The History of Temple University Japan: An Experiment in International Education

When Temple University Japan (TUJ) was founded in 1982—to advance the mission of international higher education—the university had few ties to Japan, or any other Asian country. However, more than 40 years later, TUJ has overcome substantial obstacles and remains the only American university campus in Japan, gaining legitimacy and considerable respect as an international institution of higher education. In The History of Temple University Japan, two former TUJ Deans, Richard Joslyn and Bruce Stronach, explore the creation, development, and maturation of TUJ, and present a case study of how Temple University successfully created an overseas branch campus. The authors recount the development of the academic program, the recruitment of students, and the support from Temple that enabled curricular and pedagogical improvement. They also address the university’s relationships with three Japanese partners, and the financial threats and crises TUJ faced over the decades. The History of Temple University Japan is not only an important documentation of TUJ, but also a history of U.S.-Japanese relations. What emerges is the significant impact TUJ has had on the thousands of students, faculty, and staff who have been a part of this international academic institution. Read more