The University of Queensland and Griffith University

The University of Queensland and Griffith University

The University of Queensland was established in 1909, and is the oldest university in Queensland, Australia. The University currently has around 38,000 students, including almost 7,000 international students. Postgraduate enrolments total almost 10,000.

Griffith University first opened its doors to students in 1975, and is now one of Queensland’s largest universities, with five campuses in three cities across the Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor. With more than 37,000 students and 3,500 staff, the Griffith University community comprises staff and students from more than 120 countries

Japanese Language Program

The Queensland Program for Japanese Education (formerly the Queensland Program for Japanese Language Education) was established in 1997 as a joint program of The University of Queensland and Griffith University, to promote Japanese language education in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The joint nature of the Program enables it to draw on the strengths of both universities in the area of Japanese language teaching and research.

The University first introduced Japanese language and studies courses, the first to be offered in Queensland, in 1966, and currently has an annual enrolment of around 1030 (undergraduate) and 30 (postgraduate) in Japanese courses, which are offered through the School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies. In addition to over twenty exchange programs with Japanese universities, students may avail themselves of the self-funded short-term Komstudy program at Komazawa University. At postgraduate level, the University offers a two–year coursework Master of Arts in Japanese Interpreting and Translation (MAJIT) program, which is the only program in Australia accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) at Conference Interpreter and Advanced Translator levels.

Japanese language and Japanese studies have been taught at Griffith since its inception. The University has an annual enrolment of about 850 students in Japan-related courses across two campuses.

Nippon Foundation Funds for Japanese Language Education Program (NF-JLEP)

Between 1998 and 2007, the Queensland Program for Japanese Education offered grants in three main areas: scholarships for Japanese language teachers in primary and secondary schools to visit and study in Japan for short periods; research grants for postgraduate students to conduct fieldwork in Japan; and for research and curriculum development for tertiary teachers. In 2007, the QPJE conducted a major review of its activities, and a revised program of activities was developed in response to changes in the Japanese language teaching environment. From 2008, the programs offered by the QPJE include: scholarships and awards for primary and secondary school JFL teachers (including in-country studies, Australia-based study, workshops and conference attendance); grants for curriculum development for tertiary teachers of Japanese (language and non-language); grants for Research Higher Degree (RHD) students (conference presentations and RHD research in Japan); Japanese studies research grants; undergraduate awards; and visits by Japanese language/studies scholars.