National Inter-University Cooperation

Four-University Confederation Charter

On March 15, 2001, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT), and Hitotsubashi University formed a four-university confederation. The guiding principle of the confederation is to establish a research and educational system that meets the challenges of a truly globalized society in the 21st century.

The four-university confederation aims at having the member universities collaborate with each other according to the content of research and educational programs while each member maintains its independence, thereby developing a new type of human resources, a goal that higher education has previously been unable to achieve. It also aims at promoting interdisciplinary and composite-area research and education.

On February 20, 2002, based on the Four-University Confederation Charter, TUFS entered into an agreement with TIT concerning the exchange of undergraduate students taking composite-area courses and graduate students.

Currently, the international technical writing course is offered at both universities. Classes for the medical policy and medical management course (master of medical administration), newly established in the TMDU Graduate School in April 2004, are managed through cooperation among teachers in charge of this course at the graduate schools of the four universities.

National Foreign Studies University Confederation Charter

In June of 2014, TUFS concluded the Foreign Studies University Confederation Charter with the other Foreign Studies Universities across Japan which consists of Kansai Gaidai University, Kanda University of International Studies, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. This charter aims to develop human resources worthy of the global society of the 21st century through the realization of basic principles and the development of each university. We aim to promote cooperation in accordance with the contents of education and research all whilst each participating university keeps their independence.
From hereon, the 7 universities that have the Japanese title of “Gaigo Daigaku” have united and will cooperate to nurture human resources capable of contributing to the world as a member of an international society.

Literary and Science Joint Human Resources Development Program by TUFS, Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Electro-Communications

In order to solve the various issues faced by our global society, cross-disciplinary ideas that go beyond the conventional frameworks of the humanities and sciences are required. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and the University of Electro-Communications, which are located in the western Tokyo area, made use of they being close to each other to launch a cross-disciplinary human resources development program. The program has qualities of the respective specialties of each university: humanities, social sciences, science, engineering, and agriculture. The program is practical and collaborative. This program provides high school students to undergraduate and graduate students with a new collaborative education that transcends the framework of the humanities and sciences.

Consortium for Intercultural Education

This consortium aims to solve the many problems faced by a multilingual/multicultural society by building a network for universities working on multicultural coexistence by making use of each university’s characteristics. In doing so, we hope to build a society where people of differing languages, customs and cultures can live together in harmony.

Hirosaki University, Utsunomiya University, Nagasaki University and TUFS signed the agreement not March 17, 2021. Joint classes will begin from the fall.

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Exchange of Credits among Five Universities in Tama District

This system of exchanging credits is designed to promote mutual exchange among five national universities (TUFS, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, the University of Electro-Communications, and Hitotsubashi University) in the Tama district and improve their respective curriculums.

Credits earned from subjects studied at one of the universities other than TUFS under this system are recognized as equivalent to those granted by TUFS.

Tama Academic Consortium (TAC)

The Tama Academic Consortium (TAC) is a university cooperation organization formed by the the following 6 universities; International Christian University (ICU), Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo Keizai University, Tsuda College, Musashino Art University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

This organization consisting of 6 universities from the Tama district, aims to contribute to the regional society by increasing education and research activity through networking and the mutual cooperation making the most of each university`s specialized fields.

Between the universities that are affiliated with TAC, the exchange of credits, the mutual use of libraries and the exchange of both students teaching staff are being conducted. TUFS became affiliated with TAC as the first national university in November 2013.

Japan Forum for Internationalization of Universities

TUFS is participating in the "Japan Forum for Internationalization of Universities," which is mainly composed of universities that have been selected for the Top Global University (SGU) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). This project will expand horizontally to overseas bases and offices of each university, share entrances to online Japanese language education, and encourage foreign study in Japan. TUFS is now working on the “Collaborative project between university overseas bases and offices through the provision of online Japanese language education”. In this project TUFS will cooperate with various universities in Japan and horizontally expand our business achievements to other universities and share information with each other among universities.

Educational and Research Exchange

TUFS is associated with the following 20 universities and 5 institutions.

