Activity report
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |Advisory Consultation from the Liberal Democratic Party Special Committee for Increasing the Number of International Students
May 22, 2008
at Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Headquarters in Tokyo
Three members of JAOS – Chair man Yamada, President Hayashi and Secretary General Hayashi attended this consultative meeting hosted by the House of Representatives member and committee chair, Shimomura Hirofumi. In January of this year, Prime Minister Fukuda announced his party’s administrative policy of bringing 300,000 international students to Japan while speaking at the Liberal Democratic Party Special Committee for Increasing the Number of International Students. At the end of this month, the committee will release a mid-term report summarizing its investigations into how it will concretely enforce this policy and reach its stated goal. At the same time, the Liberal Democratic Party wants to discuss how it can simultaneously increase the number of inbound and outbound international students as what they referred to as a ‘two wheels of one cart’ policy. At the meeting, both JAOS and JAFSA presented points of concern and made suggestions as to how these concerns regarding the promotion of ‘Two-way Study Abroad’ might be handled. JAOS presented the following 3 points. Concern 1 – Lack of information and correct knowledge concerning ‘overseas study.’ Suggestion: Promulgation of the “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course and Certification Test.” Concern 2 – Lack of understanding concerning the need for strong cross-cultural communication skills. Suggestion: Promotion of the importance of life experience and language study abroad programs, which form the basis of study abroad experiences. Concern 3 – Japan’s inadequate employment environment for students returning from overseas study. Suggestion: Provision of more employment support for new graduates returning from overseas study. In addition to numerous members of the Liberal Democratic Party Committee, meeting attendees included 8 members of the Bureau of High School Education within the Ministry of Education; 1 member of the Immigration Bureau; 1 member of the Public Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange Department of the Foreign Ministry; 1 member of the Employment Security Bureau within the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry; 1 member of the Economic Policy Bureau within the Ministry of the Economy; and roughly 30 staff members from the above-mentioned governmental ministries, bringing the total number of participants to 70. As a result of the meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, JAOS was able to express its organizational intentions to the attendees mentioned above. In the future, JAOS will continue to actively promote overseas study by appealing to these organizations.
ICEF Workshop
March 3-5, 2008
at Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo
With support from JAOS,ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) sponsored a workshop in order to promote business negotiations and informational exchanges between agents and overseas schools. Over three days,representatives from 73 schools in 16 countries met with 161 staff members from 93 Japanese agencies – bringing the total number of this year’s participants to 260 people. For the second time in as many years,JAOS sponsored a seminar in which we explained trends within the Japanese study abroad industry to overseas schools.
2007 Fiscal Year 10th Annual JAOS-FGER Meeting
January 30, 2008
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
For the 11th time, JAOS and FGER (Foreign Government Educational Representatives) met in order to discuss overseas study trends and exchange information. To follow up on last year’s efforts, we requested that FGER provide a numerical summary of what countries and programs JAOS member organizations are sending their students to. Likewise, JAOS once again disclosed the number of overall students its organizations sent abroad in order to improve the understanding of industry trends. Last year, as many of our member organizations did not have a strong understanding of the purpose of this activity, we were only able to collect about 30% of our total student numbers. However, this year we were able to increase this number by 70%. This sensitive information has a direct link with sales figures and might be difficult for some companies to divulge. However, this activity is extremely important for growing a stronger study abroad industry. JAOS used the meeting as an opportunity to update those assembled on the recent state of the “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course and Certification Test” as well as to announce the completion of its JAOS Guidelines. The JAOS Written Oath for Full and Associate Members was also made public. Attendees included 45 representatives of 33 JAOS member organizations, 14 members of 9 FGER institutions (American Embassy, Japan-U.S. Educational Committee, Australian Governmental Organization for International Education, Ireland Governmental Bureau for Business Affairs, Ireland Governmental Bureau for Tourism, New Zealand Embassy Section for Business Affairs, British Council, Canadian Embassy, French Government Office for Overseas Studies), and 3 representatives from 2 observing organizations (JASSO [Japan Student Services Organization] and JAFSA [Japan Network for International Education]), bringing the total number of participants to 62.
Second JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course Screening Seminar and Certification Test
January 26-27, 2008
at ALC Event Hall in Tokyo
Open to the general public since the previous summer, a screening seminar and certification test for the “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course” was held over a two-day period (Sponsored by JAOS and administered by ALC Press). Participants included 65 candidates and 6 instructors. The content involved an extremely productive screening seminar, which included workshops, as well as a one-hour examination and group presentation tests. Candidates will learn whether or not they were successful in the beginning of March.
