GGS Indraprastha (IP) University starts Japanese language course at its New Delhi campus

NEW DELHI: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, with the support Japanese Language Teaching Division, Embassy of Japan, has launched a fifteen-week Certificate Course in Japanese Language. This certificate course is available in part-time as well as in online mode. The university has also started the online process of accepting applications from the aspirants for the same.

Ms. Matsuyama MIINA, Head of the Japanese Language Program, Japanese Culture and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, and Ms. Tomo Kawane, Senior Researcher, Indo-Japan Laboratory, Keio University reached the Dwarka campus of IP University in New Delhi recently to formally launch the new initiative. On this occasion. On behalf of IP University, Director of its Directorate of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Vijita Singh Agrawal and Dean of Education and Humanities Prof. Vivek Sachdeva also joined them.

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, formerly known as Indraprastha University or IP University, is a state university located in Dwarka, Delhi, India. The campus occupies 78 acres, among the largest in Delhi, and enrolls over 8,000 students.

While laying stress on the importance of the Japanese language for Indian students, the chief guest Ms. Matsuyama MIINA said that the need to increase the number of Indian students learning Japanese language and culture stem from a few reasons.

Ms. MIINA said, “First is that the number of Japanese companies in India has been increasing. There were only 267 Japanese companies in 2006, but the number grew fast to 1439 by 2021 as Japan takes India an important partner. These companies need Indian people those not only speak Japanese language but know its culture as well. Second reason is that Japan suffers from the lack of population. And skilled and talented educated Indians are the hope for Japan’s future, and we have for that we have SSW and TITP schemes.”

Director, International Affairs of the University, Prof. Vijita Singh Aggarwal said that as soon as this course was announced, an overwhelming response was received from the university students from all streams.

“This course will be started from March 4, 2023 in two batches for those who apply by March 4, 2003. Online classes of one hour each will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays in the evening so that more and more people can take advantage of it. The course fee has been kept at only five thousand rupees. In order to complete this course, students will also be provided with an opportunity to understand Japanese culture and lifestyle. Anyone interested in learning Japanese can take this course,” Prof Aggarwal said.

The link to apply online for this course and other details are available on the page of the Directorate of External Affairs on the University website www.ipu.ac.in  Applications can be filed till March 4, 2023.

Later while responding to this course, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Padma Prof. Dr. Mahesh Verma said, “In the current scenario, the whole world has been reduced to a ‘Global Village’. In this, the knowledge of other foreign languages opens doors to limitless career opportunities. In the last decade, many Japanese companies have invested in their country. In this case, this course will definitely prove helpful in getting into those companies. Apart from this, the knowledge of the native language of that country proves to be very useful in understanding the culture and lifestyle of any country.

Ms. Tomo Kawane, Senior Researcher, Indo-Japan Laboratory, Keio University, and a bridge person has been living in India for over three decades now and is well versed with Hindi language. Ms. Kawane was instrumental in introducing Japanese language course at IP University.

Dean of Education and Humanities Prof. Vivek Sachdeva said that the School of Humanities was set to launch certificate and diploma courses in other foreign languages including Japanese such as German with the help of respective embassies.