Associated Institution Agreement Date of Agreement Period
Seinan Gakuin University Cooperation Agreement between Seinan Gakuin University and TUFS December 16, 2019 2019.12.16~2023.3.31Automatic Renovation
Toyo University Cooperation Agreement between Toyo University and TUFS December 21, 2017 2017.12.21~2020.3.31Automatic Renovation
Aoyama Gakuin University Cooperation Agreement between Aoyama Gakuin University and TUFS November 1, 2017 2017.11.1~2020.3.31Automatic Renovation
National Institution for Youth Education Agreement between the National Institution for Youth Education and TUFS July 11, 2017 2017.7.11~2020.3.31Automatic Renovation
Soka University Cooperation Agreement between Soka University and TUFS March 29, 2017 2017.3.29~2020.3.31Automatic Renovation
Japan External trade Organization Agreement on joint cooperation between JETRO and TUFS July 8, 2016 2016.7.8~2017.3.31Automatic Renovation
International University of Health and Welfare Cooperation Agreement between the International University of Health and Welfare and TUFS February 22, 2016 2016.2.22~2019.3.31
Automatic Renovation
The Japan Foundation Agreement between the Japan Foundation and TUFS February 12, 2016 2016.2.12~2017.3.31
Automatic Renovation
Seisen University Cooperation Agreement between Season University and TUFS December 14, 2015 2015.12.14~2019.3.31
Automatic Renovation
National Institutes for the Humanities Cooperation Agreement between the National Institutes for the Humanities and TUFS November 25, 2015 2019.4.1~2022.3.31
Nagaoka University of Technology Cooperation Agreement between Nagaoka University of Technology and TUFS March 20, 2015 2015.3.20~2019.3.31
Automatic Renovation
Nippon Sport Science University Agreement on joint association between Nippon Sport Science University and TUFS February 18, 2015 2015.2.18~2016.3.31
Automatic Renovation
University of Electro-Communications Cooperation agreement between the University of Electro-Communications and TUFS October 15, 2014 2014.10.15~2019.3.31 Automatic Renovation
Kanda University of International Studies Cooperation and interaction agreement between Kanda University of International Studies and TUFS June 2, 2014 2014.6.2~Until Annulment is requested
Institute of Developing Economies Japan External Trade Organization Cooperation agreement between the Institute of Developing Economies Japan External Trade Organization and TUFS April 1, 2014 2014.4.1~Until Annulment is requested
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies Education and research agreement between Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and TUFS March 13, 2014 2014.3.13~Until Annulment is requested
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Cooperation Agreement between Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and TUFS March 3, 2014 2014.3.3~2019.3.31 Automatic Renovation
Tsuda College Education and research agreement between Tsuda College and TUFS September 21, 2012 2012.9.21~Until Annulment is requested
International Christian University Education and research cooperation agreement between the International Christian University and TUFS April 1, 2009 2009.4.1~Indefinite
Kobe City University of Foreign Studies Education and research interaction agreement between Kobe City University of Foreign Studies and TUFS January 23, 2009 2009.1.23~Until a request is made
Tokyo University of the Arts Education and research interaction agreement between Tokyo University of the Arts and TUFS 2March 15, 2006 2006.3.15~Until a request is made
Ochanomizu University Education and research interaction agreement between Ochanomizu University and TUFS February 4, 2005 2005.2.4~Until a request is made
Tokyo Woman's Christian University Education and research interaction agreement between Tokyo Woman's Christian University and TUFS March 30, 2004 2004.3.30~Until a request is made
Tokyo Metropolitan University Education and research interaction agreement between Tokyo Metropolitan University and TUFS August 29, 2001 2001.8.29~Until a request is made
Reinterpretation of the Education and research interaction agreement between Tokyo Metropolitan University and TUFS March 31, 2006
Chuo University Education and research interaction agreement between Chuo University and TUFS March 22, 2001 2001.3.22~Until a request is made

Credit Exchange System

You can get credits from TUFS while taking certain classes from associated universities. Each university has characteristic history, tradition and educational programs that are unique to each.

Courses Established in Cooperation with Other Organizations

The Graduate School of Global Studies concluded an agreement with the Bank of Japan’s Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies in 2000, and the Japan External Trade Organization’s Institute of Developing Economies in 2003.

In 2006, the Graduate School created courses on Political Systems with the cooperation of JETRO’s Institute of Developing Economies; and courses on the Postwar Japanese Economy Revisited and Thinking about Modern Capitalism with the cooperation of BoJ’s Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies.

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