Alum helps launch Japan exchange - Padnos International Center


Padnos International Center Study Abroad Pre-Departure International Students International Scholars
About PIC Services Hours PIC Staff PIC Peer Advisors PIC Strategic Plan Faculty & Staff Grants for GVSU Faculty/Staff Accompanying Students Abroad Teaching Abroad Establishing an International Partnership Faculty Staff Associates Study Abroad Resolution on destination countries for study abroad OASIS Administrator Major Advising Sheets Global Connections Archive Studies in Trans-Atlantic International Relations Project (STAIR) Application Student Exchange Information Cracow University of Economics University of Debrecen Applying For Hungarian and Polish Visa Faculty Exchange Grant Resources for Outbound Faculty Resources for International Faculty Photos Success Story Archive Film organization gives global view Alum Helps Launch Japan Exchange Fulbright winner teaches abroad Padnos International Center earns national honor GVSU grads travel abroad to teach Helping African immigrants Study abroad program ranks 10th Nepali student wins scholarship Scholarship funds Poland study Scholarship recipient reaches out to refugee community Sociologist earns Fulbright Student studies Arabic in Jordan Study abroad fuels film interest Contact Us Padnos International Center 130 Lake Ontario Hall Allendale, MI 49401 Phone: 616-331-3898 Fax: 616-331-3899 pic@gvsu.edu	Alum helps launch Japan exchange When Yuichi Kondo first came to Grand Valley State University from Japan some 30 years ago on an exchange program, he loved it so much that he transferred to Grand Valley to complete his degree. Now, he is the associate dean of academic affairs at Reisumeikan Asia-Pacific University (APU), in Beppu, Japan. He returned to his alma mater to help launch a new exchange program between the two institutions. Kondo studied at Grand Valley as part of a long-standing student exchange agreement with International Christian University near Tokyo. He transferred to Grand Valley in Fall 1978, and earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences in 1979. He earned master’s and doctorate degrees in speech communication from the University of Minnesota. “Coming to Grand Valley transformed my life. My career in international education started with my experience at here,” Kondo said. “Without coming to Grand Valley, I wouldn’t have pursued my graduate work at the University of Minnesota.” That’s the kind of transformative experience Kondo hopes to provide students at his institution. Grand Valley and APU signed a memorandum of understanding to launch what is hoped will become a student-for-student exchange partnership. When Kondo returned to campus having been gone for three decades, it was hard for him to find familiar sights from his time in Allendale. But he said the warmth and friendliness was unmistakable. “Because of his own experience with Grand Valley’s safety, charm and welcoming atmosphere, I know that it is the perfect kind of place for APU’s undergraduates to experience the world. And I’m sure that Grand Valley students would feel the same way about APU.” By Brian J. Bowe
	Last Modified Date: December 22, 2008
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