Members of The U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON) and other U.S.-Japan related organizations, including The Japan ICU Foundation, met yesterday in Washington D.C. to discuss key takeaways of the President Obama / Prime Minister Abe joint statement adopting CULCON’s goal of doubling two-way student exchange by the year 2020. Representatives of over 20 organizations joined Susan Stevenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, in discussing the design and implementation of a new exchange program. This was the fourth such summit convened by CULCON, and the second one attended by JICUF Program Director Mark Flanigan.

CULCON is a binational advisory panel that serves to elevate and strengthen the vital cultural and educational foundations of the US-Japan relationship, and to strengthen connections between the US and Japan leadership in those fields. It works to ensure that the best of new ideas for cultural, educational and intellectual activity and exchange are implemented as optional programs.

Hosted by the Institute for International Education (IIE), warm welcoming remarks were given to all summit participants by IIE’s Senior Counselor to the President, Peggy Blumenthal. Paige Cottingham-Streater, Secretary General of CULCON and Executive Director of the of the Japan-US Friendship Commission, thanked IIE for hosting and all the diverse participants for attending, many of whom came from various cities across the continental United States. The main presentation of the day, “Takeaways of the Obama/Abe Summit”, was expertly given by Susan Stevenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US Department of State (DOS). Ms. Stevenson has served as a CULCON Education Task Force member, in addition to her duties at DOS.

Mark had the opportunity to speak to the assembled group of participants about Global Link, our exciting new summer volunteer program. The reaction was extremely positive, as many in the group concurred with JICUF on the added value of offering short-term, summer program options for exchange students. In this inaugural year, five current ICU undergraduate students will spend their summer living at International House NY and volunteering with a diverse group of organizations. These experiences will be supplemented by professional development sessions and site visits, which will provide an all-encompassing opportunity for real intercultural growth.

Members of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association (JETAA) Working Group also met in conjunction with the CULCON summit. Last year the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation (USJBF) introduced a new initiative “Strengthening the JETAA Network and Connecting Next Generation Leaders.” The project is a grant funded by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP). Its purpose is to build infrastructure in support of a national JETAA and enhance its impact promoting U.S.-Japan relations.

The next CULCON summit will take place this autumn in DC, in conjunction with a visit by the Japanese Education Task Force participants. JICUF will definitely be in attendance, as an active member organization!

For more information on CULCON, click here.