THE CHOS HU FIVE - Study Abroad...

THE CHOSHU FIVE

TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Choshu Five................................... pg. 1,3

The Role of the University in the Development of Global Workforce.... pg. 1-2

Why Asian Students “Study Abroad”...... pg. 2

Reducing Financial Barriers to Study Abroad ........................................... pg. 4

SAF Professional Development Program (PDP) 2012 ................................................... pg. 5

A Warm Welcome Awaits You in Asia ......... pg. 5

FIE Develops a Cross-Cultural Communications for Business Course for SAF Students......... pg. 6

SAF Student Profiles ................................ pg. 7

SAF Staff and Network Development .... pg. 8

The Role of the University in the Development of the Global Workforce

ISSUE 3 Spring 2012

By John Belcher, SAF President and Co-CEO Study Abroad 1863 -

In the context of today’s debate about

declining numbers of Japanese students

studying abroad, it is often forgotten

that Japan has a long tradition of

sending young people abroad to study.

The experience of some of the earliest

study abroad by Japanese students was

not too dissimilar to today’s students

going abroad to pursue academic

internships.

Perhaps the very beginnings of study

abroad from Japan can be traced to

1863 when five young noblemen

from Japan – the Choshu Five – who

having secretly left Japan arrived at

University College London (UCL) for a

period of “study abroad”. The accompanying photograph,

probably taken soon after their arrival in London, shows

them in the studios of a Victorian photographer posing

in a somewhat informal style that was quite common at

the time. One wonders whether their

western hairstyle reflects the relatively

recent chopping off of their top-knot

when they left Japan for their two month

voyage to London.

The UCL record shows that they

attended Professor Alexander

Williamson’s classes in Analytical

Chemistry and that Williamson had

to seek permission from UCL to have

them admitted as special non-degree

seeking students – something SAF

is doing today.

The record also shows that they lived

with Williamson, thereby solving a

perennial problem for study abroad

students – where to live. What is interesting about these

early study abroad students is that they were on a highly

practical mission: to integrate academic knowledge with

Photo Courtesy of UCL (L to R): KinsukeEndo, Shunsuke Ito, Yakichi Nomura,

Bunta Inoue, Yozo Yamao

Continue pg. 3

By Yoshikazu Watanabe, Ph.D., Director, Center for International Education and

Professor, Faculty of Policy Studies, Nanzan University, Japan

In my past experience working in a Japanese corporation with significant international

projects, I conducted many job interviews to help the corporation identify prospective

employees that would be able to succeed in a global context. I must admit that not all

of my recruiting efforts resulted in success. In fact, it was these challenging experiences

that ultimately taught me about the kinds of skills to look for and the best questions to

ask candidates in assessing their potential. Continue pg. 2

The Role of the University in the Development of the Global Workforce (continued)

When job announcements include international project-

related work, Japanese applicants tend to first think

about foreign language skills, as there is a mentality

that “International=English”. However, this is not as

straightforward as one might assume. In reality, required

language proficiency varies greatly based on job description

and the seniority of the position. For some positions it may

be sufficient to simply have the ability to make oneself

understood, while other positions may require language

skills at the level of a professional interpreter. However,

even with a professional interpreter’s high level of language

proficiency, this alone will not guarantee that the candidate

will be successful working on international projects.

In fact, there are many other skills that are much more

important than language proficiency, but due to the

prevalence of English language schools and the constant

promotions of universities about the importance of English

language ability, many young people unfortunately tend

to focus on language skills only. Other important skills

include: (1) critical thinking, (2) persuasive communication,

(3) awareness of others’ perspectives, and (4) the ability to

adapt to new ideas. These skills combined with language

ability become

the proper

foundation for the

development of a

globally competent

workforce.

