dcat
01-29-2007, 03:59 PM
I know two universities here in Japan which have bilateral exchange programs with two universities in the Philippines: they are Osaka University of Foreign Studies (http://www.osaka-gaidai.ac.jp/e-index.html) and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (http://www.tufs.ac.jp/index-e.html). Well, as the name suggests these programs will accept Filipino students from partner universities in the Philippines and let them study at the host universities here in Japan. In “exchange,” universities in the Philippines will accept Japanese students at their campus for the same period. These international exchange programs normally last for a year or shorter, and although exchange programs do not normally award degrees, it has two very good advantages: students could test the water and see if they like studying abroad; and second since the course load for this programs is normally not that demanding they could easily focus on studying the language of their host country.
Ateneo de Manila University (http://www.admu.edu.ph/) and University of the Philippines (http://www.upd.edu.ph/) have such agreements with the two Japanese universities mentioned above, and they send Filipino students every year to study here in the Philippines. Osaka Gaidai and Tokyo Gaidai, as they are normally called, are the two most prestigious universities for world language studies in Japan. International studies is also one of their specialties. In fact both universities teach Tagalog or Filipino Language as a major to Japanese students. I know many Tagalog major Japanese students studying in the Tagalog department who could speak to me fluently in our native tongue. I think this is the foremost reason why these universities build these exchange institution: because they want to provide their students the opportunities to widen the possibilities of studying languages and cultures by actually sending them to different countries and directly experience their “studies.”
Filipinos too could take advantage of this explosion in international cooperation, particularly in international bilateral university exchange programs. There must be other exchange programs out there, but unfortunately I am just aware of two. Nowadays students also pick their universities according to international opportunities the universities provide to their students. In the Philippines, only very few students know about these exchange students agreements, so it would be very good if they become aware of these opportunities. The downside is that only students of the above mentioned Philippine universities are eligible for application, still it is better than nothing.
Normally, tuition fees for both exchange students are waived, but students are asked to cover their living expenses in their respective host country. However, since many Filipino students cannot afford living expenses here in Japan, the Japanese universities even give aids to Filipino exchange students when they come here so that the exchange agreements would be possible. The amount of aid as I currently know is around 70,000 to 80,000 yen per month within a year. All the Filipino exchange students I know who come to Japan every year receive this aid, although there might be someone who does not. The universities normally provide them with inexpensive but comfortable lodgings. And there are opportunities to work part-time to add to their monthly living funds.
I don’t know so much on what happens to Japanese exchange students sent to the Philippines, but I sometimes hear their stories and I got the impression that they manage pretty well. :D
So, for students of the two universities in the Philippines, I hope that they would take this great opportunity, and apply for exchange student here in Japan. It’s an invaluable chance to personally experience what it is to be in Japan, to study the Japanese language intensively, and enjoy the many crazy activities of foreign students here in Japan. Interested students should ask their respective offices on how to apply for ISEPTUFS (http://www.tufs.ac.jp/common/is/ryugakusei/eng/index.html) and Maple Program of Osaka University of Foreign Studies (http://www.osaka-gaidai.ac.jp/e-exchange.html).;)
Ateneo de Manila University (http://www.admu.edu.ph/) and University of the Philippines (http://www.upd.edu.ph/) have such agreements with the two Japanese universities mentioned above, and they send Filipino students every year to study here in the Philippines. Osaka Gaidai and Tokyo Gaidai, as they are normally called, are the two most prestigious universities for world language studies in Japan. International studies is also one of their specialties. In fact both universities teach Tagalog or Filipino Language as a major to Japanese students. I know many Tagalog major Japanese students studying in the Tagalog department who could speak to me fluently in our native tongue. I think this is the foremost reason why these universities build these exchange institution: because they want to provide their students the opportunities to widen the possibilities of studying languages and cultures by actually sending them to different countries and directly experience their “studies.”
Filipinos too could take advantage of this explosion in international cooperation, particularly in international bilateral university exchange programs. There must be other exchange programs out there, but unfortunately I am just aware of two. Nowadays students also pick their universities according to international opportunities the universities provide to their students. In the Philippines, only very few students know about these exchange students agreements, so it would be very good if they become aware of these opportunities. The downside is that only students of the above mentioned Philippine universities are eligible for application, still it is better than nothing.
Normally, tuition fees for both exchange students are waived, but students are asked to cover their living expenses in their respective host country. However, since many Filipino students cannot afford living expenses here in Japan, the Japanese universities even give aids to Filipino exchange students when they come here so that the exchange agreements would be possible. The amount of aid as I currently know is around 70,000 to 80,000 yen per month within a year. All the Filipino exchange students I know who come to Japan every year receive this aid, although there might be someone who does not. The universities normally provide them with inexpensive but comfortable lodgings. And there are opportunities to work part-time to add to their monthly living funds.
I don’t know so much on what happens to Japanese exchange students sent to the Philippines, but I sometimes hear their stories and I got the impression that they manage pretty well. :D
So, for students of the two universities in the Philippines, I hope that they would take this great opportunity, and apply for exchange student here in Japan. It’s an invaluable chance to personally experience what it is to be in Japan, to study the Japanese language intensively, and enjoy the many crazy activities of foreign students here in Japan. Interested students should ask their respective offices on how to apply for ISEPTUFS (http://www.tufs.ac.jp/common/is/ryugakusei/eng/index.html) and Maple Program of Osaka University of Foreign Studies (http://www.osaka-gaidai.ac.jp/e-exchange.html).;)