Activity report
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course: Screening Seminar and Certification Test
March 30-31, 2007
at British Council in Tokyo
Currently limited to JAOS members, a two-day JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course screening seminar and certification test were held over the weekend (sponsored by JAOS and administered by ALC Publishing). Six instructors and 41 applicants took part. The event included workshops, an enhanced screening seminar, a 1 hour written examination and a group presentation test. Applicants who, beginning in January, covered the 600-pages of content in 3 textbooks and passed 3 verification tests via correspondence over a period of 3 months, sat for the examination. Examination results are due to be announced at the end of April. In the meantime, it is being planned for this course to open to the general public beginning on July 1st. Details and developments relating to the course will be introduced on this website.
ICEF Workshop
March 5-6, 2007
at Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo
With support from JAOS, ICEF held a workshop in order to promote business relations and the exchange of information between overseas schools and Japanese study abroad agents. Participants included 89 schools from 18 countries, members of educational organizations and 158 Japanese counselors. This workshop has been held annually for a number of years. However, this was the first year in which it has taken place with the backing of JAOS. JAOS and ICEF have talked about JAOS offering more assistance from the planning stage of the event in the future, with the purpose of making it an even better platform for school-agent interaction.
2006 Fiscal Year 10th Annual JAOS-FGER Meeting
February 27, 2007
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
For the 10th time, JAOS and FGER (Foreign Government Educational Representatives) met in order to present their perspectives on the current study abroad climate and actively exchange information. Starting this year, each company was asked to provide a numerical summarization of the number of students they sent to each respective country and study abroad program. In order to research the current study abroad market, JAOS was also requested by FGER to publicly announce the total number of students its member organizations sent abroad. Though it is difficult for each company to announce their student numbers due to the sensitive relationship these numbers share with company sales figures, it was felt that this kind of activity is extremely important for researching the industry’s worldwide growth. Furthermore, JAOS gave those assembled an update on the JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course, which is currently limited to members of JAOS organizations and has already attracted 50 participants. An account of the recent Fair Trade Commission Guideline Seminar was also presented. In relation to the seminar, pressing needs that should be addressed in the guidelines for different program types were reported. The meeting was attended by 38 JAOS members from 29 member organizations and 10 members of FGER from 8 governmental organizations (American Embassy, Japan-U.S. Educational Commission, Australian Government’s Organization for International Education, Ireland’s Governmental Bureau for Business Affairs, New Zealand Embassy’s Section for Business Affairs, the British Council, and France’s Government Office for Overseas Studies).
JAOS Seminar Sponsored in Conjunction with JATA’s (Japan Association of Travel Agents) Homestay tour division, CIEL (Council of International Education and Language Travel Japan) Explanatory Meeting Concerning the Fair Trade Commission’s Guidelines for the Representation of Short-Term Overseas Language Study’
February 16, 2007
at Large Hall of the Zen-Niku Kasumigaseki Building in Tokyo
On December 19th, 2006, the Fair Trade Commission presented its investigative report on the state of short-term overseas language study services. This report is based on a study by the National Consumer Affairs Center that shows an industry-wide increase in complaints and inquiries regarding study abroad services. The Fair Trade Commission has thus requested organizations such as JAOS and JATA to make sure their members accurately represent the terms and conditions of short-term overseas language programs in promotional literature in order to avoid the risk of consumer misconception. This seminarstemmed from the report mentioned above and was held by JAOS and JATA-CIEL in order to implement and explain the new guidelines regarding ‘Representation of Short-Term Overseas Language Study’. The meeting, which consisted of 141 JAOS and JATA members as well as 24 non-member participants, also included a meaningful discussion session in which members of the Fair Trade Commission generously provided pro-active commentary. Furthermore, it is important to note that both JAOS and CIEL were evaluated as reliable institutions by the supervisor of the Fair Trade Commission for conducting their own research on guidelines. This evaluation from the Fair Trade Commission can be seen as a validation of JAOS’ activities over the past 15 years. Furthermore, the meeting also affirms that the further cooperation between JAOS and JATA will continue to bring about healthy developments in the study abroad industry.
