Japanese Universities Information Session
Written By: John McLaughlin (SJA volunteer and emcee)
After a year hiatus, SJA resumed hosting a Japanese University Information Session at the Shirlington Branch of the Arlington Library on Thursday, April 16 from 5:30-7:00 pm. The event featured presentations by Hiroshi Ando, Education Counselor at the Embassy of Japan, on why and how to study abroad in Japan in general and by representatives of the Kyoto University of Advanced Sciences and Ritsumeikan University, also in the Kyoto area, on their English medium programs for international students.
Approximately 25 high school students and their parents attended the engaging session. Japan is now the #5 destination for American university students to study abroad, after Italy, Spain, the UK and France. All of the presenters emphasized how annual tuition is usually under $10,000 per year at the current yen-dollar exchange rate and living expenses minus airfare is probably an equal amount but could be less. There are also scholarships to study in Japan for undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is a tremendous value, a chance to become proficient in Japanese and learn more about Japanese and East Asian cultures. Presenters also featured the high employment rates in Japan as well as acceptance into top international graduate schools for international students in Japan. The JET program has a successful alumni network and was featured as an opportunity for American students who study Japanese in college either in the USA or in Japan. Some families were interested in internships with Japanese companies in the Washington, DC area for high school and college students. There isn’t one clearinghouse for these opportunities, but they do exist through various networks such as the Japan America Society of Washington, DC and the Mansfield Foundation. SJA hopes to continue to offer these sessions a couple times per year based on when Japanese university representatives are visiting the Washington, DC area.
SJA board members Fumi Lux and Junko Katada helped arrange this event including visits to Japanese classes at various DC-area high schools. Former board member John McLaughlin emceed this event. Please contact SJA if you are interested in helping to put on the next information session.
