International Communication and Collaboration

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International Communication and Collaboration

• Masayasu AOTANI
• The International Center
• Kyoto University

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International Exchange and Internationalization

• Ideas for Today and Tomorrow

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An Overview of This Lecture

• International Exchange
• Internationalization of Japan
• Japan and the United States
• Studying Abroad and Internships
• Worlds Center of Scientific Research
• Discussion Topics

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Why do we need international exchange?

• Seeing is believing. There is no substitute for
  a firsthand observation or experience.
• One can never understand people in an entirely
  different situation without making a conscious
  effort to do so.
• International exchange is international
  comparison to establish a reference frame.

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Why do we need international exchange?

• It happens in todays shrinking world anyway. Why
  do we not do it right?
• Local standards vs. global standards or even
  universal standards But, note that there may
  not be such a thing as a universal standard.
  Standard Coordinates here

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Types of International Exchange

• Academic exchange
• Cultural exchange
• Collaborative projects
• Overseas assistance

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Internationalization of Japan - 1

• Become more used to dealing with differences
  (foreigners included)
• Create an environment where English alone is
  sufficient to live and thrive
• Allow controlled immigration
• Accept more quality students and younger workers
  from overseas (internships)

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Internationalization of Japan - 2

• Send more students and young workers overseas
  (internships, exchange programs)
• Hire quality foreign workers for permanent
  positions
• Do not lose sight of Asia

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Internationalization of Japan - 3

• Build a country that does not have to make a
  conscious effort to internationalize any more.
• The problem is precisely the fact that we have to
  make a conscious effort to internationalize
  and/or to engage in an international exchange.

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The Situation in the United States

• The difference between domestic and foreign
  is blurred. Hence, there is far less
  discrimination against foreigners.
• Universities in the United States tend to be more
  sensitive to the needs of students and society.
  This is regardless of the citizenship.

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Two Diametrically Different Societies and
Cultures - one
USA Japan

• Value differences
• Verbal communication
• Immigrants
• Multi-racial
• Competition
• Specialists

• Avoid differences
• Nonverbal communication
• Generations in Japan
• Mono-racial
• Cooperation and harmony
• Generalists (education, employment)

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Two Diametrically Different Societies and
Cultures - two
USA Japan

• Winner takes all. (has to be in the first place)
• Individuals
• More resources
• Dislike authority
• Localized politics

• Shared (shared merit payment, diligence bonus)
• Groups
• More resourceful
• Respects authority
• Centralized politics

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What Could Japan Do?

• Would the same model work?
• What modifications are in order?
• What should Japan not do?

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Studying Abroad and Internships

• A similar environment - Unlike attending a
  language school, attending a college as a regular
  student gives you a chance to compare your life
  and activities as a student in Japan with those
  in a foreign country.
• A different environment - Internships give you a
  chance to experience intercultural communication
  in an unfamiliar setting.

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Merits

• Can do what one can never do at home - gaining
  experience
• Ability to make own judgment
• Enhanced problem solving ability
• Improved adaptability
• Time and job management
• Building confidence

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Exchange Programs

• Student and scholar exchange programs are great
  ways to promote international communication.

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Foreign Students in the United States

• More than 400,000 in comparison to 60,000 in
  Japan
• 60s Canadians
• 70s Iranians with oil dollars
• 80s Taiwanese
• Taiwan gt Malaysia gt China gt Korea
• Made In Taiwan Massachusetts Institute
• of Technology

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Remark

• Unlike Japan where many foreign students are
  being brought in by governmental policies, the
  United States needs foreign talents to sustain
  its growth. However, the distinction between
  foreign and domestic is blurred considerably
  by a large number of immigrants the United States
  already has and gets every year.

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Worlds Center of Scientific Research

• 17th Century England
• 18th Century France
• 19th Century Germany
• 20th Century The United States

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In the 21st Century?

• Historically, foreign students tended to go back
  to their home countries after studying abroad.
• For the first time in the history, foreign
  students are staying after they complete their
  education. The United States is very accomodating
  to foreign nationals and immigrants.

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Concluding Remark - one

• Including those from the third-world countries,
  whether Japan can keep and attract foreign Ph.D.s
  is one measure of internationalization. As it
  stands now, it looks as though the United States
  is absorbing all the talents in the world.

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Concluding Remark - two

• There may be an academic and/or technological
  World War III in which Japan faces all
  surrounding Asian nations in the form of leading
  scientists and engineers in the United States.

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What College Students Can Do at Home

• The first step to international collaboration and
  communication can be taken at home. It does not
  make sense to advocate international exchange on
  one hand and ignore other schools and groups
  inside Japan on the other. Japanese are overly
  sensitive to differences and coming in contact
  with alien factors.
• For example, it is most difficult for the
  Japanese to cooperate without compromising
  different views first.

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Think About This - one

• Why is volunteerism thriving in the United
  States? Is it not a country of individualism?
• Is it not best to leave developing countries
  alone? Isnt free competition at the core of
  capitalism? It looks like communism to me. Is it
  not democratic after all to let them achieve
  things for themselves?

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Think About This - two

• Some countries allow dual citizenship. Should
  Japan join the club? Isnt it a great way to
  internationalize?
• In the United States, it seems old people tend
  to wish to be on their own. In Japan old folks
  used to take it for granted to depend on younger
  generation. It seems that is changing now. What
  is causing this? Is it good or bad?

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Think About This - three

• Why are the Californians more environmentally
  conscious than the Japanese? Are they not
  supposed to care about only themselves and their
  immediate surroundings?
• In Germany there are many signs along major
  highways that remind people of the atrocities
  committed by the Nazis. In Japan such atrocities
  are all but hidden from public eye. Why the
  difference?

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Think About This - four

• Sexual harassment is one of the biggest social
  issues in the United States. But, some men feel
  they were provoked because, for example, of the
  way the women were dressing. Does this argument
  merit any discussion?
• Is it not true that we need some material
  richness to lead a comfortable life? Do we
  already have enough? Are we spoiled yet? What
  really is causing all those juvenile crimes?

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Friends

• Ryugakusei center of Kyoto University supports a
  mailing list called Friends for international
  residents and the Japanese with an interest in
  international exchange.

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IAESTE
The International Association for the Exchange of
Students for Technical Experience
Contact Information IAESTE Tokyo Office Tel
03-3498-4581, Fax [phone]
Email iaeste_at_bekkoame.ne.j
p
Homepage http//www.bekkoame.ne.jp/iaeste/ IA
ESTE Osaka Office Tel and Fax [phone]
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Contact Information
Masayasu AOTANI Associate Professor Ryugakusei
Center Kyoto University Yoshida-Honmachi
Sakyo-Ku Kyoto 606-8501 JAPAN aotani_at_cfse.ryuga
ku.kyoto-u.ac.jp http//cfse.ryugaku.kyoto-u.ac.jp
TEL (81)-(0)75-753-2568 FAX (81)-(0)75-753-2562
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