Japan-U.S.Educational Commission

Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for ESD

Fulbright Japan announces the Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Jointly funded by the governments of Japan and the United States, this program is designed to introduce innovative Japanese and U.S. K-12 educators to each others’ cultures and education systems and to enhance ESD-related curricula in both countries. The program aims to raise awareness of ESD-oriented school programs and deepen a sense of global interconnectedness between teachers in Japan and the U.S. in four vital areas of ESD focus: food and sustainable nutrition; environment; energy and resources; and international understanding and cooperation. The Japan-United States Teacher Exchange Program for ESD is administered by Fulbright Japan (the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission) with assistance from the Institute of International Education (IIE) in the United States and from the Asia/Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU) in Japan.

The program will be administered in two parts: a study tour of the United States for Japanese educators for two weeks in April 2010 and a study tour of Japan for U.S. educators for two weeks in June 2010. Participants will obtain an understanding of their counterparts’ education system and culture through school visits, cultural activities, a home stay visit, and exchanges with teachers and students. Each study tour will feature a bi-national meeting in which program participants from both countries will share their experiences and expertise in education for sustainable development and collaborate in developing ESD curricula for their home schools.

For additional program information for U.S. educators, including eligibility requirements and applications, please visit IIE Website http://www.iie.org/esdteacher .

For additional program information for Japanese educators, including eligibility requirements and applications, please visit ACCU Website http://www.accu.or.jp/jp/ESDJapanUS/ .