On April 20, 2026, Sagami Women’s University and the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) aimed at expanding overseas study opportunities for students.
Sagami Women’s University is a private women’s university headquartered in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, with a history of over 120 years since its founding in 1900. Guided by its founding philosophy of “Koketsu Zenbi” (nobility, goodness, and beauty), the university promotes the education of independent women.
It is characterized by small class sizes and strong faculty support for students. Centered around the Faculty of Liberal Arts, the Faculty of Human and Social Studies, and the Faculty of Nutrition Sciences, the university emphasizes community engagement and practical learning, supporting each student in shaping their future career paths.
New Department of International Communication and Study Abroad's Role
As Sagami Women’s University prepares to establish their Department of International Communication within the Faculty of Liberal Arts in April 2026, expanding study abroad options to support students’ global learning has been a key priority. As part of this effort, the university reached out to SAF in January 2026, which led to this new partnership.
Through multiple meetings throughout this past year, the university deepened its understanding of SAF’s partner university network and its study abroad support system, particularly focusing on credit-bearing programs. This process resulted in the signing of a MoA. The Department of International Communication has already introduced SAF’s study abroad programs in its departmental brochure.
Visit to Sagami Women’s University
On April 24, Brett Rumminger, Director of SAF Japan; Assistant Director Natsuko Kambayashi; and Student Counseling Manager, Saiko Hirano, all visited Sagami Women’s University.
They met with their Vice President, Mari Nakamura, and Professor Yukinori Watanabe, Chair of the Department of International Communication, to discuss concrete plans for future collaboration.
Campus Open to Filming & Wide Range of Grade Levels
Sagami Women’s University’s campus is often used as a filming location for TV dramas, and many posters of productions filmed there are displayed throughout the campus.
In addition, schools ranging from kindergarten to graduate school are located on the same campus, and it is common to see younger students walking through the greenery. This creates a strong learning environment that spans multiple generations and promotes community.
Students Gain a Resource for Support
Through its partnership with Sagami Women’s University, SAF will provide their students—including those in the Department of International Communication—a wide range of study abroad destinations and program options.
By supporting each student according to their individual learning goals and future aspirations, SAF will ensure that their academic experiences abroad contribute meaningfully to their university studies—and to their future career paths.
