"Though I have been the study abroad
adviser for East Asia and parts of Europe
at UC Berkeley since 1991, I had never
been to Asia before I received the IEA
Fulbright for Japan in 1995. Since Japan
is by far my most complicated country
on many levels, it was imperative that
I learn more about it so that I could
do a better job of advising my students
who wanted to study there at one of
our 13 partner institutions. Though
only one of those universities was on
our schedule, the month-long tour of
Japan had many positive and long-term
benefits. It helped me to understand
Japanese culture by learning about its
entire system of education. Now I can
explain to my students the differences
in academic culture that will have an
impact on their experience inside the
classroom in Japan. I am also able to
present a much more thorough pre-departure
orientation because of my own first-hand
observations. We interacted with persons
of varying status and rank in Japanese
society - everyone from children and
taxi drivers to university presidents
and government officials. We visited
numerous parts of Japan so that we could
see for ourselves the variations of
Japanese life that exist within and
outside the sprawling city of Tokyo.
Since I send students all over Japan
to study, it was helpful to get broad
exposure to the country.
Another benefit of the program was the
role that it played in my professional
development. I was the junior member
of our six-person group, and just one
of two front-line advisers to be selected.
I learned a lot from the other more
senior members in terms of what they
did in their positions at their universities
in the United States. It was also because
of this Fulbright that I became more
actively involved in NAFSA since I was
required to attend the conference in
New Orleans to be oriented for the program.
I have attended almost every national
NAFSA conference since then, and even
participated on a panel in a session
on pre-departure orientations for students
going to Japan. It was because of my
Fulbright trip to Japan that I met the
person in JAFSA who invited me to join
the panel.
In sum, the IEA Fulbright to Japan has
helped me to become a much more knowledgeable
and competent study abroad adviser for
Japan, and that was my goal in applying
for the scholarship. I would recommend
it to any study abroad or international
student adviser who deals with East
Asia. And if you don't get selected
the first time, keep applying until
you do. It will be worth the time and
effort in the long run!" Scott McElhinney, Study Abroad Adviser for Japan,
Education Abroad Program, University
of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
"My Fulbright experience in Japan on the International
Education Administrators Program was the best
professional development experience of my
career. It was an intense, non-stop learning
experience during which I acquired knowledge
about Japanese higher education and gained
insight into Japanese society. During that
relatively brief sojourn, I was able to establish
relationships with my Japanese counterparts
that led to further collaboration. . . . Since
my return, I have hosted a number of delegations
of visiting Japanese educators and developed
new and valuable relationships with a wider
range of offices on my own campus as a result.
I am more effective in my relationships with
students and scholars from Japan. I have also
expanded my network of professional contacts
in this country through my connections with
alumni of the program. The IEA program provided
a wonderful blend of professional experiences
and personal opportunities to learn about
Japanese culture and continues to enrich my
professional life through association with
American and Japanese Fulbright alumni. Mary
Jacob, Director, Office of International
Students and Scholars, University of California-Santa
Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
"The primary benefit was that it gave me an
in-depth appreciation for the Japanese higher
education system, which has served me well
in subsequent discussions with Japanese educators
and students. This has enabled me to make
agreements for my university with Japanese
institutions more easily and with an understanding
of the constraints under which they operate.
Perhaps equally important is that I met many
high ranking educators in Japan during my
program who I can contact when I am called
upon to initiate activities in Japan on behalf
of my campus." Peter Zwick, Director,
Office of University Global Affairs, California
State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
"What has become of me as a result of this
experience? I have grown as a person by expanding
my base of knowledge and reexamining my belief
system. It has opened my eyes to new ways
of seeing the world and the role of international
education in the American higher education
system. . . . The Fulbright Program in Japan
has changed my outlook on my work by changing
outlook on life." Roger Ludeman, Assistant
Chancellor and Dean, Department of Student
Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater,
Whitewater, WI
"While I expected the experience to be a profound
one, as most intercultural exchanges are,
it affected me in ways beyond what I imagined.
The IEA program was very well designed to
teach us about the educational system in Japan,
as well as the social and cultural context,
and I learned about all of those things and
more. I now have some understanding of how
things work in Japan, what drives their educational
system and why their economy has been struggling.
The cultural underpinnings of their society
have created quite a different approach to
what looks on the surface like a country much
like the United States. The IEA experience
impressed me anew with how important it is
to learn about a society from the perspective
of its people.
Since my return, my interactions with Japanese
people--students, academics and other professionals
--have been informed by a clearer understanding
of their history, their culture and the
issues they face. I am more effective in
the realm of international education because
of this experience.
I have become a stronger advocate than
ever of cultural exchanges. The IEA experience
led me directly to a new position with the
United States Peace Corps, where I have
the opportunity to support people and programs
which are among the best in the world at
promoting mutual understanding. It is such
a pleasure to be able to work in a field
you love and which you feel has a positive
impact. The IEA experience helped me focus
my goals." Cary Ballou, Program Specialist,
Fellows/USA Program, United States Peace
Corps, Washington DC
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