As a member

of a university

committed to

developing a

workforce that is

globally competent, I believe we need to incorporate all

of these skills in a more conscious and holistic manner, not

simply emphasizing language and intercultural classes,

but rather teaching global competency skills across the

curriculum. When I participated in the SAF Academic

Internship Seminar held in Tokyo in October 2011, I

strongly felt that the SAF International Career Development

Programs (ICDPs) will offer practical, hands-on learning

opportunities to students and help them to acquire the

broad range of skills that the global workforce demands.

Why Asian Students “Study Abroad”

In Europe and North America, international undergraduate

student mobility may not be as developed as some

educators would like, but participation in study outside

a student’s home country is not uncommon, and at some

universities it is actively encouraged resulting in relatively

high participation rates. There is something of a tradition

of North American students taking a year or a semester

abroad and transferring credit related to the experience

to their home universities. In Europe the European Union

encourages undergraduates to take part of their degree

program in another EU country via such programs as

ERASMUS. In Asia, whilst there is often much talk about

international student mobility and many universities have

MoUs with foreign universities facilitating study abroad,

participation in such opportunities is remarkably low.

Probably well below 1% of all undergraduate students

“study abroad”. Against this background of relatively low

participation it is particularly important to understand what

motivates students Asian to study abroad.

SAF has considerable experience working with students

from a number of important Asian country’s and territories

and therefore is quite well positioned to comment on what

motivates them to study abroad. But it is important to

note that SAF only works within a network of the region’s

top universities where students most academically and

linguistically qualified to study abroad are to be found. In

Japan - Asia’s most developed country - student motivation

is akin to that of students in North America and Europe:

curiosity, self-exploration, language acquisition, and career

development. Student motivation in South Korea, Asia’s

second major developed society is perhaps becoming

closer to that of the Japanese, but in many ways reflects

Korea’s recent past as a rapidly developing country with

close ties to the USA. Students often see a period of study

abroad at a top North American, European or Australasian

university as adding value to a degree from one of their

own country’s top universities; as such they tend to seek

out study abroad host universities relating to rank, but

Dr. Yoshikazu Watanabe, Nanzan University, Japan

The Choshu Five (continued)

development. They were very interested in commerce,

manufacturing, transportation, government and politics.

Amongst the Choshu Five Yozo Yamao is known to have

done something very close to an internship when he worked

for 2 years in the shipbuilding yards of Glasgow. If we

consider what they did when they returned to Japan, their

study abroad experience most certainly enhanced their

career prospects.

Today on the grounds of UCL there is an impressive

monument to the Choshu Five. There are not many students

who have had their period of study abroad celebrated with

a monument erected by their host university. Next time you

are in London and near UCL drop by and take a look.

Kinsuke Endo: Established the Japanese National Mint

Shunsuke Ito (later Hirobumi Ito): Japan’s first Prime

Minister. Statesman

Yakichi Nomura (later Masaru Inoue): Railway pioneer

Bunta Inoue (later Kaoru Inoue): Minister (Foreign Affairs,

Commerce, Agriculture and Home Affairs). Statesman

Yozo Yamao: Shipbuilding pioneer and founder of the

Imperial College of Engineering as well as the Imperial

College of Art, and Kobu Daigakkô, which later became the

Department of Engineering at Tokyo Imperial University.

Syne to Japan, which to this day is sung at graduation

ceremonies and the tune used to announce the closing

times of department stores and other institutions.

also in relation to where many of their professors as well as

politicians, accomplished business people, celebrities and

others studied, especially in the 70s and 80s. Surprisingly

few students from Taiwan study abroad for a year or a

semester, but those that do are motivated in ways similar

to their Korean counterparts. China is currently the only

developing country where SAF works with some 30 of the

People’s Republic’s top universities. And, as perhaps one

should expect of a developing country, the almost exclusive

motivation of Chinese students is to study abroad to add

value to their Chinese degree. As such, university rank

is paramount. Many students studying abroad through

the SAF International University Network are considering

returning abroad to study for a post-graduate degree and

seek to use their undergraduate study abroad to prepare

themselves for this. In all the countries in Asia where SAF

works, increasing numbers of students see their future lives

and careers in an international context and seek ways to

prepare themselves for this.

