• Japanese

What is Japan-United States Teacher Exchange Program for ESD?

Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) is co-operating with the Fulbright Japan (Japan-U.S. Educational Commission) in its new program, Japan-United States Teacher Exchange Program for ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) that started in 2009. 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 areas of ESD focus.

48 U.S. teachers visited Japan

From 23 June to 6 July 2010, 48 U. S. teachers visited Japan.
At the plenary meeting in Tokyo, they were introduced to recent changes in Education in Japan, and then they were divided into 3 groups and each visited Tobetsucho in Hokkaido, Kesennuma City in Miyagi Pref. and Matsuyama City in Ehime Pref. some of the most active areas in ESD in Japan. Through visits to primary and secondary schools, universities, NPOs and ESD related institutions and sites in the host cities, they successfully shared experiences and expertise with their counterparts. Exchanges with Japanese people through homestay also helped them further understand Japan and its culture. After the one-week group visits, they assembled again in Tokyo for the Joint Conference where the Japanese educators who had visited US in spring this year also participated, and shared experiences and ideas for future action plans in ESD.

Japanese Teachers visited U.S.

47 Japanese teachers who visited US returned to Japan.
Through their two-week stay which included school-visits, lectures and discussions with US teachers, NGOs, etc., they learned both differences and similarities in ESD in the two countries. They were able to earn hints for future network and challenges for the future.
The second phase of the program is US teachers visit to Japan in June-July 2010. At the end of the stay, the second Joint Conference will provide opportunity for the teachers to confirm and check their practices, and make necessary revision in their own ESD plans.

Japanese Teachers preparing for their visit to U.S.

Forty-eight Japanese teachers selected for the 2010 program are preparing the study tour to U.S. starting from 24 April till 7May. After the plenary meetings and visits in Washington D.C., they will be divided into 3 groups, each visiting New Haven, CT, Minneapolis, MN and Portland, OR, respectively. The 3 groups will gather again in San Francisco, CA for a joint meeting with U.S. partivipants.

U.S. Teachers to visit Japan

Forty-eight U.S. teachers will visit Japan from 23 June to 6 July 2010. After the plenary meetings and visits in Tokyo, they will be divided to 3 groups, and will visit Tobetsu-cho in Hokkaido, Kesennuma in Miyagi-Pref., and Matsuyama in Ehime-Pref., respectively. To conclude the program, they will gather again in Tokyo for the joint meeting with the Japanese counterparts participants to share their experiences and expertise.

Application for Japanese teachers closed

The application for Japanese teachers for the 2010 program is now closed. The deadline was Tuesday, 16 March 2010.