Many people say that one of the primary things that people need these days in order to survive is a proper education. Getting a proper education may be subjective but generally speaking, most people attain proper education by going to schools and earning diplomas. More often than not, people with high school diplomas aspire to go to college or get into universities as people say that a bachelor’s degree makes one more competent in the playing field. If one resides in Japan and wishes to pursue higher education, there are many excellent universities in the country that offer various majors. Among the most outstanding universities in Japan is Meiji University.
History of the Famous Meiji University in Japan
With schools as prestigious as Meiji University, it is not unlikely that there is a long history as to how it reached its way to the top. The three key persons who founded the Meiji Law School went by the names of Tatsuo Kishimoto, Kozo Miyagi, and Misao Yashiro. The Meiji Law School served as the predecessor of Meiji University. Born during the Kaei era, these three men came from lower-class samurai families. They were also raised in rural areas situated far from the capital.
Following the revolution that ended the Tokugawa shogunate, these three were handpicked to study in Tokyo just after the formation of the Meiji government. The three men met each other at the Meihoryo or the Meiji Law Residence with the goal of becoming judicial officers. The Meihoryo became the Ministry of Justice Law School later on.
The three men also shared the dream of creating a modern legal education in the country. A group of students who were former students of the Kohogakusyha left the school after becoming discontented with the school’s administrative policies. They turned to Kishimoto and Miyagi for the two men to establish a new law school.
Also popular with this group of students, Yashiro was involved by his two friends to join and try to establish their dream. A request for establishing a private law school was submitted to the Tokyo government. This goal was completed on the 17th of January in the year 1881 and stood near the Sukiyabashi-bridge in Kojimachi-ward, as seen on the map.
The philosophy of education of the Meiji Law School was based on the libertarian principles that were incorporated in the French legal system. Its guiding principles were freedom and civil rights for the people. Many students wanted to get into the Meiji Law School, so many that the school had to move to another building situated in Kanda Kogamachi on the 11th of December in the year 1886 just to be able to accommodate more students.
On the 1st of April in the year 1920, the University Establishment Ordinance granted the Meiji Law School university status, which was great news to its students and staff. Hence, the Meiji Law School was renamed as Meiji University. Despite adversities that came the school's way, Meiji University still struggled to get through it all. However, the university was destroyed during the Great Kanto Earthquake dated 1st of September in the year 1923.
As relentless as they could be, the staff, students, and even alumni of the university gave their efforts in order to restore the university to its former glory. The restoration was completed and its celebration was first held in the Memorial Hall on the 21st of April in the year 1928. 21 years later, Meiji University began as a four-year university under the authorization of the new system on the 21st of February in the year 1949. At this time, the university was comprised of 6 colleges, namely, the Schools of Law, Arts and Letters, Agriculture, Political Science and Economics, Commerce, and Engineering.
The 4th of November in the year 1980 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Meiji University. On the 1st of November in the year 2001, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Meiji University as well as the 150th birthday of its founders, which was a major event at the time.
Academic Performance, Acceptance Rate, and Ranking of Meiji University
Meiji University definitely does not fall behind when it comes to academic performance and ranking. In fact, the university is among the leading schools in the country. Too Keizai ranked Meiji University as 19th in the year 2009 and 26th in the year 2010 as part of its “Truly Strong Universities” list.
On the 16th of February in the year 2004, a survey about research standards in studies related to engineering that was based on Grants in Aid for Scientific Research, Thomson Reuters, and questionnaires was also conducted by the Nikkei Shimbun. The survey was conducted on the 93 Japanese Research Centres that are leading in the country. Meiji University ranked 37th out of the 93 that participated. Moreover, the university has filed the 62nd highest number of patents that resulted from their researches in the country.
Based on its history, Meiji University began as a law school. Naturally, the university specializes in law education even up to this day. In fact, it is considered as among the top law schools in Japan. Successful candidates for the Japanese bar examination that came up 14th in the year 2009 and 20th in the year 2010 hailed from Meiji University. Many qualified lawyers and prosecutors came from Meiji University. The university also ranked 4th in Japan in the "Excellent Business Schools nationally strong and/or with continental links” by Eduniversal.
Several people who graduated from Meiji University also did well after earning their diplomas. They were able to enter various Japanese industries and enjoy good success. Based on the 2010 rankings conducted by the Weekly Economist, people who graduated from Meiji University enjoy the 35th best employment rate in 400 primary companies. Furthermore, Meiji University is also ranked 6th in the country based on the number of alumni that holds an executive position in the listed companies in the Land of the Sun. It also ranked 25th based on the number of students with the probability of becoming an executive.
