Based on an on-going student demand for Japanese language courses in the UAE, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Abu Dhabi office of the Japan International Cooperation Centre, JICE, a Japanese government-supported organisation, will extend the university’s curricular courses for Japanese Language for a third year, where currently 63 Emirati students are enrolled.

A general increase in interest and demand for Japanese language skills by Emirati students also resulted in Japanese language courses being launched for the first time at the UAE University’s Continuing Education Centre, during the summer of 2018, where 22 Emirati students enrolled, out of which six were UAE University students. Additionally, JICE has received increased enquiries from leading educational institutions across the UAE looking to start Japanese language courses in the near future.

Ahoud A. Abdulrahman Mohamed, a senior student at Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said, "I was first drawn into the Japanese culture through anime when I was little, but it was the TV programme called Khawatir which really made me interested in the culture how they are organised, disciplined and fun. Studying the Japanese language under Tanaka has been a wonderful experience. The classmates help each other and we are not shy about practising what we learn. I am the president of Nippon (Japanese) Club as well, which is one of the most active clubs in my university. We have won the Best Country Award at the International Day two years ago."

Added Ahoud, "I am majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering and there are many research topics that have been done in Japan. Knowledge of the Japanese language will be beneficial for my career."

Commenting on the increased interest for Japanese language learning in the UAE Shigeto Aoki, General Manager of JICE said, "Many Emirati students are fascinated with Japanese traditional. We are seeing this interest develop into a deep desire to learn more about the Japanese language, which in turn has also resulted in a steep increase in the number of Emirati students choosing to further their language and tertiary education in Japan."

2018 saw 93 enrolments, the largest number to date, of Emirati students studying degree and non-degree programmes at Japanese institutions in Japan; an increase of 90 percent compared to the 49 student enrolments in 2013.

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