Activity report
U.S. Study Abroad Seminar – Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and JAOS
September 22, 2010 at Asty 45 in Sapporo September 27, 2010 at the Sendai Metropolitan Hotel September 28, 2010 at the Chisun Hotel in Niigata
This Study abroad seminar, titled ‘Human Resource Development for a Global World and Study Abroad’ was supported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Fulbright Japan (Japan U.S. Educational Committee) and the Japan Youth Development Association. It primarily targeted high school instructors in Japan. The overriding theme of the seminar was how Japan can meet the increasing demands of globalization and societal transformation by having high school teachers show students that studying at American universities is one more option for their future. In addition to keynote speeches, the seminar format allowed for a panel discussion. The first speech, titled ‘The Globalization of Japan’s Economic Development Strategy and Industrial Human Resource Development Policy’, was provided by Mr. Koji Ono (Assistant Chief of the Office of Industrial Human Resource Policy, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). The second lecture, titled ‘The Merits of American Universities’, was provided by Mr. Masayasu Morita (President of Hitomedia and author of ‘Todai yori, Habado ni Iko’ [‘Forget Tokyo U., Let’s go to Harvard’]). The panel discussion was titled, ‘Global Human Resource Development and Overseas Study’. Panelists included Mr. Ono, Mr. Morita and Ms. Atsuko Ichikawa (Study Abroad Adviser at Fulbright Japan [Japan-U.S. Educational Committee]). In addition, Mr. Ryuki Hayashi (Secretary-General of JAOS) acted as commentator while Ms. Yoshiko Fujinobe (President of JACSAC [Japan Association of Certified Study Abroad Counselors]) took on the role of moderator. The panelists fielded a variety of questions from the floor and debated topics such as Japanese university entrance examinations and studying at U.S. institutions of higher learning. At the Sapporo event, Mr. Thomas H. Lyons (Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo) provided a speech. 14 participants attended the Sapporo event, while 28 and 16 people joined the Sendai and Niigata events, respectively.