Washburn Law Enters into Exchange Agreement with Osaka University Law Schools
Washburn University School of Law has entered into an exchange and cooperation agreement with the law schools of the internationally renowned Osaka University, located in Osaka, Japan.
Osaka University is one of Japan’s most prestigious universities, typically ranked among the top five of all universities in Japan, and in the top 50 of all universities in the world according to the internationally acknowledged Shanghai Rankings and QS Rankings. It has three separate law schools, serving the undergraduate level, graduate school for future scholars, and a professional school for prospective lawyers.
The agreement between Washburn and Osaka will provide opportunities for the faculty of each school to conduct research and to teach at the partner school, and it will similarly create study abroad opportunities for students of both schools.
Washburn will be exploring the development of a study abroad program featuring summer courses to be taught by both Washburn and Osaka faculty members at the facilities of Osaka University for students of both institutions. Washburn Law will also seek to accept individual students from Osaka University for semester-long visits, and to admit graduates of Osaka University into Washburn Law’s LL.M. program, which is a master of laws program that entitles graduates to sit for bar exams a
nd be admitted to the bar in states such as New York and California.
Washburn Law Dean Thomas J. Romig noted that “In an era of increasing globalization it is crucially important for us to offer our students exposure to other legal systems, and to provide them with significant international experience. We think that providing such opportunities in Asia is particularly important.”
He added, “We are very excited about the possibilities and opportunities that this agreement opens up for both our faculty and our students, and we are fortunate to be partnering with such an internationally renowned university.”
The Agreement was signed by Dean Yutaka Takenaka of Osaka University, President Jerry Farley of Washburn University, and Dean Romig of Washburn Law, during Dean Takenaka’s visit to Washburn on March 3.
Dean Takenaka, during the signing ceremony, commented that “this agreement will also assist us in our internationalization efforts, and we are quite excited about the possibilities it offers.”