The Background of the Super Global High School (SGH) Certification
We, at Tamagawa Academy possess a history of actively improving and promoting our global standard. It has been a challenge to introduce and integrate global standards which are compatible with Japan`s public educational system and its legal framework. However, by working through the difficult challenges we have gained valuable experience.
At Tamagawa Academy (K-12), we have sought the ways educational activities should be, that focus on the social environment, in which the students will live in the future. Also, the Tamagawa 21st Century Project, which has the slogan, “Global Human Resource Development,” is now in progress. This project centers around activities to promote our global standardization: including various international exchange programs, membership of an international schools association, the accreditation by an international certifying group, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
These achievements demonstrate our efforts to develop global human resources and our experience and practical frameworks are fundamental to them. We became certified as a Super Global High School for the way we organically relate each of the parts, and how we compose and complete them. Therefore, we believe that this certification is an important strength that supports the development of our pioneering curriculum.
Our International Education Achievements
Our student exchange program (45 programs in 2012), where we send about 300 students abroad and accept about 200 students every year, is comprised of a partnership with 14 schools in seven countries. As of 2005, we are the only certified Round Square member school in Japan, an international school federation consisting of 97 schools in 28 countries, where students attend international conferences to participate in volunteer work, and take part in discussions concerning environmental or international problems.
WASC only gives accreditation to schools whose teaching language is English; therefore, we have been accredited by CITA*1 in 2004 and NCA CASI*2 in 2006, as well as other comparable associations, and we have been promoting activities which comply with international standards.
We earned our certification as an IB World School in 2007, by the International Baccalaureate (we have been certified as a MEXT-designated especially-exempt school, since 2007).
*1 CITA: Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, unified with NCA CASI in 2008
*2 NCA CASI: North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement