Every Day is “Global” at ICU.

Global ICU

Build an Integrated Academic Support Framework

Concept

Enhancing the specialized learning support framework with the establishment of the new Center for Teaching and Learning, and making support easier.

In order for each and every student to become a global citizen, they must be provided with high-quality education and a learning support system that can respond to their various needs and issues. ICU has already established a number of specialized support offices to aid students in a variety of ways. These include the Academic Planning Center (currently Academic Planning Support), which helps students as they formulate their plans of study, the Writing Support Desk (WSD), which provides advice on writing papers and reports, and the Special Needs Support Services (SNSS) office, which provides learning support for students with special needs.

The learning support framework was further enhanced with the consolidation of the functions these offices provide in 2015 and the establishment of the Center for Teaching and Learning. This Center will make it easier for students to obtain support, and, as all of a student's needs and issues can be responded to in a single place, ICU will be able to provide increased support that better meets their needs in a more timely way.

Increased utilization of ICT to improve educational quality

The Center for Teaching and Learning will increase the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to improve educational quality more than ever before. ICU is enhancing on-campus study space and content not only in the classroom environment but for self and group study as well, and providing support for its use.

For example, ICU-TV will broadcast a variety of video-based guidance for classes and studying, seminars, and other video content for on-campus viewers. It can be used in a broad variety of ways. It allows students to confirm content they may have missed in class, it can serve as a reference in selecting a major and formulating a study plan, and help students confirm information for guidance programs they may not have been able to participate in.

The system also allows students to learn lecture content in advance to save limited class time for discussion and group work, making it possible for students to learn in a more active way.

Progress

We have enhanced learning support through the use of ICT.

In October 2015, we launched a dedicated ICU-TV site for on-campus viewers, which students can use to prepare for class and review what they have learned. It also acts as an important source of information when selecting courses and choosing majors.

In addition, our Open Course Ware (OCW)which allows members of the public to view videos of our classes, now also contains videos of special lectures delivered by renowned guest speakers.

Students are able to use these resources in various ways; for example, they may watch lectures, briefings, workshops and seminars on ICU-TV and use OCW to prepare for classes and review what they have learned. It is also possible to combine these resources with learning software to use dictionaries, sound, and subtitles, which is a feature that is also aiding students with learning difficulties. In addition to providing learning support for ICU students, through OCW, we are sharing knowledge and making educational content publicly available to high school students and others who live far from campus, including those who reside overseas.

In 2019, a video platform that can be linked to our learning management system was introduced, and mechanisms were established for the promotion of flipped classrooms and effective online classes. This has made it possible to incorporate more flexible learning styles; examples include asking students to study the course content ahead of class to use class time for discussion and dialogue through group work, and using videos for preparing for class and reviewing the material learned. As a result, when we were forced to hold classes online due to COVID-19, we were able to provide teaching support by using as a basis the support systems that had already been established. In 2022, most classes have returned to face-to-face teaching. We are expanding our support to encourage the use of ICT in not only online classes but also face-to-face classes to enable faculty to further enhance their teaching.

We have enhanced student writing support.

To provide students with writing support, we launched a proofreading service for students writing their senior theses in English in the 2016 academic year.

This service is delivered in two ways: face-to-face and via email. The benefits for students include the opportunity not only to have their English corrected but also to remedy any bad habits in their English writing. This service has also been useful for faculty as it has enabled them to concentrate on providing guidance on the actual content of the thesis itself.

In the 2019 academic year, face-to-face proof-reading support was expanded to include regular class assignments as well as senior theses.