• 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.

Japanese teachers' applications for the 2012 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for ESD is now available

The applications for the 2012 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is now available. Detailed program description and the application form for Japanese teachers were sent to the Superintendents of Board of Education in 47 prefectures and 19 ordinance-designated cities, the Governors of 47 prefectures, the Mayors of 19 ordinance-designated cities, the Presidents of 56 national universities with affiliated school and the presidents of 308 Associated Schools Project Network.

Forms are also available on this site. The deadline is 31st January 2012.

Start accepting Japanese teachers' applications for the 2012 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for ESD in mid- December 2011

In mid-December 2011, ACCU will start accepting the applications by Japanese teachers for the 2012 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Detailed program description and the application form for Japanese teachers can be downloaded in this site from mid-December.

With the completion of the second year of Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), teachers in both countries are taking steps forward

From 23 April to 7 May 2011, 48 Japanese teachers visited US. Through their two-week stay which included school-visits, lectures and discussions with US teachers, they learned ESD in US to earn hints for their own ESD plans. In the first Joint Conference in San Francisco, they shared information and views on ESD practices. Special session on disaster education was held, and supports were handed to the teachers from Kesennuma where the US teachers visited last year in this program. By the second Joint Conference in Kobe, they reviewed their practices and made necessary revision in their own ESD plans.

From 22 June to 5 July 2011, 48 US teachers visited Japan. At the plenary meeting in Kobe, they were introduced to recent school education in Japan, and how schools and communities coped with the Great East Japan Earthquake. They were divided into 3 groups and each visited Kanazawa in Ishikawa-Pref., Soja in Okayama-Pref. and Nagasaki-Pref., some of the most active areas in ESD in Japan. Through visits to primary and secondary schools, universities, ESD related institutions and cultural sites in the host cities, they successfully shared experiences and expertise with their counterparts. Exchanges with Japanese people through home stay also helped them further understand Japan and its culture.

After the one-week group visits, they assembled again in Kobe for the Joint Conference where they met again with the 48 Japanese teachers who had visited US in spring this year. 8 Japanese teachers who had visited US in last year’s program also attended the conference, sharing experiences and ideas. All the participants discussed possibilities of Japan-US cooperation in ESD, as well as future action plans to take back home.

Forty-eight Japanese teachers selected

Forty-eight Japanese teachers selected by Fulbright Japan for the 2011 program will travel to U.S. from 23 April till 7May. After the plenary meetings and visits in Washington D.C., they will be divided into 3 groups, each visiting Burlington, VT, Milwaukee, WI and Albuquerque, NM respectively. The 3 groups will gather again in San Francisco, CA for a joint meeting with forty-eight U.S. teachers who will travel to Japan in late June. 96 teachers will be required to demonstrate development of ESD as a result of the program.

Changed the date to start accepting Japanese teachers' applications

The date to start accepting Japanese teachers’ applications for the 2011 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been changed from 1 to 3 December 2010.

Start accepting Japanese teachers' applications for the 2011 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for ESD on 1 December 2010

On 1 December 2010, ACCU will start accepting the applications by Japanese teachers for the 2011 Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) will start. Detailed program description and the application form for Japanese teachers can be downloaded in this site from 1 December 2010.

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.