JICUF VP Presents at the Asia-Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE) Conference in Hong Kong
On February 25, JICUF Vice President Aki Takada attended the Asia Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE) conference in Hong Kong and spoke on a panel on “Partnerships for the Global Good: Expanding Opportunity for At-Risk Students and Scholars,” hosted by the Institute for International Education.
JICUF Receives Grant from the United States-Japan Foundation to Support Afghan Youth
JICUF is pleased to share that we have received a generous grant from the United States-Japan Foundation to support our work to provide educational opportunities in Japan for Afghan youth. The $160,000 two-year grant will enable JICUF and Pathways Japan, our partner organization in Tokyo, to provide scholarships to primarily female students who have lost access to education under the Taliban regime. The students will receive two years of intensive Japanese language training at partner language school and we will also help to support their transition to higher education and/or employment. This grant was featured on the US-Japan Foundation’s web news. Read the article here.Photo: Orientation for the Japanese Language […]
“with Planet” publishes an article by JICUF Vice President Aki Takada
with Planet, the global issues platform of The Asahi Shimbun, has published an article by Aki Takada, Vice President of JICUF and a leading advocate for refugee access to higher education.Titled “Why Universities Should Open Their Doors to Refugee Students,” the article highlights the urgent global refugee education crisis and explores how Japanese universities can play a meaningful role. It also introduces JICUF’s efforts to expand higher education opportunities for refugee students.Today, more than 123 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes, and approximately 40% are children. Many of them are deprived of access to education. Aki’s article sheds light on these realities and calls […]
JICUF Hosts the 4th ICU Student Weekend in New York
JICUF held the fourth annual ICU Student Weekend in New York from Friday, January 9 to Sunday, January 11. The event invites ICU students who are studying abroad at universities in North America and Europe through exchange programs to gather in New York. JICUF covered the hotel expenses and the New Year’s party, while students paid for their own travel. This year, a total of 19 students came together in New York from California, Washington, Vermont, and New Jersey in the United States, as well as from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Iceland.Most students arrived in New York on Thursday, the 8th. The following afternoon, everyone gathered for a meeting […]
Othmer Research Fellows Showcase Their Research on the ICU Campus
The inaugural year of the Othmer Research Fellowship culminated in early December 2025 with research presentations and posters displayed on the ICU campus. On Monday, December 8, and Tuesday, December 9, Othmer Research Fellows presented their work across two sessions, with four fellows presenting on Monday and nine on Tuesday.The fellows’ presentations reflected research spanning multiple disciplines, embodying the Fellowship program’s goal of supporting researchers’ academic interests. In attendance were students, faculty, supporters, and funders. Fellows gained valuable experience in communicating their research findings to diverse audiences. At the conclusion of their presentations, fellows received certificates of completion from President and CEO Paul Hastings. Fellows also created research posters that were […]
A December Visit to Japan: Reflections on Impact, Community and Partnership
In early December, I traveled to Japan for a ten-day visit to International Christian University (ICU), with additional meetings in Tokyo and Tochigi Prefecture. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen relationships across the ICU community and to deepen JICUF’s longstanding partnership with the university. Throughout my time on campus, I met with students, faculty, staff, and members of ICU’s leadership. These conversations—both formal and informal—created space to reflect together on the values that undergird both ICU and JICUF: a shared commitment to liberal arts education, thoughtful engagement with the world, and the belief that learning carries with it a responsibility to contribute to the common good. One especially […]
The Second JICUF International Day Held at the ICU Festival
JICUF Japan Office hosted its second International Day at the ICU Festival on October 12 and 13. Following the success of last year’s International Day, this event brought together participants from the following 11 countries: Syria, Ukraine, Myanmar, India, Russia, the United States, Singapore, China, Thailand, Venezuela, and Japan. Each country had a booth, and ICU students and faculty members introduced their home country’s unique cultural heritage and offered traditional games and activities that visitors could participate in, along with samples of traditional foods and beverages. The event welcomed approximately 550 visitors over the two days. Here are some comments from participating international students: “I was happy to talk with […]
JICUF Organizes Outdoor Education Program for ICU and Refugee Students
JICUF hosted a three-day camping trip at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture in late August for a group of ICU students and students with refugee backgrounds. The trip was planned in coordination with Masao Higashiyama, a Health and Physical Education instructor at ICU.The camping trip was attended by 23 students studying at ICU, Japan Education Pathways (JEP) partner universities and Japanese Language Pathways Schools. It was a great opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to get to know each other and enjoy time in nature.
Two USSI Scholars Graduated from ICU This Summer-Julia
JICUF launched the United States Scholars Initiative (USSI) in 2018 to increase the number of degree-seeking undergraduate students from the US at ICU. For the last five years, we have aimed to recruit two US students with excellent academic standing and cover their full tuition for four years. The first two recipients graduated in the summer of 2023. This June, another two USSI scholars, Ms. Julia Yamaguchi and Ms. Myra Lotus Shikimachi-Stickney, completed their studies at ICU. We interviewed Julia and Myra about their memories at ICU and their future aspirations. This page features an essay by Julia. You can find Myra’s interview article here.
Research Activities Presentation held by the Student Instructors from the LPF
On June 25, 2025, a presentation on the educational practices of Student Instructors (SI) in the Language Program for Faculty (LPF) was held in the conference room on the second floor of Dialogue House. JICUF supports this program through its faculty grant. Here is a report by Assistant Professor Sunyoung Chun.