About
TeamUp is a campaign to increase the number of American and Japanese undergraduate and graduate students studying in each other’s country by expanding relevant, active, mutually beneficial and innovative agreements among American and Japanese institutions of higher education.
Background on TeamUp
Over the past 70 years, the United States and Japan have built one of the world’s great partnerships and for generations, student exchange has formed the bedrock of our people-to-people ties. Student exchanges have a central place in helping Japan and the United States address regional and global challenges as partners with shared values, and enhance the global competitiveness of both countries.
Through those exchanges, Japanese and Americans have developed the international experience, language capabilities, and cross-cultural communication skills to serve as stewards of a partnership that continues to benefit all humanity. However, despite their importance, the pace of exchanges between Japan and the United States gives cause for serious concern.
Over the past 15 years, there has been a 57 percent drop in the number of Japanese students studying in the United States. During the same period, Japan fell from being the number-one country of origin for foreign students on U.S. campuses to seventh place. While the number of U.S. citizens studying in Japan tripled during the same period, reaching 6,000, the absolute number is still small, and there is a major need to expand exchange opportunities.
To jointly address these issues, CULCON established an Education Task Force (ETF) that issued a Report and Recommendations in 2013 to the governments, academic institutions and private sector of both countries on how to increase student mobility between Japan and the United States. With the rising importance of educational partnerships as a vehicle for increasing student mobility, the ETF recommended that both countries, “Promote active and mutually beneficial partnerships between American universities and Japanese universities, and extend the range of institutions included.” (C.15). The ETF set the goal of doubling the number of students studying in each other’s country by 2020 to “ensure the future strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship.” CULCON’s goal was adopted by President Obama and Prime Minister Abe at their April 2014 Summit.
In response to ETF Recommendation C.15, the U.S. Embassy Tokyo awarded a grant to the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation to be implementing facilitator of a CULCON-inspired campaign, TeamUp.
TeamUp was again recognized by Prime Minister Abe and President Obama in their April 2015 Summit in Washington, DC. They released a joint statement and FACT SHEET: U.S.-Japan Cooperation for a More Prosperous and Stable World that included:
“[Japan-U.S.] deep economic integration has been an extraordinarily positive force for job creation, wage growth, innovation, and enhanced prosperity for both countries. To further develop those bonds, the United States and Japan endeavor to…
…Continue to strengthen people-to-people ties, including efforts to increase student, research, and legislative exchanges. … continued efforts by the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange, which inspired the “Team Up” campaign to promote university-to-university partnerships …”
The RoadMap Team
The RoadMap has been created by a talented binational team of authors, designers and project managers under the direction of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation’s Executive Director, Ms. Paige Cottingham-Streater, and TeamUp Project Director Ms. Pamela Fields. U.S. Embassy, Tokyo staff played an important role in shaping the RoadMap as well. Special recognition goes to Mr. Jeff Adler, Deputy Cultural Affairs Officer; Ms. Rei Yamazaki, Educational Outreach Country Coordinator; Ms. Margot Carrington, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs; Ms. Debra Reed, Chief of Staff; and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy herself for her active engagement in the project.
Bios of the RoadMap team follow:
Susan Buck Sutton, Lead RoadMap Author
Susan Buck Sutton is Senior Advisor for International Initiatives at the President’s Office, Bryn Mawr College, and Emerita Associate Vice President of International Affairs and Chancellor’s Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University. While at Indiana University, she focused the internationalization efforts of its urban campus, IUPUI, toward a philosophy of international dialogue and collaboration. She was honored with the 2009 Andrew Heiskell Award from the Institute of International Education and the 2011 Senator Paul Simon Award from NAFSA.
Sutton has been President of the Association of International Education Administrators, Chair of the International Education Leadership unit of NAFSA, and on advisory councils or committees for the American Council on Education, Institute for International Education, and the International Association of Universities. She has also been President of the General Anthropology Division of the American Anthropological Association, and Editor of the Journal of Modern Greek Studies. Sutton has published five books and over 60 articles on international education and the anthropology of modern Greece, including the recent Developing Strategic International Partnerships: Models for Initiating and Sustaining Innovative Institutional Linkages. She has also been a consultant to nearly two dozen colleges and universities and given numerous presentations and workshops on the changing nature of internationalization, institutional partnerships, and international service learning.
Sutton received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) – both in anthropology.
Shingo Ashizawa, RoadMap Author
Shingo Ashizawa has led a number of research projects focusing on the comparative study of higher education management and quality analysis of the internationalization review process. He is Professor for Regional Development Studies at Toyo University in Tokyo, where he conducts research on learning outcome assessment of international programs, using e-portfolio system. His publications include “The Role of Higher Education in the Development of Global JINZAI -Global Competence and Learning Outcome Assessment” (2014) and “Strategies and Assessment for Internationalization in US Higher Education” (2008). His past professional experience includes positions at the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), Keio University, Osaka University, and Meiji University.
