Akita International University
Akita International University (国際教養大学；Kokusai Kyōyō Daigaku) is a four year public university in the Yuwa district of Akita City.
Outline
Originally founded in 1990 as Minnesota State University (ミネソタ州立大学), the college was forced to close in 2003 for financial reasons. Re-opened in 2004 with a focus on liberal arts, the university has so far enjoyed relative success. The university is notable for it's unique requirement that all classes be taken in English and that all students must study abroad for at least one year during their time at the school.
Professors from AIU (several of whom are former ALTs) are regular speakers at the Akita JET Skills Development Conference.
The university also offers a two (or four) year professional postgraduate program for those that are seeking to procure an English high school teaching license in Japan (former ALTs are also eligible). This is included as an option in the Masters of Arts in English Language Teaching Practices program. Those that have resided in Akita receive a 50% matriculation cost reduction as well. The semester has two matriculation periods: one in spring and one in fall (ALTs can enter the program after their contract has been completed). JLPT is not a requirement for admission; however depending on the country of origin, IELTS, TOEFL, or an equivalent English proficiency test score may be required.
Details
| Name | Akita International University |
| Name (Japanese) | 国際教養大学 |
| Location | Akita City |
| Telephone | ☎ 018-886-5900 |
| Fax | 018-886-5910 |
| Website | http://www.aiu.ac.jp/en/ |
| ✉info@aiu.ac.jp | |
| Address (Japanese) | 〒010-1292 秋田県秋田市雄和椿川字奥椿岱193-2 |
| Address | Yuwa, Akita-city, 010-1292 Japan |
