Promotion of international exchange in public high schools
The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education promotes international exchange to develop human resources that are capable of leading the world with an open and global mindset.
In principle, we collaborate with local educational institutions on the implementation of an original overseas dispatch program that allows students at schools run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to deepen what they learn at school through practical experience that can only be gained in the field.
Additionally, we create opportunities for even more students to engage in direct exchange activities. We do this by accepting students from abroad into our schools once our domestic students have gained a greater understanding of Japanese culture, Tokyo lifestyles, and the other appeals of Japan and Tokyo.
Furthermore, we designate overseas schools to promote inter-school exchanges with our schools in Tokyo to support international exchange activities at our schools.
Overseas training program for Metropolitan high school students
The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is increasing intake of students from abroad so that even more Tokyo Municipal High Schools can provide students with opportunities for international exchange to deepen their international understanding while in Japan.
Intake of international exchange students
From 2022, we have sent students from our municipal high schools not simply to English speaking countries and regions, but also to a variety of other areas for a week or so to foster in them an open and global mindset and a readiness to embrace other cultures.
(External link)
(External link)Overseas training program for Metropolitan high school students
Since 2022, we have sent students from our metropolitan high schools not only to English speaking countries and regions, but also to a variety of other areas for a week or more. This program aims to foster in students an open and global mindset as well as a readiness to embrace other cultures.
Comments from Participants:
- 'I felt my perspectives broaden as I was able to come into contact with a variety of values and ways of thinking.'
- 'It offered me an opportunity to think about my future career, like attending a university overseas or working at a global company.'
- 'I reaffirmed the necessity of actively conversing in English to cooperate with people around the world.'
- 'I was able to think about the sort of things I could do by coming into direct contact with different cultures.'
- 'I learned the fun and importance of thinking about things from a variety of perspectives through engaging in debate with the other students who participated.'
Overseas schools for the promotion of inter-school exchanges
In 2016, we designated several overseas schools as sister schools. Moreover, in order to support international exchange activities at our schools, in 2018, we designated several overseas schools to promote inter-school exchanges with our schools in Tokyo.
Sister-schools partnership agreements
Examples of exchanges through sister-school partnership agreements
Examples of exchanges through sister-school partnership agreements
Various methods are used, such as exchange through sister-school partnership agreements, short-term visits and stay at sister schools, communication via the internet / postal mail, and cooperate-learning under the same theme online.
Here is an 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
The BOE is expanding acceptance of foreign students so that more and more public high school students can communicate with foreign students at their own schools.
Agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with British Columbia Ministry of Education, Canada, FY2015
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 a 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 many embassies call home.