SAF will eventually work with students at top universities

elsewhere in Asia notably in developing Asia, but this

will bring into focus other motivations and consequent

difficulties as well as opportunities. As a developing country

China is quite unique insofar as it has focused enormous

resources on developing a group of relatively well-

managed and purposeful universities of rapidly increasing

accomplishment. Students attending these universities feel

accomplished and confident and understand that credit

received from study abroad is a good compliment to the

academic programs of their home university. However, the

university systems of most Asian developing countries are

underfunded and standards are consequently more variable

with students questioning the value of transferring credit

from a Western university to their own.

The SAF International University Network has been

developed to accommodate the different backgrounds and

motivations of students attending SAF member universities

in Asia. Counseling students from different countries and

territories requires SAF staff to understand both the higher

education systems and cultures students work in as well as

their individual motivation to study abroad. Whilst academic

and language test scores as well as cost will influence

student preferences and possibilities, SAF counselors listen

carefully to students’ expectations, wishes and plans. They

also review their academic backgrounds and ensure that

their program of study abroad is viable both in terms of

home university graduation requirements and host university

regulations and expectations. This often requires several

meetings over one or two years and often involves liaison

with home university departments and administrative

offices. Generally there are numerous opportunities for SAF

to guide students toward a choice that is evidence-based

and best for them.

Reducing Financial Barriers to Study Abroad

SAF is committed to reducing barriers, particularly financial

barriers, to international student mobility. We do this in two

principal ways:

Host University Tuition Benefit:

Currently SAF is cooperating with 60+ host universities and

International Career Development Program (ICDP) partners

in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain,

Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. In recognition

of (1) the promotional work SAF undertakes in Asia, (2)

the quality of participants SAF is able to introduce, (3) our

streamlined application and

enrollment processes, and

(4) onsite student support

services, 60% of SAF host

universities provide our

students with a tuition

benefit or reduction. Some

public universities allow SAF

participants to pay their

resident tuition rate while

other universities provide a

tuition benefit or scholarship

that amounts to a 10-25%

tuition reduction. As of April

2012, the average/mean tuition benefit afforded SAF

participants-Academic Year: $2,733 and Semester: $1,596.

Home University Tuition Benefit:

Universities in Asia have been known to double-bill students

who choose to study abroad outside of exchange. That is,

traditionally students have been required to pay full tuition

to both the home university and the host university for their

period of time abroad. Not only is double-billing common,

it is also often difficult for students to receive transfer credit,

even with the presentation of an official host university

transcript. SAF has worked closely with our member

universities to end the practice of double-billing and to

develop policies and procedures for credit transfer. Our

success varies by country.

Japan: Japanese universities have a small percentage

of students who study abroad and most do so through

standard bilateral exchange programs. Until SAF began

working in Japan, students who chose to study abroad

outside exchange would be required to take a leave of

absence and were ineligible for credit transfer. SAF has

been successful in persuading our Japanese member

universities to end or reduce double billing, and to appoint

SAF as an “approved study abroad provider” in order to

facilitate transfer credit.

Korea: Credit transfer for courses

documented on an official host

university transcript is not such

an issue in Korea, but double-

billing outside of exchange is

quite common. In joining the

SAF International University

Network, the vast majority of our

Korean university partners took

seriously the need to end or reduce

the burden of double-billing.

SAF currently has 25 member

universities in Korea -- 64% of these

universities provide SAF participants

with full home university tuition waivers or full waivers plus

scholarships that exceed host university tuition; 34% provide

SAF participants with partial home university tuition waivers;

and only 1 Korean member university does not provide any

financial support to SAF participants.

