University of Tokyo to Launch New Faculty, Aiming for Increased International Enrollment

The University of Tokyo, often referred to as Todai, is planning to establish its first new faculty in almost seven decades. This initiative aims to significantly increase the number of international students enrolled at the university.

The new College of Design will be led by Miles Pennington, a professor specializing in emerging design and informatics. Pennington, a British citizen, will be the first non-Japanese individual to head a faculty at Todai. The faculty is scheduled to open in September 2027, aligning with the academic year start of many Western universities.

The program will offer a combined five-year master's degree. Admission will be based on submitted documents and interviews, differing from the current written entrance exams. Successful applicants will be notified in March.

The university plans to release a more detailed outline of the new faculty in July. Each class will accommodate up to 100 students, with half of the spots reserved for international students. All first-year students will reside in a dormitory in Tokyo. The curriculum will integrate liberal arts and natural sciences, allowing students to choose their research focus, including topics like climate change, energy, and food security. Faculty members will be recruited from both Japan and abroad.

During a press conference, University President Teruo Fujii explained that students in their fourth year will have opportunities to gain experience outside the campus through internships, study abroad programs, volunteer work, or entrepreneurship. The goal is to encourage students to think critically and apply their ideas in various contexts.

Currently, international students make up approximately 3 percent of Todai's student body. The university has set ambitious goals to increase the proportion of foreign students to at least 30 percent in undergraduate faculties and at least 40 percent in graduate schools by 2049. Additionally, the university aims to have foreign nationals fill at least 30 percent of research positions.