International Activities

AIKOM(Short-term Student Exchange Program)

The University of Tokyo began a short-term academic program in October, 1995, to promote the exchange of undergraduate students between its Komaba Campus and partner universities throughout the world. The program, AIKOM ("Abroad in Komaba"), is operated under a formal short-term exchange agreement, which stipulates mutual tuition waivers and credit transfer. To enable students with diverse majors to participate in the AIKOM program at Komaba, no prior knowledge of Japan or the Japanese language is required. Courses offered in English include special "relay" lectures and discussion seminars on the dynamics of Japanese culture, society, and political economy, as well as courses devoted to specific subjects such as literature and history. In addition to these special AIKOM courses, students who are proficient in Japanese are free to take the regular courses offered by the College's Senior Division (Departments of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, Area Studies, and Social and International Relations). Elementary, intermediate, and advanced courses in the Japanese language are also provided. At present, the AIKOM program welcomes 25 students from 21 universities world-wide, and sends approximately the same number of University of Tokyo students abroad.