Establishing relationships between countries with mutual interests benefits the larger global environment. Such partnerships also greatly expand opportunities available in higher education for students looking to study in other countries.

One example is a relationship between the United States and Japan, the TOMODACHI initiative, as recently referenced in a White House press release. The TOMODACHI initiative “supports Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake” while also investing in relationships between citizens of both countries to “strengthen cultural and economic ties … and deepen the friendship between the United States and Japan over the long-term.” Educational programs provide this support by offering scholarships and student exchanges, virtual classrooms and partnerships between universities in both regions. Through the program, Japanese students can visit the United States to visit different colleges and make connections with other students. The University of California, Berkeley is one school participating by hosting 300 Japanese students this summer for a leadership program.

The United States also has a partnership with China, which was discussed during the “(third) U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE)”, according to the U.S. Department of State. The two countries “agreed to continue ongoing CPE achievements” and plan to put new measures in place to “expand cooperation” in areas such as education, science and technology, among others. During this meeting, representatives from each country discussed expanding current exchange programs, as well as cooperation “on new programs such as community college exchanges and China Study Fellowships.”

Sources

• United States-Japan Joint Statement:A Shared Vision for the Future; the White House
• Third U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange Joint Achievement Report; U.S. Department of State
• UC Berkeley faculty, staff invited to host Japanese students; UC Berkeley News Center