Promotion of international exchange in public high schools
The BOE promotes international exchange between public high schools in Tokyo and schools overseas to enhance and enrich the international mindset of students. International exchange includes sister-school activities, invitation of foreign students to public high schools in Tokyo, and education for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Sister-school activities and invitation of foreign students have been conducted as unique projects of some public high schools in Tokyo.The BOE has started to support the promotion of sister-schools since 2015 and invitation of foreign students to public high schools in Tokyo since 2016.
To facilitate the above international exchange activities, the BOE promotes partnerships with public educational organizations of foreign countries, aiming for being a liaison between public high schools in Tokyo and overseas.
Sister-schools partnership agreements
Examples of exchanges through sister-school partnership agreements
Various methods, such as exchange through sister-school partnership agreement; short-term visit and stay in sister-schools, communication using internet and postal mail, cooperate-learning under the same theme using internet, and so on are used.
Here is introduction of some activities of some schools.
Promote International Exchange at Tokyo Metropolitan High Schools
One day/half day interactions with overseas schools
In addition to initiatives by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also provides 1-day and half-day opportunities for high school students to interact with foreign high school students.
See more details about supporting school visits for educational trips below: http://www.gotokyo.org/en/education/index.html(External link)
Invitation of foreign students to the public high schools in Tokyo
BOE are expanding acceptance of foreign students so that more and more public high school students can communicate with foreign students at their own schools.
Partnerships with educational organization of overseas
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with British Columbia Ministry of Education, Canada, FY2015
On September 15th, 2015, the BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with the British Columbia Ministry of Education, Canada. This was the first time that the BOE signed an agreement with a foreign educational organization.
Based on this MOU, the BOE has added schools and universities in British Columbia as possible study abroad destinations for Japanese teachers of English and students.
The BOE builds relationships and exchanges dialogues actively with educational organizations overseas and supports international exchange of public schools in Tokyo with overseas.
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia, FY2016
On October 6th, 2016, the Tokyo BOE signed the Memorandum of Understanding about education between Tokyo BOE and the Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia.
Tokyo BOE and NSW have been developing friendly relations including, which has included through professional development programs for Japanese teachers.
In May 2015, Tokyo Metropolitan Government signed an agreement with NSW on Exchange and Cooperation.
Objective
Aims to promote various initiatives including international exchange for development of global human resources
The Other Party
The Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher mobility
- Information exchange
Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia, FY2017
On August 22nd, 2017, the Tokyo BOE renewed its Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia.
With the renewed Memorandum of Understanding, Tokyo BOE and NSW have added Global Friendship Project as part of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Education to the areas of cooperation agreed upon when the Memorandum of Understanding was agreed previously.
Objective
Aims to further promote various initiatives, including international exchange, for development of global human resources
The Other Party
The Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Teacher and student mobility
- Cooperation on Global Friendship Project
- Information exchange
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education and Training of the State of Queensland, Australia, FY2016
On November 17th, 2016, the BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Department of Education and Training of the State of Queensland, Australia.
We have been developing good relationships with the State of Queensland through the overseas language training program for foreign language teachers.
Objective
Aims to promote various initiatives including international exchange for development of global human resources
The Other Party
The Department of Education and Training of the State of Queensland, Australia
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher mobility
- Information exchange
Agreement of Memorandums of Understanding with the Department of Education, Taipei City Government and the Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Taiwan, FY2016
The Tokyo BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Department of Education, Taipei City, Taiwan on December 19th, 2016 and with the Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Taiwan on December 20th, 2016.
The Memorandum of Understanding with Taipei City follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the State of Queensland in Australia in November 2016 and is the fourth such agreement that the Tokyo BOE has signed with an overseas local government this year, and the agreement with Kaohsiung City is the fifth such agreement.
Objective
Aims to further promote various initiatives, including international exchange, for development of global human resources
The Other Party
- The Department of Education, Taipei City, Taiwan
- The Bureau of Education, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
In the past, a number of public high schools in Tokyo have experienced hosting of student visits from both schools and other activities with the aim of student exchange
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher mobility
- Information exchange
ARRANGEMENTON EDUCATION COOPERATION Between TOKYO METROPOLITAN BOARD OF EDUCATION, JAPAN And EDUCATION NEW ZEALAND, 2017
On February 16th, 2017, the BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with Education New Zealand.
Objective
Aims to promote various initiatives including international exchange for development of global human resources
The Other Party
Education New Zealand
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher mobility
- Information exchange
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Thailand, FY2017
On Wednesday, February 21st, 2018, the Tokyo BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Office of the Basic Education Committee, Thailand.
The Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Office of the Basic Education Committee, Thailand is the Tokyo BOE’s seventh such agreement following the Memorandum of Understanding with Education New Zealand in February 2016.
