The following U.S. institutions have previously hosted LEAP interns. Use the links below to jump to particpant comments about their site experiences. * represents former participants who gave comments about their practicum sites.
- American University (9th YOSHIDA, Sanae)
- Arizona State University
- Colorado State University (5th IDA, Rina (formerly SUGANUMA), 6th NOTOMI, Takafumi*)
- George Washington University
- Indiana University at Bloomington (5th NAKAMURA, Mayumi, 6th ZODA, Daisuke*)
- Michigan State University (3rd KAJI, Sachiko, 5th MATSUO, Mariko, 6th FUKUI, Ikuo, 9th KANBARA, Kiyomi)
- Northern Illinois University (4th OSHIMA, Minako*)
- Old Dominion University
- Oregon State University (1st SATO, Toru)
- Pennsylvania State University (9th TASHIRO, Megumi)
- State University of New York at Buffalo (9th NAGASAKA, Kozue)
- Texas A&M University (4th HISADA, Atsuko, 5th SHOJI, Kinya*, 6th IWATA, Naoshi*)
- University of Arizona (1st Sato, Hitomi (formerly MIYAZAKI))
- University of California at Berkeley (9th YADA, Masako)
- University of California at Davis (5th KIDA, Nami (formerly YOKOYA)*, 6th KAJIMOTO, Hiroe, 7th SHIMIZU, Mari*, 9th KAWAMURA, Tomoko)
- University of California at Santa Barbara
- University of Colorado at Boulder (2nd SHIRAKI, Kazunari)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (3rd SUZUKI, Megumi*, 5th FURUHATA, Tomoko*)
- University of Iowa (3rd SUMIYOSHI, Soichi)
- University of Maryland (2nd SHIRIASHI, Kenichi*)
- University of Minnesota (3rd MIYASHITA, Akiko (formerly OTA), 5th KOBAYASHI, Shizuno (formerly TERAO)*)
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (6th SAKUMA, Isao*, 7th NAGATAKE, Yoshinobu*, 8th OYA, Yumiko, 9th HAMADA, Norito)
- University of Oregon
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of South Florida (4th OGATA, Tokuo, 5th ARAKI, Kiyoko (formerly SHIMAMURA)*, 6th FURUTA, Tomomi)
- University of Southern Indiana
- University of Texas at Austin (5th YAMADA, Atsuko, 6th SHIBAZAKI, Eriko)
- University of Utah (3rd NAKANO, Tadashi*, 6th ICHIKAWA, Mamiko, 8th IWASA, Aya*, 9th YAMAMOTO, Maho)
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (2nd ARAKI, Yoshie*, 6th YAMADA, Naoko*, 9th KONDO, Kunihiro)
Practicum Site Comments
At CSU, I could make really good relationship. Even after my back to Japan, they give me very useful advice! (6th NOTOMI, Takafumi)
Indiana University at Bloomington
I did my internship at International Center, Indiana University. Also I interviewed various offices dealing with international students and scholars. (5th NAKAMURA, Mayumi)
I worked for International Center of Indiana University Bloomington. There, I was in charge of the meeting of visiting scholars, and I worked as a receptionist. The staffs of the International Center were very kind of me, international students and visiting scholars. I really had many good experiences. (6th ZODA, Daisuke)
NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a student enrollment of nearly 25,000. Its main campus is located in DeKalb, just 65 miles west of Chicago. The university is composed of seven degree-granting colleges that together offer 52 undergraduate majors and 74 graduate programs, including 10 Ph.D. programs, doctoral degrees in Education and the Juris Doctorate. My practicum was held in the Division of International Programs, and I experienced various aspects of international exchange, programs for international students and a wide range of college activities. (4th OSHIMA, Minako)
'Howdy ?' is the best phrase for expressing Texas A&M university. I was overwhelmed by the huge scale of the university - about 5,200 acre campus, Corps of Cadets with proud traditions, and an enormous budget for student activities. Also, my most touching moment there is when I was welcomed by the courteous and elegance receptionist at the George Bush Presidential Library. (5th SHOJI, Kinya)
International Programs Office (IPO) of Texas A&M University is promoting international activities to gDiversify and Globalize the Campush. IPO has 8 units, and it includes 3 centers which develop the programs for specific regions (Asia, Latin America, and EU). (6th IWATA, Naoshi)
University of California at Davis
