The International Association of Language Centres has announced a partnership with Japanese agency association, JAOS, and IALC members will provide scholarships to assist Japanese nationals to communicate with visitors, as global events arrive in Japan.
Upwards of €100,000 has already been promised by IALC partner schools, which will go towards four week packages of tuition and accommodation, pledged to those who volunteer at upcoming international events in Japan.
The country is set to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019, before the capital Tokyo plays host to the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
A whole range of languages will be on offer to the volunteers, including English, French, German and Russian, offered by various IALC member schools.
“An innovative multilayered initiative which will impact positively in the Japanese study abroad industry”
The program, which will be known as the JAOS Scholarship Program, is also inspired by the 25th anniversary of JAOS. The Japanese association’s members will award the scholarships.
IALC president Giorgia Biccelli said the project would continue to have an impact on Japanese international education long after the World Cup and Olympics leave.
“[The] IALC and JAOS scholarship campaign is an innovative multilayered initiative which will impact positively in the Japanese study abroad industry,” she said.
“For both our organisations this first step opens up future opportunities which will be beneficial for all our members.”
Culture and Education are strands of the Tokyo 2020 legacy plan, and it is hoped that both organisations and their clients/members will benefit from the legacy of the Games.
The longevity of the program and its effects is also the point made by IALC vice president of marketing Robin Adams, who added, “through the commitment of both JAOS and IALC member schools, we will be able to assist Japanese students in going beyond learning a language, and to explore unique experiences in preparation for their efforts volunteering at international sporting events in Japan”.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup will take sports fans from around the world to 12 venues across the country, while the Olympic and Paralympic events will be focused on the capital Tokyo, but bring many more fans from even more nations.
