A two-week experience in Japan recently helped Provost Danette Ifert Johnson work toward establishing new Kalamazoo College study abroad partnerships and opportunities for students.

The Fulbright Scholars Program honored Ifert Johnson with an International Education Administrators (IEA) Award, which allows U.S. higher education administrators to learn about participating countries’ higher education systems. The people involved exchange information on best practices, explore the potential for new partnerships with institutions of higher education in the host country, and raise the profile of their home institution within the host country and the U.S. cohort.

Ifert Johnson specifically visited the students, faculty and staff at several institutions including the University of Tokyo, Tsuda University, Hiroshima Shudo University, Kansai University, and existing K study abroad partners Sophia University and Waseda University. Her cohort also met with officials from Education USA and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). During the program, they each completed an individual project for which Ifert Johnson visited International Christian University and Kyorin University.

In addition to Japan, IEA alumni have visited France, Germany, Taiwan, Korea and India.

“Given K’s strong commitment to study abroad, I was initially interested in participating so that I could better support our institutional efforts,” Ifert Johnson said. “IEA programs exist in several countries around the world, so I worked with Center for International Programs Executive Director Margaret Wiedenhoeft to determine what would be of greatest strategic benefit to us and our students. I was honored to be selected to represent K abroad and I’m looking forward to seeing how our new and strengthened relationships benefit our students.”