University of California at Davis is a great choice as practicum site. It is one of the most famous universities for agricultural science and veterinary medicine. UCD has great population of Asian Americans on campus. Youfll enjoy the diversity which is completely different from Montana. Ifm sure that Davis is a great place to learn international program. Davis is also interesting place to live. It is located two hours to the east from San Francisco and west of State Capital Sacramento. World famous Napa and Sonoma winery is also nearby. (5th KIDA, Nami (formerly YOKOYA))
Davis is a beautiful university town and UC Davis is famous for agriculture, veterinary, biotechnology etc., and the biggest campus in UC system. I worked at UOIP (Office for University Outreach and International Programs), SISS (Service for International Students and Scholars), EAC (Education Abroad Center), Extension Center, Office of Public Communication and participated in many meetings and sometimes gave presentations. Also, I could interview some vice provosts, directors, professors, staff, and students about university management, international programs, gender, public relations, etc. Addition to such formal works, I experienced volunteer works for Buddhist Church in Sacramento with Japanese-American Students, tutor works for Japanese language class, and Immigrants Day Event at California State Capitol. And I sent out questionnaires to Japanese researchers and students to ask the difference between the U.S. and Japanese universities and expectation to Japanese universities. During my stay in Davis, I learned how they manage the university and support their professors and students. Also, I found one of answers to the question "why university need international activities and programs?" through many discussions and experiences with Vice provost, my supervisor, and other many staff. The most impressive was UC Davis chancellor's travel to universities in Iran. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Iran, but the Chancellor's party solved many challenges including governmental issues and went there to reconnect with Iranian universities. In Iran, many professors, who were former foreign students of UC Davis, welcomed Chancellor's party and they would exchange students again. Academic connection may exceed political difficulties and grow the future generation who can understand different culture in the world. (7th SHIMIZU, Mari)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois, located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, is one of @the major universities in the U.S.
During my internship, I belonged to the Office of International Outreach which mainly
deals with internationalization to community.
I participated in various activities and help the staff members.
It was also useful for me to have opportunities of interviewing lots of other staff @engaging in works related to international students and faculty members. (3rd SUZUKI, Megumi)I had my supervisor at the International Engagement and Protocol(IEPFhttp://www.ips.uiuc.edu/io/), which is an office at International Programs and Studies(IPSFhttp://www.uiuc.edu/international/) under the Associate Provost for International Affairs. The IEP office is managing protocols regarding international people and also outreach for the people on/off campus. I could also have experiences at the Office of Int'l Student Affairs (OISA: http://www2.uiuc.edu/unit/oisa/), Study Abroad Office (SAO: http://www.ips.uiuc.edu/sao/), and Community College off campus. I would greatly appreciate that I could explore many int'l things on/off campus according to my interests. (5th FURUHATA, Tomoko)
I did my practicum at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) from January to May in 1999. It was challenging for me at that time, with only 1 year job experience as a university staff in Japan, to be an intern at the international office in the states without having enough knowledge about higher education system.
However, Ms. Valerie Woolston, the director of the International Education Services at UMCP & my supervisor, helped me to learn a variety of functions of international educator in America. It is funny that I had become to know how we should go about issues caused by international students in the US before seeing how system works in my own country.
