Activity report
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |2008 JAOS Autumn General Meeting
November 19-20, 2008
at Hotel New Akao in Atami
The JAOS Autumn General Meeting was attended by 33 participants representing all 43 member organizations (14 of which were present by proxy). 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 particular, much time was spent discussing December’s registration deadline for the changing of official NPO status by public service corporations. In March of 2009, JAOS will officially change its status from that of a ‘specified non-profit organization’ to that of a ‘general non-profit organization’. Moreover, the formation of JACSAC (Japan Association of Certified Study Abroad Counselors) was announced. This organization consists of candidates w
2nd 2008 JAOS Seminar
October 23, 2008
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
This seminar was sponsored by the STEPEIKEN (The Society for Testing English Proficiency) foundation and non-profit organization JAFSA (Japan Network for International Education) and focused on the theme, “Overseas Studies as Career Enhancement.” Mr. Hiromichi Nakahara, Bureau Chief at the Ministry of Econonmy, Trade and Industry’s Human Resources Office, Mr. Koki Sone, Division Chief of IP Promotion at Nissan Motors, Mr. Koshiro Takada, Secretary General of JAFSA, and Mr. Takuya Kurita, Division Chief of the Job Information and Promotions Department at Mainichi Communications were invited to hold a panel discussion on the topic. A total of 94 people attended the seminar, including many from institutions of higher learning, foreign embassies, and JAOS member organizations. From the perspectives of the government, universities, recruiting agencies, and other businesses, the idea that the act of ‘studying overseas’ (education) supports the purpose of ‘entering the workforce’ (contributing to society) was widely discussed. As a result, it was agreed upon that, while students with overseas experiences should be highly sought after within the job market, the reality is that many problems keep this from happening. For example, university students who have spent a year abroad or those who graduate in June from overseas 4-year institutions occasionally have difficulties finding jobs due to timing problems. The deep discussions on these and other issues made the seminar extremely useful.
4th JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course Screening Seminar and Certification Test
October 18-19, 2008
at ALC Event Hall in Tokyo
The 4th JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course screening seminar and certification test were held over a two-day period (sponsored by JAOS and administered by ALC Press). 25 candidates and 6 instructors participated. Coming just 2 months after the August seminar and certification test, there were fewer participants compared to past events. Content included workshops, a lively and productive screening seminar, a one-hour examination and group presentations. Examination results will be announced at the end of November.
Third JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course Screening Seminar and Certification Test
August 23-24, 2008
at ALC Event Hall in Tokyo
The third JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course screening seminar and certification test were held over a two-day period (sponsored by JAOS and administered by ALC Press). 30 candidates and 6 instructors took part. Despite the fact that there were fewer courses and participants than usual due to the close proximity of the next seminar on October 18-19, the screening seminar, which included workshops, was extremely productive. As part of the certification test, a one-hour examination and group presentations were administered. Candidates will learn if they have successfully qualified for certification at the end of September.
JAOS Seminar for People Working in the Study Abroad and International Exchange Fields
July 4, 2008
at Mainichi Shinbun Headquarters in Tokyo
Utilizing case studies in how trouble has been handled within study abroad programs, participants explored the theme of “Information and knowledge necessary for supervising overseas programs.” JAOS, with support from JAFSA, sponsored this event to commemorate the inauguration of our “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course and Certification Test.” Many opinions were exchanged by the 30 attendees, which represented 20 JAFSA member universities and 13 other organizations.
2008 JAOS Spring General Meeting
June 6, 2008
at Shibuya Forum Eight
The JAOS Spring General Meeting was attended by 40 participants representing 44 member organizations (12 of which were present by proxy). The settlement of 2007 accounts as well as budget plans for fiscal 2008 were confirmed. Furthermore, each task team reported on their activities during the second half of 2007 and announced their plans for the first half of 2008. Of note was the progress report on the “JAOS Certified Counselor Training Course and Certification Test”, which stated that 212 participants took part in the course during the previous year, surpassing our original goal of attracting 200. Additional time was spent covering topics such as this coming December’s institutional reform of public service corporations.
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.