2006 JAOS Autumn General Meeting
November 28-29, 2006
At Hotel New Akao in Atami
The Autumn General Meeting was attended by 24 individuals representing 32 companies (11 of which were present by proxy). Beginning with the JAOS office, each task team reported on their activities of the past 6 months as well as their plans for the second half of the fiscal year. The topics and activities presented were actively discussed by those present. At the meeting, JAOS also presented the new 3-volume, 600-page textbook set for its JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course, a joint project with ALC-Press that is planned to open to the public in June of 2007. In addition, it was announced that the FELCA office has requested all FELCA member organizations to adopt the EN 14804 Guidelines concerning ‘Standards for Overseas Language Studies in Europe’, which were presented last spring. Lastly, one new organization was admitted to JAOS’ office as a ‘special supporting member’. Another organization was also admitted as a regular member.
AOS Presentation on the Theme, ‘The Merits of Using Study Abroad Agencies’ at the U.K. Overseas Study Fair Organized by the British Council
October 14-15, 2006
at Tokyo International Forum
Taking part in the British Overseas Study Fair for the third time, JAOS presented the merits of using a study abroad agency to book overseas study travel. The presentation explained that agencies are not merely an application service acting on the behalf of schools, but service providers that offer a wide sphere of support and coverage, such as giving clear and precise information and explanations on study abroad expenses, etc.
JAOS Seminar on the Theme ‘Laws Concerning Overseas Study and Educational Exchange Thinking About Recent Problems Involving Overseas Study’
June 23, 2006
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
After listening to remarks by Mr. Manabu Horie, Director of the Overseas Study Center at JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) and Mr. Takeshi Shindo, President of CIEL, the Homestay Division of JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents), an active floor discussion was held to consider and comment on the themes presented. As this public seminar was also open to members of the non-profit organization, JAFSA (Japan Network for International Education), the valuable opinions of JAOS non-members were also heard. Since the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan announced their report on overseas study related service troubles in May of last year, it has stressed that organizational activities such as JATA’s discussions on ‘legal aspects of overseas study travel’ and the Fair Trade Commission’s ‘Investigation of Overseas Study Services’ are necessary to combat the problems in the industry, which are becoming increasingly evident to the general public. At this seminar, agents and representatives of overseas study organizations discussed the above problems even after the seminar’s intended finishing time, offering diverse opinions, posing questions and proffering numerous pieces of advice on how JAOS and other industry leaders should handle these problems. JAOS has already made plans to discuss this theme more concretely by holding another seminar at a future date. 44 individuals participated from 36 different organizations.
2006 JAOS Spring General Meeting
June 21, 2006
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
The Spring General Meeting was attended by representatives of all 33 member companies (11 of which were present by proxy). Beginning with the JAOS administration office, each task team reported on their activities and financial account balances for the past fiscal year, as well on their plans for the upcoming year. Those in attendance participated in an active discussion concerning these issues. At the meeting, JAOS announced the formal name of its overseas advisor training course created in collaboration with ALC-Press, ‘JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course’. It was also announced that this course will be offered to the counselors of member organizations possibly as early as October, and to the general public in January of 2007 at the earliest.. Furthermore, it was reported that JAOS intends to adopt the ‘Standards for Overseas Language Studies in Europe’ created by FELCA. Currently, there is a need to cooperative with other organizations in order to conduct careful research on how to handle overseas study trouble. Lastly, 1 new supporting member was admitted to JAOS.
2005 Fiscal Year 9th Annual JAOS-FGER Meeting
February 10, 2006
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
At this annually held meeting, JAOS and FGER (Foreign Government Educational Representatives) met in order to present their perspectives on the current study abroad climate and actively exchange information. Within the meeting, the newly established Bureau for Overseas Studies at the French Embassy announced its intentions to join FGER. Furthermore, JAOS reported on the current state of its ‘JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course’ as well as information on the EN14804 Guidelines for ‘Language Study Tour Providers in Europe’. The meeting was attended by 42 JAOS members and 12 individuals from the following FGER organizations (American Embassy, Japan-U.S. Educational Commission, Australian Government’s Organization for International Education, Ireland’s Governmental Bureau for Business Affairs, New Zealand Embassy’s Section for Business Affairs, the British C
2005 JAOS Autumn General Meeting
December 8-9, 2005
at Hotel New Akao in Atami
December 8-9, 2005 The Autumn General Meeting was attended by 24 individuals representing 33 companies (11 of which were present by proxy). 2 new regular member organizations, 1 new associate organization, and 1 support organization were formally admitted into JAOS. After each task team presented their recent activities, an active discussion session was held. Furthermore, the JAOS administration office presented the topics and activities that it dealt with over the summer, fielding questions and comments from various points of view.