”

In addition to the four universities slated to attend the event, visiting students and their families will also be able to inquire and receive information about other Japanese universities both from the JICE representative in attendance at Najah, and also directly from members of JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization).

International students at Japan’s educational institutions have been increasing year on year, with the latest statistics showing a total of 208,379 students from around the world choosing to study in Japan in 2015; an increase of 13.2% compared to the number of international students in 2014. Among these, students heralding from the Middle East numbered 1,632 in 2015 with an increase of 12.6%.