UNAIR NEWS – For centuries, Japan has been one of the most influential countries in the world. The nation, known as the Land of the Rising Sun, has been at the forefront of various innovations in technology, business, and education.

Universitas Airlangga is the only university in Indonesia that offers a Japanese Studies program. Under the Faculty of Humanities, this program provides a diverse range of high-quality educational opportunities

Maintaining consistency
Head Department of Japanese Studies Nunuk Endah Sri Mulyani SS MA Ph.D. stated that the program has been focused on Japanese Studies from the beginning, encompassing regional studies and offering quality learning opportunities.

“The consistency of the program is proven by its international collaborations, including partnerships with the Japanese Embassy through the Consulate General of Japan. The program frequently hosts guest lectures and offers opportunities to join international classes. This study program also participates in international conferences and consistently enhances its publications with international colleagues,” she said.

The learning activities are conducted with a fun approach, one of which is through study clubs. Every year, at least two native speakers come to assist students in delving deeper into Japanese knowledge.

“We organize an annual event called Japanese World, the largest Japanese-themed event in East Java, attended by around seven thousand visitors. The students manage this event. We balance academic skills with managerial skills, networking, and even public speaking,” she said.

Research and networking
The program establishes a research culture across various scopes, ranging from linguistics, cultural studies, to literature. The curriculum is language-based, with optional courses taught directly by Ph.D.-level lecturers in those fields. Courses include gender studies, Japanese Thought studies, and Indonesian-Japan relations, which are beyond practical optional courses. Those usually bring in practitioners from various Japanese companies as guest lecturers.

The Japanese Studies program offers extensive networking opportunities through various associations such as the Association of Japanese Language Education, the Japanese-Indonesian Literature Association, and the Japanese-Indonesian Studies Association. Additionally, there are over 40 long-standing partners affiliated with the program, including renowned institutions like Osaka University, Hiroshima University, Iwabe University, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, and Kumamoto University.

Collaboration in the Japanese Studies program also includes inbound student exchanges and joint projects. Additionally, there are various fully funded and partially funded scholarship opportunities for studying abroad. The program also offers internship placements that allow students to interact with local communities, enhancing their communication skills and cultural understanding.

Various internship and student exchange activities in the program can be converted into up to 20 credit points. Students need not worry about falling behind in their coursework while expanding their networks. Despite offering numerous internship and exchange opportunities, participation in these is not a graduation requirement in this program.

“Graduates of this program often find swift employment opportunities, especially those who have participated in internships and student exchanges. Their career prospects span various fields, including entrepreneurship, translation, industry, and managerial roles,” Nunuk said.

In 2022, the Japanese Studies program has achieved FIBAA accreditation. In 2024, the program will be renamed to Japanese Language and Literature, maintaining its quality while offering a more comprehensive study approach.

Author: Ilma Arrafi Nafi’a

Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia

Source : unair.ac.id/en/research-consistency-and-vast-network-get-to-know-unair-japanese-studies-major