Objective
Aims to further promote various initiatives, including international exchange, for development of global human resources
The Other Party
The Office of the Basic Education Committee, Ministry of Education, Thailand
* The Office of the Basic Education Committee, Thailand oversees primary and secondary education in Thailand
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Teacher and student mobility
- Cooperation on Global Friendship Project
- Information exchange
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, FY2018
On Friday, December 21, 2018, the Tokyo BOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding about education with the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.
This is the Tokyo BOE’s eighth such agreement following the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Thailand in February 2018.
Objective
Aims to further promote various initiatives including international exchange for the development of global human resources
The Other Party
The Beijing Municipal Education Commission
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher exchange
- Information exchange
Conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with the Paris Academy, FY2019
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education concluded a memorandum of understanding about education with the Paris Academy on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.
Concluding a memorandum of understanding with an overseas educational institution is the ninth time after the Beijing Municipal Education Commission in December 2018.
Objective
We will promote various initiatives such as international exchange to develop human resources to be successful on a global scale.
The Other Party
Paris Academy (Universities in the Paris region)
The Paris Academy is a local agency of the French Ministry of National Education, has jurisdiction over everything from primary education to higher education in Universities in the Paris region.
Areas of Cooperation
Its cooperation in the following fields with the main themes of promoting language education, culture, and Olympic and Paralympic education.
- School relationships
- Student and teacher exchange
- Information exchange
Conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanoi City Department of Education and Training, FY2021
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education concluded a memorandum of understanding about education with the Hanoi City Department of Education and Training on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
Concluding a memorandum of understanding with an overseas educational institution is the tenth time after the Paris Academy in May 2019.
Objective
We will promote various initiatives such as international exchange to develop human resources to be successful on a global scale.
The Other Party
Hanoi City Department of Education and Training
Hanoi City Department of Education and Training has jurisdiction over primary and secondary education institutions in Hanoi.
Areas of Cooperation
- School relationships
- Student and teacher exchange
- Information exchange
Memorandums of Understanding with Overseas Educational Organizations
| City/States | The Other Party | Date Signed | Areas of Cooperation |
| British Columbia （Canada） | The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Advanced Education of the Province of British Columbia of Canada | September 15, 2015 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| The State of New South Wales (Australia) | The Department of Education of the State of New South Wales, Australia | October 6, 2016 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| The State of Queensland (Australia) | The Department of Education and Training of the State of Queensland, Australia | November 17, 2016 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| Taipei City (Taiwan) | The Department of Education, Taipei City Government | December 19, 2016 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| Kaohsiung City (Taiwan) | The Education Bureau,Kaohsiung City Government | December 20, 2016 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| New Zealand | Education New Zealand | February 16, 2017 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher mobility ・Information exchange |
| Thailand | The Office of the Basic Education Committee, Ministry of Education, Thailand | February 21st, 2018 | ・School relationships ・Teacher and student mobility ・Cooperation on Global Friendship Project ・Information exchange |
| Beijing | The Beijing Municipal Education Commission | December 21, 2018 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher exchange ・Information exchange |
| Paris | Academy de Paris (University district of Paris) | May 28, 2019 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher exchange ・Information exchange |
| Hanoi | Hanoi City Department of Education and Training | June 9, 2021 | ・School relationships ・Student and teacher exchange ・Information exchange |
Educational opportunities between British Columbia and Tokyo
Tokyo BOE Hosts Information Session on Educational Opportunities with New Zealand
International education seminar for teachers
Australia – New South Wales (NSW) Principals from public schools in NSW presented new model classes and held information exchange sessions.
The Japan – Taiwan High School Students Summit was held
Program for the Development of Next-Generation Leaders
Since the 2012 fiscal year, we at the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education have implemented the "Program for the Development of Next-Generation Leaders," a study abroad support program aimed at 200 students at municipal senior high schools, junior high schools and six-year secondary schools (150 students in 2012). Please refer to program-related web pages for detailed description of operation.
Program for the Development of Next-Generation Leaders
World Friend Project
There are many countries in the world. Through leaning about the various peoples, languages, cultures and histories of those countries, this initiative strives not only simply to extend knowledge, but teaches the diversity of the world and fosters understanding of how important it is to respect an array of value systems.
To be specific, in consideration of balance among the five continents, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education will take five countries that are scheduled to participate and present them as a single group in a chart by country to municipal boards of education and metropolitan schools. Each school will take this knowledge, study in-depth about countries scheduled to participate in the event, and engage in activities to deepen cultural exchange as much as possible.
On this occasion, regions and schools will deploy training that makes use of the bonds forged with sister cities and schools.
We will also enact international exchange utilizing the special qualities of Tokyo, where many exchange students engage in study, people of all nations live, and a multitude of embassies call home.
