EIS AT A GLANCE 2001-2002

The Japan-United States Educational Commission (JUSEC) was established in 1979 as a binational commission with support from the governments of Japan and the United States. From 1951 to 1979 the Fulbright office was funded by the United States government alone, and from 1949-51 approximately 1,000 Japanese traveled to the United States for study under the GARIOA (Government Aid and Relief in Occupied Areas) Program.

The Educational Information Service (EIS) of JUSEC was established in 1964. At the present time there are three full-time and two part-time advising staff.

In FY 2001/2002, there were 46,810 students from Japan studying at U.S. institutions.  For further details of Japanese students studying in the U.S., see "Japanese Student Statistics".

EIS Activities:

• Pre-Departure Orientation Program (PDO): Each May, EIS provides a PDO for students who have been accepted into undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the U.S. for the following academic year. The Tokyo PDO sessions are divided into three graduate sessions (natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, professional programs) and one undergraduate session. An undergraduate and graduate combined session is offered in Osaka.
  
  
• Group Advising Sessions in Tokyo: EIS provides monthly group advising sessions separately for the graduate and undergraduate levels in Tokyo (18 sessions per year).
  
  
• Outreach Program in Other Cities: EIS provides group advising sessions along with individual advising sessions in Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Naha (2 group advising sessions per city per year) usually in the fall. In addition, by invitation, EIS visits local universities and other international centers throughout Japan to provide group advising sessions.
  
  
• U.S University Fairs: In cooperation with IIE and Hyogo International Association, EIS manages university fairs in Tokyo and Kobe. EIS also participates in study-abroad fairs conducted by other governmental organizations and universities.
  
  
• Publications: EIS publishes a bilingual (Japanese and English) Pre-Departure Orientation Handbook and numerous handouts on studying in the U.S.

• Support services for the Fulbright Program: EIS provides support for the American International Education Administrator (IEA) program by assisting in the planning and execution of the program.
  
  
• JAFSA (Japan Network for International Education): EIS staff are involved in JAFSA activities as JAFSA training committee members. Professional development programs on sending students abroad are conducted by EIS staff for university administrators in Japan.
  
  
• Fulbright 50th Anniversary Special Event: Special advising sessions in commemoration of the Japan-U.S. Fulbright Program 50th Anniversary was held at the Hyogo International Plaza in cooperation with the Hyogo International Association in April. EIS held sessions for high school teachers regarding information on guidance and advising for high school students who intend to enter U.S. colleges and universities, and for prospective students who are seeking opportunities to study in the U.S.
  
  
• Sessions for High School Teachers: There is an increased demand to conduct advisor training for high school teachers in recent years. This demand is due to the increase of high school students who are seeking admission to U.S. colleges and universities as freshmen or who seek higher education opportunities at both Japanese and U.S. institutions. In addition to the session for high school teachers in Kobe, EIS held such sessions at Temple University, Japan and the American Embassy Commercial Section's Study in the U.S. Fair.

Future Directions/Issues:

• The Web: JUSEC and EIS see the development of interactive, internet-based, advising services as key to the continued evolution of educational advising in Japan. In the previous few years, visitors to the EIS website have increased by about 70% per year. The website is constantly improved, and EIS plans to develop web advising sites in the future.
  
  
• Cooperation with the American Embassy: EIS tries to enhance study in the U.S. opportunities in Japan by cooperating with the Cultural/Public Affairs section and Consular section of the American Embassy and American centers in Japan in terms of public relations, advocacy, public policy and visa issues. EIS is pleased to see the American Embassy and JUSEC cooperating to achieve common goals, and sees these efforts as being in line with efforts of NAFSA and other international education organizations to persuade the US government to establish an international education policy and for the US international educational community to begin to "speak with one voice."
  
  
• Cooperation with other English speaking countries: EIS closely communicates with the British Council, the Canadian Embassy, the Australian Embassy and the New Zealand Embassy in Japan by exchanging ideas, statistics and information on current trends, issues, and event schedule such as fairs and advising sessions for each country.
  
  
• Maintaining government and corporate support for EIS activities. EIS remains committed to providing its services free to users as a way to distinguish itself in the public's mind from the for-profit study abroad agencies.

(As of January, 2003)