Japanese Studies Institute

History

The Japanese Studies Institute was founded on the initiative of the university's management and Japanese partners in 2016 (Order No. 01-08/308 dated 06.06.2016). That year, two bachelor's degree programs were opened – 531500 "Regional Studies" and 600300 "Hospitality"; in 2018, the department of secondary vocational education with the specialty 040101 "Social Work". The educational activities of the Institute are guided by the accepted mission: to train and graduate qualified specialists for the labor markets of Kyrgyzstan and Japan.

Achievements

During the entire period of study, the Institute has attained significant achievements: the number of educational programs has increased, new areas have been opened – 600200 "Tourism", the profile "International Tourism", in the department of secondary vocational education, specialties 040111 "Social Services" and 260502 "Public Catering Production Technology"; the number of partners ready to provide bases for students’ internships and their further employment has increased significantly. Every year, students who have successfully passed an interview with Japanese partners undergo three- to six-month and one-year internships in organizations and companies in their specialty. In addition to internships, the partners provide students with the opportunity to study at educational institutions in Japan. Currently, two students are studying at Iwatani Gakuen Language College as part of academic mobility; in previous years, 5 students were educated at the Fukaya International Language Center, and one student studied at Kansai University for one semester under the University Mobility in Asia and Pacific program.

The faculty of the Institute is continuously working to improve their skills. In addition to domestic courses, seminars, and training sessions, teachers are also trying to gain experience abroad. Under the Japan Foundation program, Japanese language teachers studied Japanese language teaching methodology at Urawa University. The acquired knowledge and experience are successfully applied in the training students at the Institute and yield results: students take part in various international competitions in the Japanese language.

Selkinai Bekova, a Regional Studies student, took the second place in the Benron Taikai competition (public speaking competition), held in the Russian Federation, in Novosibirsk, at the Siberia-Hokkaido Center for Tourism and Twinning Relations.

Owing to the institute's partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, volunteer activities are carried out at the institute on a continuous basis, and volunteers from Japan come to the institute to teach students through this agency. Volunteers carry out educational activities in their field/specialty (tourism, Japanese, social work, food industry). Their activities make a huge contribution to the development of the institute.

The institute regularly hosts meetings with students from Japan (online and offline), where students from both sides can communicate, learn more about each other's history and culture, and finally practice the language they study.

At the moment, the Institute is implementing the following educational programs.

Bachelor's Programs

531500 "Regional Studies", specialty "Regional Studies";

600300 "Hotel Business", specialty "Hotel Service Management Technology";

600200 "Tourism", specialty "International Tourism";

Secondary Vocational Education

040101 "Social Work", qualification "Social Worker";

040111 "Social Service", qualification "Social Assistant";

260502 "Public Catering Production Technology", qualification "Technician/Technologist";

Institute Structure

• Directorate
• Educational Department
• Academic Council, Educational and Methodological Council of the Institute
• Academic staff.

Scientific activity

Scientific activity at the Institute is diverse in accordance with the educational programs being implemented: the Institute conducts scientific research activities in pedagogy, philosophy, history, economics, tourism, and psychology.

Student life

Academic tutorial work at the institute is given special importance. Each academic group is supervised by a teacher assigned to the academic load. In addition to the educational process, the institute also regulates students' leisure time. The Institute has additional interest groups: Art club – a club for fans of manga (Japanese anime) drawing; Taiko drumming club (Japanese drums);

Together with the academic tutors, the students represented by the Student Government of the Japanese Studies Institute consisting of the most active and successful students organise their student life themselves.

Students of the institute actively participate in Startup projects. One of the student's projects on developing travel guides for university applicants won a prize in the university competition.

Volunteers actively participate in the student life of the institute. They regularly hold various events: master classes on Japanese culture (tea ceremonies, master classes on donning yukatas and kimonos, karaoke contests, etc.). In addition to classes timetable, supplementary Japanese language and culture classes are held.

Material and technical facilities

The material and technical facilities of the institute include a classroom fund secured by the rector's office, a resource center for employment and organisation of internships for students, and a laboratory-canteen for students of the specialty " Public Catering Production Technology " is at the equipment stage.

Contacts

Address: Bishkek, 51 Razzakov St.

E-mail: japanstudieskg@mail.ru

The Institute's staff:

Director – Aibek Samarov

Deputy Director – Rakhat Abdraimova

Head of the Secondary Vocational Education Department – Maksatbek Kydyraliev

Head specialist of the Educational Department – Salima Nurlan kyzy

Secondary Vocational Education Department methodologist – Bekzada Madylbekova

The academic staff includes 14 full-time teachers.