Education students from Kanazawa University and their professors are visiting UCCS and the College of Education (COE) this week.
The exchange group, led by Kanazawa University professor Taku Yamamoto, is visiting to learn more about UCCS, neighboring schools and the United States school system. The four student visitors are attending Japanese and Education classes at UCCS and they and their professors are meeting with faculty to hear about the U.S. pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 education system and teacher licensure, along with visiting a handful of neighboring pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 schools. They’ll also discuss the similarities and differences of Japanese and U.S. education systems with the COE faculty.
“We are thrilled to host this group of education students from Kanazawa University,” said Katie Anderson-Pence, Associate Dean of COE. “It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about educational systems in other cultures and to recognize similar accomplishments and struggles. We look forward to growing a relationship with the education faculty and students at Kanazawa University!”
The idea for this visit originated with Mioko Webster, Senior Instructor of Japanese Languages & Cultures, when she came to work at UCCS in 2019 and reached out to Yamamoto. Webster first connected with Kanazawa University through an exchange program at her previous university and wanted to establish a similar program for UCCS. Exchange visits for Kanazawa University and UCCS were originally planned for 2020 before COVID forced it to be postponed. This tour acts as a test run for the exchange program and hopefully is the start of a back and forth exchange program in the future.
“It has been my goal to start an exchange program with a Japanese university since 2019,” said Webster. “I have waited almost four years for this visit and I am happy the Kanazawa group is finally here.”
The visit includes a welcome breakfast and a campus tour, then COE faculty and Japanese-language students are accompanying the visitors to evening activities including dinners and sightseeing around the Springs.
“This has been a wonderful collaboration across colleges and departments. We are very appreciative of the many faculty, students, and community partners who are participating in the week’s activities,” Anderson-Pence said.
Along with meeting faculty and COE Dean Pichon, the visitors are meeting with Chancellor Venkat Reddy.
“My hope for this exchange is to encourage my students to travel to and study in Japan, using the skills they have learned in my class,” Webster said. “I have around 10 students who wish to study in Japan during the next academic year. I know some hope to study at Kanazawa University.”
Kanazawa University, located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, was established in 1862 as a small medical school. It eventually grew to merge with five other institutions and has grown significantly since its founding. Learn more about the school’s history online.
About the UCCS College of Education
The College of Education offers undergraduate and advanced degrees, initial and advanced licenses and additional endorsements across three departments: Teaching and Learning, Counseling and Human Services and Leadership, Research, and Foundations. The college is home to more than 1,000 students and offers 12 bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees. It is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP). Learn more about the College of Education at UCCS.