Ms. Clare Banks, RoadMap Author
Clare Banks is currently the Assistant Director for International Partnerships and IIE Initiatives at the Institute of International Education. In this role, Ms. Banks manages IIE’s Center for International Partnerships and a range of programs focused on fostering sustainable, strategic linkages. Among those programs are the IIE International Academic Partnership Program, the Global Partnership Service, the Global Innovation Initiative, the EducationUSA Leadership Institutes, and the IIE Connecting with the World course in Myanmar. Her most recent publications include Investing in the Future: Rebuilding Higher Education in Myanmar (2013, editor); Models for U.S. Study Abroad to Indonesia (2012); and Joint and Double Degree Programs in the Global Context (2011). Ms. Banks holds a BA in Spanish from Georgetown University and an MA in International Education from New York University.
Hiroshi Ota, RoadMap Author
Professor, Center for Global Education; Director, Global Education Program, Hitotsubashi University
Prior to his current position, Dr. Hiroshi Ota worked for the Office for the Promotion of International Relations at Hitotsubashi University (2007 – 2009), the School of Commerce and Management as International Student Advisor at Hitotsubashi University (2003 – 2006), the Office of International Education at State University of New York at Buffalo (2000 – 2002), and Toyo University, Tokyo (1988 – 1999).
He also worked for the Japanese education ministry’s (MEXT’s) project, “Strategic Fund for Establishing International Headquarters in Universities” as Research Advisor of Project Team for Supporting University Internationalization at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2005 to 2010. His research primarily focuses on higher education policies and practices related to internationalization and international student mobility in a comparative perspective. He is currently a member of the research team conducting a government-funded research project titled “Developing a Globally Minded Workforce and the Long-term Impact of Study Abroad”.
From the State University of New York at Buffalo, Ota received his Ed.M. in 2001 and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education (Comparative and Global Studies in Education) in 2008. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study international education administration in the U.S. in 1996.
Neal F. Cox, TeamUp Branding
Neal Cox is the creative director at millercox.com, a graphic design firm that supports nonprofits. He grew up in Happy Valley. The son of an elementary school principal and a middle school librarian, he spent a lot of time in school behaving or at least getting good at avoiding the principal’s office. His youth was spent drawing, building Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, and constantly using up all of the household masking tape. This desire to create led him to study in the design program at the Pennsylvania State University. He started his design career in Pittsburgh where he learned the importance of precise prepress skills and a sharp X-acto blade. Next, he traveled west for the boom years of Las Vegas and the experience only a larger ad agency could provide, where he worked on big campaigns and art-directed lots of cheesecake photo shoots. In 1999, seeking bigger challenges, he launched Neal Cox Design, providing strategic and refined print and web design services to nonprofits, policy institutes and professional service firms. As the creative director at MillerCox, he believes that the devil is in the details, and his work reflects his commitment to seeing that all projects get the attention to detail that they need to be successful. He enjoys riding his bike and watching movies in his free time.
Heather Miller Cox, TeamUp Website
Heather is the marketing and web strategist at Millercox.com. She began her career as a graphic designer in a small design firm in Erie, Pennsylvania. After moving to Washington, DC, she enjoyed employment as a graphic designer for government contractors and associations. In 1997, she launched her first successful design firm, and in 2002, she launched MillerCox design along with Neal. Heather believes that thoughtful graphic design helps organizations to grow and thrive. She believes in the value of a well-crafted brands. She is as passionate about ink on paper as she is about a beautiful website. Throughout the last decade, she has built a team of inspired designers and writers that integrate strategic thinking, engaging messaging, highly-refined design, and modern technology to create remarkable communication materials. Currently, she is focused on launching a subbrand of MillerCox: the Mighty Little Web Shop, that helps nonprofits and small businesses to grow as a result of having a better website. She lives in Kensington Maryland and enjoys spending time hiking and cooking with Neal and their daughter Kendall.
Mary-Jane Atwater, RoadMap Editor and Project Facilitator
Mary-Jane Atwater is president of Atwater Communications. Since founding the firm in 1996, Mary-Jane has helped nonprofit organizations, associations, government agencies and businesses solve their marketing and communications challenges. The majority of Mary-Jane’s work has been in the international and environmental areas where she has conducted market research and designed and implemented comprehensive communications campaigns. She served for 12 years as the director of communications for the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation where she managed all aspect of the organization’s public relations, communications, proposal writing, editing, publications management, and website development.
Market research is one of Mary-Jane’s passions. Her capabilities include quantitative and qualitative data collection, data analysis and report writing. Mary-Jane uses methodologies that include questionnaires, focus groups and stakeholder interviews. She has conducted focus group research for nonprofit and government clients in Guam, California, Texas, Iowa, Maryland and Virginia.