China and Taiwan: In China and Taiwan opportunities to

study abroad outside of exchange are new and fortunately

tuition fee waivers are not much of a concern given the very

low tuition rates charged. The most important contribution

of SAF has made in these countries is a well-articulated

method for ensuring credit transfer.

SAF Students Along the River Thames, April 2012

SAF Professional Development Program (PDP) 2012

A Warm Welcome Awaits You in Asia

SAF is organizing a professional development opportunity

in the UK this coming September 2012 for member

universities. The host university visit program is scheduled

to run Saturday, September 8 to Wednesday, September

12. It is anticipated the most participants will choose

to attend the European Association for International

Education (EAIE) Conference in Dublin, Ireland following the

program. The schedule tentatively includes visits to: The

Foundation for International Education (FIE), Queen Mary,

University of London, University of Bristol, University College

London, University of the Arts London and the University of

Westminster. The British Council has also graciously invited

the delegation to visit their facilities in London.

SAF will also be happy to coordinate travel to the University

of Limerick for PDP participants who would like to make a

visit following EAIE.

Each year SAF Country Offices (COs) are pleased to

welcome representatives from our host universities travelling

in Asia. A typical visit to an SAF CO would include a staff

seminar and, when time permits, SAF accompanied visits

to our Asian partner universities. This year alone we were

fortunate to accommodate visits by the following SAF host

university partners (partial list).

SAF Office Date Host University/Language Program

SAF Japan 8-Sep-11 University of Queensland

SAF Japan 21-Sep-11 University of Otago

SAF Japan 30-Sep-11 University College London

SAF China 3-5 Oct-11 University of Colorado at Boulder-Beijing

SAF Japan 3-5 Oct-11 University of Washington, ISAYA Institute

SAF Taiwan 4-Oct-11 FIE: Foundation for International Education

SAF Japan 4-Oct-11 American University

SAF Japan 6-8 Oct-11 FIE: Foundation for International Education

SAF China 17-Oct-11 University College London-Guangzhou

SAF Japan 18-Oct-11 Montana State University

SAF China 22-Oct-11 University of Colorado at Boulder-Shanghai

SAF Taiwan 24-Oct-11 University College London

SAF Japan 24-Oct-11 University of California, Los Angeles

SAF Japan 25-Oct-11 University of Montana

SAF Korea 28-Oct-11 University College London

SAF China 11-Nov-11 University of Westminster-Beijing

SAF Japan 21-Dec-11 University of Utah

SAF Japan 10-Feb-12 Victoria University of Wellington

SAF Japan 21-Feb-12 University of California, Los Angeles

SAF Japan 28-Feb-12 University of Montana

SAF China 4-6 Mar-12 University of Westminster -Beijing

SAF Taiwan 12-Mar-12 San Jose State University

SAF China 13-Mar-12 University of Montana -Beijing

SAF Korea 20-Mar-12 University of Westminster

SAF China 9-11 Apr-12 FIE: Foundation for International Education -Beijing

SAF China 16-18 Apr-12 FIE: Foundation for International Education -Shanghai

SAF China 11-Apr-12 University of California, Irvine -Shanghai

SAF Korea 14-May-12 University of Canterbury

Your visits are important to the continued professional development of the SAF staff and to building broader awareness to the value of non-degree study abroad.

Photo courtesy of International Office of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (L to R): John M. Pearson, Vice President – Operations, FIE and

FANG, Fanquan, Vice President, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

FIE Develops a Cross-Cultural Communications for Business Course for SAF Students

When SAF President and Co-CEO, John Belcher,

approached FIE about working with Foundation students to

offer internship opportunities in London, the conversation

quickly turned to the need to identify and support the

unique needs of non-native English speakers undertaking a

professionally-focused internship. Quite frankly, it was this

discussion prompted by FIE’s Vice President – Operations,

John Pearson, that let SAF know we have found the right

internship partner.

