The Engineering Alliance for Global Education (EAGLE) Program

Eagle Objectives
What is Eagle?
Japan Initiative
Eligibility
Student Costs and Service

EAGLE OBJECTIVES

The United States has a growing need for technically-trained individuals with the knowledge and experience to function in today's international business arena. In particular, there is a severe shortage of engineers with an understanding of Japan and the world of Japanese industry.

The goal of the EAGLE Japan Program is to create a corps of American engineers with significant first-hand experience in the Japanese industrial setting. To accomplish this goal, the program provides background training in Japanese language and culture and seeks work experience opportunities in Japan for graduates of the training program.

WHAT IS EAGLE?

EAGLE is an alliance of engineering colleges organized to provide gobal educational opportunities for their students. Each of the EAGLE institutions offer Japanese language and cultural courses on their campus. They also view EAGLE as an opportunity to gain greater support as a group to seek industrial work experiences for their students in Japan.

It is estimated that the emphasis on the Japanese language and cultural studies has more than doubled the Japanese language enrollment among the resident enrollments in the EAGLE institutions. Enrollment of engineering students in Japanese language in EAGLE institutions is estimated to be 700 in any one semester.

JAPAN INITIATIVE

It is the goal of the EAGLE affiliation to prepare annually 100+ U.S. engineering students in Japanese language and cultural studies for placement into Japanese industrial work experiences. EAGLE has advanced to the level where adequate numbers of students are being identified, instructed in Japanese language and culture. Now EAGLE has support to offer intensive language programs in Japan as a first international exposure. The need now is to develop a method of placement of these students in Japanese work expereiences.

EAGLE seeks to establish Japanese industrial fellowships which would provide support for one year of the experience period, but also having educational value and providing Japanese industries with tax incentives. Thus, it is being suggested that Japanese industrial fellowships be established for participants. EAGLE seeks to have applicants paid at essentially the same levels and to live in the same environment as beginning Japanese engineers.

Heavy emphasis is being placed on a preparation of students in Japanese language and culture in their home institutions with a focus on intensive Japanese language studies in Japan for one summer. It is the goal of EAGLE to be able to place the students in Japanese work experiences upon graduation at the Bachelor's degree or advance degree level.

ELIGIBILITY

The EAGLE program is open to students majoring in engineering or engineering related studies, i.e., physics, computer science, chemistry, etc.. The EAGLE Japan program requires the completion of at least one year of Japanese language study in an American institution or equal preparation. As a minimum, all students are expect to obtain their bachelor's degree in engineering related studies prior to obtaining placement.

First priority will be given to students attending EAGLE membership institutions. Applcants must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens or the United States. Applications must be received by the EAGLE Japan Program Office no later than November 15 prior to the summer study. Students will be notified of acceptibility by December 13 prior to the summer of study.

STUDENT COSTS & SUPPORT SERVICE

The program will last approximately eight weeks during the summer. The cost of the intensive summer Japanese language and culture course in Japan is $1500 for each participant. This represents approximately 15% of the actual cost of the program. The balance of the cost of the program is covered by the EAGLE Japan program. Travel to and from Japan, room and board, and instruction is included in the cost. Selected students will participate in an intensive program of Japanese language and culture with a focus on practical knowledge and skills necessary for living and working in Japan. During the program, students will visit a variety of industrial and corporate settings and will take part in a range of cultural activities in addition to classroom study of approximately six hours per day. Due to visa restrictions, no one participating in the summer program will be allowed to work during their stay in Japan.

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