Like people behave as they were taught by their parents, the way of US International officer becomes my standards for having foreign students in Japan. Although five years have passed since I came back to Kyoto, experiences I had there still have been helping me a lot. (2nd SHIRIASHI, Kenichi)
University of Minnesota, International Student and Scholar Services is part of the Office of International Programs, which provides VISA information and counseling for international students and scholars. And many events and training programs are also offered. (5th KOBAYASHI, Shizuno (formerly TERAO))
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
IOP is the office specialized for planning and implementation of customized short-time training program for foreigner group. For the first one month, I joined in the curriculum with other participants, for understanding of the business of IOP. Afterwards, I supported advertisement of programs (especially for Japanese), and had interview with office staffs who were in charge of tasks I concerned. It was very precious experience to devote myself to make friends with each person of Korean student participants. It led me understand international exchange. (6th SAKUMA, Isao)
From January, I started the Internship in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC).
There I was at the Office of Intercultural Outreach Programs, which is a part of the Office of the International Programs.
This office held so interesting short-term special programs. The most characteristic part of the programs provided by this office is that the programs focus not only on the language or culture but also the experience or interest of participants. In January, as the start of my internship there, I joined a monthly special program of 26 Korean university students. They were students who majored Electronic Engineering in the university. The programs focused on to cultivate their vision to recognize the world market, which would be necessary when they become a engineer in a company.
Moreover, each program was a gcustomized programh, which was planned by discussing between UNCC staffs and customers.
From February, I began the promotion of the short-term program. The promotion was not easy. But I think this internship was really interesting, because the concept of gcustomized program,h was completely new for me, so it was very good opportunity to learn this concept. I think this kind of program, especially focuses on not only languages but also major, interest or other elements may be new for many Japanese universities.
The city of Charlotte is a big city, which has the population of more than 500,000. It is a good place to live. The climate is almost the same as Japan. Most area of the city is safe. And Charlotte is convenient to visit famous cities in the east of the U.S.; Boston ? less than 2.5 hours by plane, New York ? about 2 hours by plane, Washington D.C. ? less than 1.5 hours by plane, and Atlanta ? about 4 hours by car. (7th NAGATAKE, Yoshinobu)
Sunshine State, Florida is beautiful place. You can see a lot of friendly and kind people there. (5th ARAKI, Kiyoko (formerly SHIMAMURA))
From January to May 2000, I worked as an intern at the International Center of the University of Utah. The International Center was divided into Study Abroad Office, International Student Service and International Resource Network. I spent first two months in the Study Abroad Office. What I did there was comparison of study abroad homepage of other universities' program and advertisement of summer programs in Japan. In International Student Service and International Network, I mainly did a routine work such as filing materials or reception. University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, venue of 2002 Winter Olympic Games. I enjoyed both cross-country and alpine skiing during the stay. (3rd NAKANO, Tadashi)
I did internship for 5 months at the International Center with two offices in the University of Utah. All staff was so kind and I had a really good time at the University of Utah. I also attended the language school, and shared the room with foreign researchers in the dormitory. I had a lot of experience at University of Utah, and it was a very useful for me. (6th ICHIKAWA, Mamiko)
Staffs of International Center in University of Utah are very friendly and thoughtful. I was able to work in the Study abroad office and International Student and Scholar Services office every other day. This was one of the most wonderful experiences for me. I was also able to have an interview with many people who worked in a different office and I learned a lot of things about the management of university from various perspectives. (8th IWASA, Aya)
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
I experienced various types of work in the Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP). As an intern, I assisted the events for study abroad programs and orientations for international students. I also learned about the paperwork for visa for international students and researchers as well as the classification of documents for international students. I visited other offices in UWM and interview people working in different sections. I also attended some meetings of administrators of local universities in Milwaukee. The OISP staff members were open, energetic and creative people. I felt at home in the office and learned how they organized the events and how they offered the services to international students and researchers. (2nd ARAKI, Yoshie)
UWM is a nice place to do internship. Staffs of Center for International Education (CIE) are friendly and you can learn many differences between an American office and a Japanese office. I could learn so many things from daily work, some CIE meetings and events which I joined. Though Milwaukee is a middle size city, it has many international restaurants and cultural facilities such as museums, theaters, etc. In addition to that, Milwaukee is located just a few blocks from Lake Michigan and two hours from Chicago by car. You can enjoy both beautiful nature and the atmosphere of big city. (6th YAMADA, Naoko)
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