"Traditionally, reading was the primary focus in the English curriculum at the University of Tokyo. In order to address the increasing demands for communication skills in the era of globalisation, the university launched an academic writing program for students in the sciences and engineer-ing in 2008, and for students in the arts in 2013. In addition to these writing courses, a spoken fluency course was introduced in 2016, which incorporates discussion and debate. This spoken fluency course is streamed according to students’ abilities, creating a non-threatening environment where learners’ confidence can develop. To examine the impact of the English curriculum in our university, IELTS was introduced in 2013 as a method to measure this progress. This year, the university is promoting IELTS as an evaluation of English language proficiency by covering a portion of the examination fee for 500 students in the College of Arts and Sciences. We are using the IELTS test scores to inform our English curriculum."
University of Tokyo. Associate Professor Yuko Itatsu
"As internationalization progresses, the Faculty of Economics in the Meiji Gakuin University has reviewed English education from its foundation and developed their original curriculum with the British Council. In the department of International Business, all students study abroad during their second year for three to six months. IELTS preparation courses have been held and included in their English education curriculum. IELTS is internationally recognised by universities and is a requirement for students who wish to study in the UK. The IELTS test is also regarded as are liable and accurate method of measuring English skills. This is the reason why Meiji Gakuin University has implemented IELTS. They also introduce IELTS at the orientation upon school entry and compulsory courses during the students’ first and second year. They also hold special preparation courses for IELTS in the summer break. Once the students return to the University after their studies abroad, they take the IELTS test again in order to measure how their English has improved. "
Meiji Gakuin University. Professor Ayako Sato, Associate Professor Joseph Paul Siegel
"Waseda University encourages all students to study abroad while they are in school, and this idea is centred in the university’s internationalisation plans. To attain it, the university arranges a variety of studying abroad programs. In addition, IELTS was introduced in 2015 to meet requirements from foreign universities which helps to develop more study abroad destinations. They are now holding 5 IELTS tests in a year and the Center for International Education also hold courses specialised for the IELTS test as one of their preparation courses. The course is designed to improve all four required English skills with qualified teachers as well as exposure to practical aspects of the test such as the different question styles. A total of 80 students took the IELTS test in 2015, and that was 10% of the 1,000 prospective participants for studying abroad programs. They are holding more examinations in 2016 so that the number of candidates should increase too. "
Waseda University-Professor Masakazu Iino