ALPHE workshop Japan 2007
November 28-30, 2007
at Hotel Okura in Tokyo
Sponsored by Hothouse Media and supported by JAOS, the ALPHE workshop Japan 2007, which targets study abroad agents, was a great success over its 3-day span, hosting 80 agencies from 10 countries and educational organizations from 12 countries, including 43 schools. JAOS opened a booth in order to promote our activities to participating agencies and overseas institutions.
2007 JAOS Autumn General Meeting
November 26-27, 2007
at Hotel New Akao in Atami
The JAOS Autumn General Meeting was attended by 38 participants representing 40 member organizations (12 of which were present by proxy). The JAOS Contract, which was sent out beforehand by the head office, was approved at the meeting. Furthermore, the previously approved JAOS Guidelines and Member Oath Guidelines were verified. After each task team reported on their activities during the previous business period and announced their plans for the upcoming period, new proposals were approved through active deliberation amongst the participants. In addition, attendees were updated on the current state of the “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course and Certification Test”. At the general meeting, 3 new full member organizations, 2 associate members and 1 patron member organization were approved into JAOS.
JAOS Corner Promoting, ‘The Merits of Using Study Abroad Agencies’ at the U.K. Overseas Study Fair Organized by the British Council
October 13, 2007
at Tokyo International Forum
Participants included 90 overseas schools as well as 3,000 members of the general public. JAOS participated in the event for the fourth time. At the fair, we explained that study abroad agents are not merely vehicles for finding and applying to schools, but also fulfill various important roles, such as providing orientations and other services. Furthermore, as is often demanded of us, we detailed the important points to consider when choosing an agent, explaining with clarity the services you can expect to receive and the costs you can expect to pay when dealing with an agency. Finally, we used the fair as an opportunity to explain member guidelines.
JAOS Seminar‘EIKEN for Overseas Study’ – Sponsored by Japan EIKEN Council on Study Abroad (JECSA)
August 25, 2007
At Arcadia Ichigaya in Tokyo
The Japan EIKEN Council on Study Abroad (JECSA) sponsored a seminar titled ‘Eiken for Overseas Study.’ This special event was exclusively limited to JAOS members and JAOS certified counselors. This study session detailed how the EIKEN can now be used instead of TOEFL to certify students’ English abilities for entrance into overseas universities. Within two years of passing an EIKEN examination, students are now able to receive EIKEN certification as well as English versions of their certified test results at the EIKEN Study Abroad Information Center. EIKEN examinations are utilized on a wide scale in Japan, taken by 2.5 million people (80% of which are junior high school, senior high school, and college students) annually from 16,000 institutions at 400 domestic and 40 overseas testing locations. JAOS is very pleased that this new development will make it easier for many people to take part in overseas studies.
2007 JAOS Spring General Meeting
June 22, 2007
At Shibuya Forum Eight
The Spring General Meeting was attended by 37 individuals representing 36 JAOS member organizations (6 of which were present by proxy). Beginning with the JAOS office, each task team reported on their activities and finances for the previous year as well as their planning activities and fiscal budgets for the current year. These issues were actively discussed by all in attendance. Other important content of the general meeting included reviews and progress reports on the JAOS Certified Counselor Course and JAOS Guidelines. In particular, a significant amount of time was spent on further defining the JAOS ‘Code of Ethics and Self-imposed Code of Conduct.’ Furthermore, JAOS member organizations were reminded of their duty to observe the above-mentioned guidelines. On a separate note, the addition of new guideline criteria for becoming a JAOS member was discussed. A decision was made to finalize a complete set of guidelines by September.
Panel Discussion on Education and Overseas Study in the U.K
May 29, 2007
at British Council in Tokyo
Headed by Bill Rummel, Supervisor of Lifelong Learning, Continuing Education and Higher Education activities at the British Embassy, this seminar was sponsored by the British Council and featured 16 visiting guests who work within the British education industry. A panel discussion was held that included 3 Britons and 2 two Japanese representatives, Mr. Takuho Hayashi, President of JAOS, and Professor Ono of Waseda University. Though it was limited to just 90 minutes, the active discussion was highly beneficial to those in attendance. This invitation-only event was attended by 70 participants, 10 of which represented JAOS member organizations.