The number of applicants that were successful on the national CPA exam also led the university to be ranked 5th on the list. Moreover, graduates of the university who applied and passed the Architect Registration exam were also ranked 9th on the list. As for the number of Member of Parliament that were graduates of the university, Meiji University in 9th on the list in the country.
Due to its popularity and prestige, it can be quite difficult to get into Meiji University. Just in the undergraduate admissions in the year 2011, the number of applicants per place amounted to 24.9, which was about 113,905 applicants per 4,582 places. It was the biggest number of applicants in the year 2011. Hence, the university is highly selective of its incoming students.
The Different Majors/Courses and the English Track Program
Students can choose from a variety of majors or courses under various departments that the university has to offer. There are various courses under the School of Law, School of Commerce, School of Political Science and Economics, School of Arts and Letters, School of Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, School of Business Administration, School of Information and Communication, School of Global Japanese Studies, and School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences for undergraduate programs.
For people pursuing higher education, there are also various graduate degrees that Meiji University offers, along with corresponding fees. These majors or courses are under the Graduate School of Business Administration, Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Graduate School of Information and Communication, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Graduate School of Advanced Mathematical Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities, Graduate School of Global Japanese Studies, Graduate School of Global Governance, Graduate Law School, Graduate School of Governance Studies, Graduate School of Global Business, and Graduate School of Professional Accountancy.
One of the special programs that the university offers is the English Track program. Started in the year 2011, this program is under the School of Global Japanese Studies. International students who are interested in Japanese studies can enroll in this program as all the subjects would be taught in the English language. Furthermore, students can also earn a Bachelor of Global Japanese Studies degree in only four years.
The focus of this program is more on contemporary Japanese studies. There are basically three areas of concentration in this program, namely, Business and Society, Culture and Art, and Globalization. While the subjects are taught in the English language, the program still emphasizes the importance of the Japanese language education. Hence, students may take Japanese language classes while in this program, wherein credits would be earned that would also count towards graduation.
International Students and the Exchange Student Program
Meiji University also welcomes international students from all over the world. With values like diversity, acceptance, and unity, Meiji University aims to provide a holistic academic environment to its students. Thus, various programs were created and designed by the university in order to facilitate interaction between Japanese students and international students. Another goal of these programs is also to promote international awareness amongst its students.
Among the many facilities that cater to international students is the International Student Centre. With branch offices in Ikuta, Izumi, and Nagano campuses, the centers offer information and consultation services for international students. In fact, these students are highly encouraged to visit the center often for any concerns that they may have.
Another facility is the International Lounge. Open to international students, exchange students, and students who want to study abroad or interact with international students, the lounges house several newspapers and magazines that may help international students in any of their concerns. These paper trails are useful sources of information. Furthermore, the lounge may also serve as a place for students to relax and also make new friends.
International students may struggle in their everyday life in Japan if they do not know a word or two in the Japanese language. Hence, the university has the Japanese Language Education Center that provides a Japanese Language program designed for international students that take courses in the English language. This program would be highly beneficial to them, albeit non-credit, as it helps in learning survival Japanese.
Students may also participate in the Exchange Student Program offered by Meiji University. The first step is to get a recommendation from its partner institutions. There are also other requirements that need to be completed for the application of the Exchange Student Program. It would be best to consult the exchange study program at one’s university for a proper guide on the matter.
The Establishment of Meiji University of Integrative Medicine
Another university bearing the name of Meiji is the Meiji University of Integrative Medicine. The goal of this university is to develop staff in health care that does not just contribute to exemplary medical services but also provide them with a holistic perspective. Its parent organization is the educational corporate of Meiji Institute of Oriental Medicine.
Through the years, the Meiji University of Integrative Medicine has established various entities such as the Faculty of Judo Seifuku Therapy, the College of Medical Technology, and the School of Nursing Science to name a few. While it is not as prestigious as Meiji University, the Meiji University of Integrative Medicine is still a great school to enter for students who wish to learn a lot in the field of medicine.
While there are various universities all over Japan that offer great majors and courses, Meiji University and the Meiji University of Integrative Medicine are still two great choices for a school. These universities have a lot of programs that would be highly beneficial to students who would be successful in entering these schools. The most important part is the drive of the students to be able to not just enter these universities, but also stay and finished their majors. Both universities have a lot to offer to students - not just basic degrees, but academic and life lessons that the students would be able to use even after they graduate.