Prior to launching Atwater Communications, Mary-Jane managed public relations and marketing communications in an agency setting with a client roster of local governments, associations and small businesses. Earlier in her career, she was a rehabilitation counselor for drug abusers and offenders.
Mary-Jane holds an M.B.A in marketing and market research and an M.A. in Education, both from The George Washington University, and a B.A. cum laude from Connecticut College. A highlight of her academic career was a junior year abroad in Paris, France. Mary-Jane served as the 2004 chair of the award-winning Independent Public Relations Alliance of Washington, D.C. and for two years was a vice president of the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Mary-Jane speaks frequently on public relations topics at national and state conferences, and she has written numerous articles on communications topics and strategies. She was the recipient of the Public Relations Society National Capital Chapter’s Thoth awards in 2009 and 2012 and the Thoth Certificate of Excellence in 2007.
Also contributing to the RoadMap were participants in a November, 2014 Focus Group in Washington, DC and a March, 2015 Forum in Tokyo. These were a select set of education leaders representing a diverse group of U.S. and Japanese institutions of higher education including: Dr. Shigeru Aomura, Vice President, Tokyo Metropolitan University; Dr. Caroline Benton, Vice President, Tsukuba University; Dr. Katherine Bergeron, President, Connecticut College; Dr. Hai-Lung Dai, Provost, Temple University; Dr. David M. Dooley, President, University of Rhode Island; Prof. Hisato Ebi, Director, Office for Promotion of International Programs, Kobe Women’s University; Dr. J. Nicholas Entrikin, Vice President and Associate Provost for Internationalization, University of Notre Dame; Dr. Thomas M. Evans, President, Carroll College; Prof. Taiji Furusawa, Assistant Vice President for International Affairs, Hitotsubashi University; Dr. Dennis Galvan, Vice Provost for International Affairs, University of Oregon; Dr. Margery Ganz, Director of the Study Abroad & International Exchange Program, Spelman College; Mr. Hiroaki Hatayama, Vice President for International Relations, J.F. Oberlin University; Dr. Hsiu-Zu Ho, Associate Dean, University of California Education Abroad Program, University of California Office of the President; Dr. Tomiko Hokama, Executive Vice President for Community & International Affairs and Gender Equality University of the Ryukyus; Dr. Toshiya Hoshino, Vice President, Osaka University; Dr. Kathryn Ibata-Arens, Director, Global Asian Studies, Associate Professor, DePaul University; Dr. Marlene Johnson, Executive Director and CEO, NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Mr. Tsuyoshi Kimura, Associate Manager, Office of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba; Prof. Hidetoshi Kitawaki, Vice President, Director, Center for Sustainable Development Studies; Professor, Faculty of Regional Development Studies, Toyo University; Dr. Lori Kletzer, Provost, Colby College; Dr. Mari Kunieda, President, Tsuda College; Dr. Kazuo Kuroda, Dean, International Studies Program, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University; Mr. Tatsuya Kuwahara, Manager, International Planning Group, International Affairs Department, University of Tokyo; Dr. Winston Langley, Provost, University of Massachusetts Boston; Prof. Isao Matsushita, Vice President; Professor, Performing Arts Center, Tokyo University of the Arts; Dr. Paul McVeigh, Associate Vice President, Global Studies and Programs, Northern Virginia Community College; Dr. Peter Moran, Director, International Programs and Exchanges, Office of Global Affairs, University of Washington; Dr. Norimasa Morita, Vice President for International Affairs; Professor, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Waseda University; Dr. Kazumi Noguchi, Associate Professor, Department of Kobe Global-Local Studies, Kobe Women’s University; Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President, Miami Dade College; Dr. M. Lee Pelton, President, Emerson College; Dr. Michael Pippenger, Dean of Undergraduate Global Programs, Assistant Vice President of International Education, Columbia University; Mr. Richard Russo, Dean, Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, & Lifelong Learning, University of California Berkeley; Dr. Denis Simon, Senior Adviser on China and Global Affairs, Office of the President, Arizona State University; Mr. Michael Stopford, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Affairs, University of Nebraska – Kearney (UNK); Dr. Bruce Stronach, Dean, Temple University, Japan Campus; Dr. Miki Sugimura, Vice President for Academic Exchange; Professor, Comparative and International Education, Sophia University; Dr. Yuko Tanaka, President, Hosei University; Dr. Ichiro Uyeda, Executive Vice President; Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, Hokkaido University; Dr. Yoshihito Watanabe, Trustee; Vice-President, International Planning and Public Relations; Professor, The Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University; Prof. Yuji, Yamada, Managing Director, Office for Center of International Programs, Fukuoka University; Mr. Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Manager, Center for International Education, Waseda University; Dr. Masahiro Yamaguchi, Associate Executive Vice President for International Affairs; Director, Global Learning Center, Professor of Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University.
First up: Why Partnerships, Why Now?