Japanese universities launch teacher and language instructor training initiatives

Japanese universities are launching initiatives to address educational staffing and language instruction needs. Tokyo Gakugei University, in collaboration with Kobe Shinwa University and Teach for Japan, has announced a recruitment drive for its recurrent education program designed to develop teachers and educational support personnel. The program is open to individuals regardless of whether they hold a teaching license and offers two tracks: one involving field training and another consisting of online, on-demand lectures.

Separately, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and the University of Tsukuba are expanding a network aimed at training and securing Japanese language instructors. This initiative, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, seeks to build a collaborative network across the Kanto and Koshinetsu regions involving universities, local governments, and private companies to improve the quality of Japanese language education amid a rising number of foreign residents.