Centers Within the University

The International Programs Office is responsible for the formulation of the international exchange policies for the undergraduate faculties of Bunkyo Gakuin University and Bunkyo Gakuin College and also for the coordination of the international exchange activities between undergraduate faculties. In addition, the office is responsible for promoting learning and cultural exchanges between Bunkyo Gakuin University and many other institutions of learning and education overseas. In order to further enhance education and research, the undergraduate faculties of Bunkyo Gakuin University and Bunkyo Gakuin College have established an International Exchange Committee, which is responsible for the following duties:

The College of Saint Benedict, / St. John’s University (Minnesota, U.S.)

This university, located in the state of Minnesota, specializes in the liberal arts and has outstanding facilities. It offers a diverse range of fine arts courses and offers courses in unique specialties, such as Peace Studies. The university is situated in a natural setting and provides a safe environment.

URL:http://www.csbsju.edu/

La Trobe University Language Centre (Melbourne, Australia)

The Language Centre was established in 1974. Every year the center welcomes several thousand students from around the world to participate in its English language courses.

URL:http://www.latrobe.edu.au/language/

This center engages mainly in examination and research of English language learning and teaching methods and in practical language guidance. In particular, the following activities are being implemented: development of supplementary educational materials and alternative educational materials for English language guidance based on the “three-round system” which is the educational theory and teaching method on with the Faculty of Foreign Studies bases its teaching; research into effective utilization techniques for CALL educational materials;
and PR activities inside and outside the university about
the results of research.

The Child Language Education Center provides an environment in which children from 3 to 12 years of age can study English. The center is also used as a facility for practical training for students seeking to try out the skills they learn in the English Education Course at the university. This center provides advice to students who would like to teach children in the future.

The center provides advice and support activities concerning copyright issues pertaining to the computer contents produced by or conceived of by students and teachers, and also offers support for the education of computer contents producers at the university. In addition, the aim of the center is to contribute to improving Intellectual Property-related education.

This is a practical training center affiliated with the School of Human Studies of the Graduate Division. It engages in clinical training of graduate students who are participating in the Course in Clinical Psychology. Through counseling based on clinical psychology the center aims to contribute to the local community. These services are offered to various people in the community who pay a fee and schedule an appointment.

“Furatto Bunkyo” engages mainly in efforts to support childcare and parenting through research and development of educational programs. It is expanding its programs throughout local communities. Parents from the community come to the center for advice and the center also functions as a forum for communication among parents. The students also have an opportunity to interact with parents and children at the center. The students gain hands-on educational experience and deepen their understanding about the realities of being a childcare provider. In addition by listening to the worries and joys of parents on the issue of child-raising the students gain useful insights that will help them as they become the next generation of parents.

BICS collects and provides information on volunteer activities and provides various services linking people and students in the community who want to engage in volunteer activities with other people in the community who require welfare services. Students interact with people in the community and this connects the theory they learn in the classroom to real life experiences. Through such actions, not only do students heighten their practical skills, they also can experience personal growth and development and contribute to community vitalization.

The Clinical Psychology and Welfare Center is an affiliated facility of Bunkyo Gakuin University that offers a variety of expert advice and assistance programs provided by university teachers and staff to people in the community. These services include parenting advice on general child-raising issues, educational advice on such issues as late development in children, and advice on listening and talking to children to promote speech.

Complete with computer facilities that enable research into environmental problems on a local and global scale and an extensive collection of environmental publications and devices, the Center for Environmental Education and Research vigorously supports full-fledged learning and research. In an effort to contribute to the development of a sustainable society, the center is advancing a variety of community action programs. The programs focus on issues including solving the refuse material, problem researching biotopes, re-invigorating and cooperating with civic activities, and fostering a better living environment for all.

The Hongo Library spans four floors. The collection includes approximately 144,000 volumes, 2,400 audio-visual materials, and 290 magazine titles. Computer work stations inside the library are linked to the Internet and students can also conduct searches of the libraries holdings. There is a comprehensive range of materials for students to access about employment opportunities, and the requirements for various examinations and national qualifications.

The Fujimino Library has collection of approximately 105,000 volumes, 2,705 audio-visual materials, and 300 magazine titles. There are 23 computer information terminals that can be used to search the library holdings and the Internet. In order to increase the digital connectedness of the library environment students with their own computers can now access the Internet via a wireless LAN connection. A knowledgeable librarian is also available to respond to questions and queries.