The course abstract states: Today’s world of global

business increasingly requires the ability to do business

interculturally. As companies strive to serve international

and even global markets, they require managers located in

different countries and operating across national boundaries

to function effectively. It is important to develop not just

an international perspective, or “global mind set”, but

intercultural understanding and skills as well. This course

will focus primarily on cross-cultural communication and

business etiquette issues in the United Kingdom and

European countries.

FIE has retained the services of Robert P. K. Johnson, a

lecturer, consultant and trainer specialising in intercultural

communication to teach the Cross-Cultural Communications

course. Robert is Lecturer in Cross-Cultural Management

at the European Business School, Regent’s College,

London, and a Visiting Lecturer in Professional and Business

Communication at Birkbeck College, University of London.

His research interests include business relations from an

East Asian perspective, Japanese language and culture,

and politeness across cultures. In his role as a cross-cultural

facilitator, Robert has delivered training programmes

for numerous high-profile international clients including

Deloitte, EADS Astrium, Ernst & Young, Hitachi, KPMG,

the Learning and Skills Council, the National School of

Government, Nomura, Sony and UKTI. Robert is fluent

in English and French and possesses advanced language

proficiency in German and Japanese.

Robert Johnson teaches Cross-Cultural Communications at FIE

SAVE THE DATE ... Announcing the 6th Annual Global Internship Conference (GIC) SAF is pleased to inform colleagues of the upcoming Global Internship Conference (GIC) in Berkeley, California, June

12-15, 2012. Internships have never been so sought after, discussed, analyzed and misunderstood, and the 2012 Global

Internship Conference will bring together both faculty and international educators involved in this rapidly growing field.

SAF Vice President, Carol Carmody, will present From

the Macro to the Micro – Providing Internships for

International Students at the conference. Further

information on GIC can be found at http://www.

globalinternshipconference.org/.

SAF will co-sponsor the 2013 GIC in Singapore.

Further details will be distributed shortly.

SAF Student ProfilesName: Xinyu Luo

Home University: Tongji University, China

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Host University: Purdue University Duration of Study: Academic Year 2011-12

Program Type: Academic

Entry TOEFL: 91 iBT

Course Enrollment:

• ME200 Thermodynamics 1

• ME352 Machine Design 1

• ME444 Computer-Aided Design and Prototyping

• ME497 Ecocar 2 Project

• ME375 System Modeling and Analysis

• ME315 Heat and Mass Transfer

• CNIT155 Introduction to Object-Oriented Program

• ME497 Fluid Mechanics Project

Why did I select Purdue?

I chose Purdue because of its engineering reputation and, eventually, I realized that it deserves this reputation. The ME courses here are fantastic. But to adapt oneself to such a high-level and intense working pace and requirement within one year or even one semester is a quite hard. So, I thought

What are your future plans?

I just received an email from the Purdue Graduate School and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. I have been accepted as a graduate student starting next semester. So, I’ll stay here for two more years and I hope to have the opportunity to attend the Indy 500!

Name: Masato Yamazaki (This article is a translation of the original text in Japanese courtesy of the

SAF Japan Newsletter)

Home University: Keio University, Japan

Major: Policy Management

Host University: University of Colorado, Boulder Duration of Study: Spring + Summer + Fall 2011

Program Type: Language + Academic

Entry TOEFL: 59 iBT

Why did you study abroad?

I lived in Singapore and Malaysia when I was little and I started to think about going overseas often after I entered college. I looked at my home university’s website to explore my options and the SAF program was most attractive to me because SAF offers a wide range of universities and program options.

What did you gain from your study abroad experience?

during study abroad and I feel that I learned from most of my mistakes and challenges. What do you think studying abroad will impact your future?

First of all, I would like to maintain my English language skill because I worked hard to get where I am now. I am interested in enrolling in courses taught in English in my home university and also going to gatherings where people with diverse backgrounds meet. As for my job hunting, I

I want to work in but I would like to work somewhere I can use English and learn from people with different perspectives.

