Courses

Tohoku University
Sendai, Japan

Tohoku University is a Japanese national university located in Sendai City with 10 faculties, 16 graduate schools, 3 professional graduate schools and 5 research institutes with approximately 5,400 faculty and staff and over 18,000 students from the undergraduate to doctoral level.

Ever since Tohoku University was established in 1907 as Japan’s third imperial university, its philosophy has been always “Research First” and maintained “Open-Door” policy for emphasizing “Practice-Oriented Research and Education.” Over the years, the university has offered world-class education to its students and succeeded in carrying out world-class research. Resolved to play a leading role, the university has come to a point in redirecting the future course of development towards three main principles which are “Challenge,” “Creation,” and “Innovation.” At its core, there is a spirit of “Challenge” that motivates its students and researchers to achieve a level of excellence required to build the society of the future.

Considering international cooperation highly important, the university is a member of AERU (Association of East Asian Research Universities), T.I.M.E. (Top Industrial Managers for Europe), GE4 (Global Education for European Engineers and Entrepreneurs) and Global E3 (Global Engineering Education Exchange) and APRU. These approaches have been successful in gaining acknowledgement as a university with distinctive education and internationality in Japan, which lead the university to be selected for various programs initiated by Japanese government.

Website: www.tohoku.ac.jp/english/

Course Offerings for commencement in August/September 2020
Application Closed

Number of Credits	2-4
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	To be Announced
Language of Instruction	Japanese
First Day of Class	Oct 7, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 27, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Wed 0850-1020
First Day of Class	Oct 2, 2020
Last Day of Class	Feb 3, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Fri 1030-1200
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	The program offers Japanese language and culture classes in order to assist students in understanding Japanese language and customs. Students who have attained adequate Japanese proficiency may take advanced Japanese language classes or regular classes with Japanese students.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. SUEMATSU Chiaki
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 5, 2020
Last Day of Class	Feb 1, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Mon 1030-1200
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	This course introduces students to Japanese corporate culture with the history of changes in employment practices. The classes will cover the Japanese Style Management, Bubble Economy, and the Lost 20 Years. How did Japanese companies develop their management style? Why were Japanese manufacturers regarded as the strongest? What caused the Bubble Economy? Why did they have to give up the practices once thought to be essential? Why is Japan still struggling even without the shock of the big earthquake? While answering these questions, the course will emphasize the role of employment practices to illustrate the Japanese culture. Two main objectives of the course are to possess the knowledge of Japanese employment practices and to understand the rationales for changes in the practices for the past 20 years.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. YAMAMOTO Kikue
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 5, 2020
Last Day of Class	Feb 1, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Mon 1440-1610
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	The purpose of this course is for students to learn an overview of Japanese communication behaviors using a comparative approach with other cultures.Through the peer teaching discussion in the beginning of each class, they will learn about the other cultures of their peers as well as Japanese values, and their own culture.It is taught in English and some Japanese.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. YONEZAWA Yukako
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 6, 2020
Last Day of Class	Feb 2, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue 1300-1430
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University. 2 points will be provided for TGL students after completion of the required activities.
Course Description	The purpose of this course is to learn the impact of globalization on society by exploring contemporary issues in Sendai city. The course will provide students with opportunities of interaction with people from different sectors including industry, local governments and the local community. Through the meaningful interaction, students will explore, analyze and discuss issues in Sendai city by comparing those in other regions/countries. The sessions will be conducted mainly in English.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. TAKEUCHI Kamihito
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 7, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 27, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Wed 1300-1430
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	This Program will teach for international students how to work in Japanese companies by the experience of Human Resources General Manager. Japanese students are also welcome. Students can understand the mechanism of hiring of Japanese companies. This is a practical internship preparation program designed for international students before starting internship at the selected companies that operate in Japan. In particular, this program will be designed with careful study and analysis on the working environment focused on the company in Japan. Working in concert with the actual internship program (Career education practice for international students), the goal of this program is not only to master international students' practical working skills but also to create a mutual understanding between the students and companies.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. SHIMMI Yukiko, Prof. WATANABE Rumi
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 7, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 27, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Wed 1300-1430
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University. You are expected to show up to all the classes. 2 points will be provided for TGL students after completion of this course.
Course Description	This course is held in cooperation with the SENDAI Young Entrepreneurs Group (SENDAI YEG), an organization of young entrepreneurs from local companies in Sendai. This course is an international collaborative course; international students and domestic students collaboratively learn through a group project. Students will visit a local company in Sendai, conduct research, and present solutions for a problem of the company. This class aims to be beneficial not only for students and local companies, but also the Sendai community through discussions and group work by international and domestic students that use their diverse perspectives. Through this course, students will be able to have a better understanding of business in Sendai, and to develop employability by enhancing professional competencies such as communication and problem solving skills. Domestic students can improve their English language skills and cross-cultural competency. International students can gain an understanding of Japanese business culture and Sendai's local companies. The language used in this course will be primarily plain English, supplemented by Japanese.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. SUEMATSU Kazuko
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 7, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 27, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Wed 1440-1610
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	Collaborative projects by students with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds are built into the learner-centered lessons where different ways of thinking, values, and working-styles are respected. The intensive interactions across cultures enable students to gain deeper insights into their differences and similarities, reflect on their own cultures and identities, and reconstruct themselves. Leadership and teamwork development is also an important component of this class.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. TAKAHASHI Mino
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 1, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 28, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Thu 1300-1430
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University. If you are absent from more than 3 classes, you will not be able to pass the course.
Course Description	The aim of this course is to apply the knowledge about human rights to analyze various topics, to argue and to write about human rights issues from personal perspectives, and to develop a plan to take action for human rights in reality. We will try to create a classroom environment, where students study with each other and each of our views is heard and taken into consideration. Your active participation in the classroom is expected.
Course Outline	English

Number of Credits	2
Offering Department	General Education
Course Teacher	Prof. WATABE Yuki
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Oct 1, 2020
Last Day of Class	Jan 28, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Thu 1620-1750
Time Zone	Japan Time (UTC+9)
Restrictions	Only open to students from Chulalongkorn University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Oregon, UNSW Sydney and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Course Description	This course will examine the issues of Japanese universities and their students in the process of globalization, from a variety of perspectives ranging from the individual experience to the role of higher education in the larger Japanese society. Discussions based on relevant readings, lectures, and student presentations will be the platform of this course. In addition to classroom discussion, students will explore the lived experience of students in Japanese universities through fieldwork experiences.
Course Outline	English

Course enrollment is subject to final approval from your home university and the course offering university. Please contact the APRU VSE Coordinator of your home university for credit transfer information.

	APRU Virtual Student Exchange Program Central Office The Chinese University of Hong Kong
	Email: [email protected]