Xinyu Luo attending the SAF Halloween Party, Indianapolis,

Indiana, October 2011

Masato Yamazaki with CU Boulder Rugby Team

Development of the SAF International University Network

After significant development and expansion from 2007 to 2011, The SAF International University Network in 2012 has matured into a stable, cohesive, consortium of leading universities.

We will continue to adjust the Network in accordance to demand and other influences, but we do not anticipate a great deal of change.

Program Officer – SAF China, Beijing Office Helen Zhang began working with SAF in October 2011. Helen earned a Master of Science in Service Management from Rochester Institute Technology (RIT) in New York. While a student, she was an assistant meeting planner for the RIT Corporate Education and Training Center. Helen has significant work experience in the airline and travel industries and just prior to coming to SAF she worked for Continental Airlines.

Program Officer – SAF China, Beijing Office Richard Yang joined SAF in October 2011. Richard received a Bachelor of Arts from Inner Mongolia University of Technology and, during his college years, he participated in the World Connection Program which facilitates language and cultural exchange between international and American students. After graduation, Richard studied English in Hawaii for three months. Prior to joining SAF, Richard worked for Beijing Prepare Education & Consulting Corporation which counsels students interested in attending an American university.

Program Officer – SAF China, Guangzhou Office Vin Su joined SAF as a program officer in December 2011. Vin graduated from Okanagan College Canada in 2009 having completed a Bachelor’s in Business. Before joining SAF, Vin worked in two counseling companies related to international education. His duties included providing students with support and recommendations in their search for an appropriate study abroad experience.

Program Officer – SAF China, Shanghai Office Chris Shi jointed SAF as a program officer in August 2011. Chris obtained his Master of International Business and Bachelor of Business Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne. Prior to his study in Australia he received a Diploma at East China Normal University where he also specialized in business.

Program Officer – SAF China, Shanghai Office Jessie Jiang joined SAF as a program officer in August 2011. Jessie graduated from Shanghai Normal University where she majored in Tourism Management, and she studied abroad for one semester in the United States. Before joining SAF, Jessie worked at Neworld English

Training Centre as a part-time English tutor.

Program Coordinator, Advising & Student Services – SAF JapanYuko Kodama graduated from the University of the Sacred Heart with a degree in English Literature, after which she spent four years working at a Japanese university in the Academic Affairs Division. Yuko then travelled to Australia to further her education and earned a Master’s Degree in International Studies from The University of Adelaide in 2009. Yuko joined SAF in 2011

Program Coordinator, Advising & Student Services – SAF Japan Reiko Yoshida entered J. F. Oberlin University in 2007 and in her first year participated on a one-semester study abroad program through SAF to Gonzaga University to improve her language skills. Due to her athletic talents she subsequently transferred to a college in the United States where she studied on a soccer scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2011. Reiko joined SAF immediately upon her graduation, and is the first SAF Japan staff member to have previously studied on an SAF Program.

Program Coordinator - SAF KoreaSuyeon Jo (Su) joined SAF Korea in December 2011. She is a graduate of Seoul Women’s University where she majored in Media & Communications, and she participated on a one-year exchange program at Wilson College in Pennsylvania, USA. Su is responsible for the Rikkyo University (Japan) students attending the Yonsei University Korean Language Institute (KLI) through SAF as well as general SAF program coordinating duties.

Program Coordinator - SAF Korea Yeojin Lee joined the SAF as a program coordinator in October 2011. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho holding a B.A. in International Studies. Yeojin has lived, studied and worked in the United States, and she is fluent in English and Korean. Yeojin has worked as a translator, interpreter and an assistant study-abroad advisor in Korea as well as in the United States.

NEW SAF MEMBERS 2012

China - Communication University of China

China - Dalian University of Technology

China - Northeastern University

Japan - Chuo University

US - Arizona State University

US - Drexel University

Introducing New SAF Staff

THE CHOS HU FIVE - Study Abroad...

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