TeamUp

TeamUp

TeamUp is a campaign to increase student mobility by expanding innovative agreements between U.S. and Japanese universities. TeamUp is inspired by CULCON, implemented by the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation and supported by the U.S. Embassy Tokyo.

TeamUp’s goals are to:

  • Strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship;
  • Help reach the CULCON goal of doubling U.S.-Japan student mobility by 2020;
  • Build a globally talented workforce;
  • Cultivate new, innovative U.S.-Japan educational partnerships;
  • Expand the pool of students and institutions engaged in U.S.-Japan mobility; and
  • Create a diverse next generation of stewards of the U.S.-Japan relationship.

TeamUp’s major components include:

  • TeamUp RoadMap: a comprehensive online resource on creating and expanding partnerships;
  • TeamedUp Familiarization Tour: an opportunity for representatives of U.S. institutions, especially those that have not engaged in U.S.-Japan mobility, to travel to Japan to meet potential Japanese partners;
  • TeamUp Micro-Grants: an opportunity for representatives of U.S. institutions to design an individualized program to travel to Japan to meet potential Japanese partners;
  • TeamUp Awareness Drive: convening influential stakeholders, speaking at key conferences and hosting networking opportunities.

For more information about TeamUp, please see the TeamUp RoadMap: http://teamup-usjapan.org/

Impact Study
TeamUp conducted a formative process evaluation to assess the impact of the TeamUp Campaign on U.S.-Japan partnerships, specifically impact on partnership creation, student access to U.S.-Japan exchange opportunities; and U.S.-Japan student mobility.
Key Findings: Impact

Study analysis confirms several positive ways the TeamUp campaign has impacted stakeholders:

  • 60% of respondents reported a positive attitudinal change toward the feasibility of U.S.-Japan partnerships as a result of their engagement with TeamUp;
  • 33% of universities represented by respondents were able to form 25 total new partnerships, a 54% increase in total U.S.-Japan partnerships reported by all respondents;
  • 29% of universities were able to enhance or strengthen prior partnerships as a result of engagement with TeamUp;
  • 71% of participants prefer to focus on deepening partnerships created through TeamUp, rather than forming additional new partnerships, so as to ensure the success and sustainability of these partnerships;
  • 67% of respondents were able to create new programs to open more pathways for students to access U.S.-Japan exchange opportunities;
  • Interest in U.S.-Japan exchange remains at a high level: 87% of respondents expressed a desire to continue increasing outbound student mobility, and 73% of respondents indicated an interest in increasing inbound enrollment of Japanese students;
  • TeamUp is helping participants successfully navigate common challenges to partnering with Japanese institutions: 93% of respondents reported encountering challenges in the partnerships process, and 80% of respondents indicated that they were able to utilize strategies to overcome these challenges.

Key Findings: Recommendations

Based on analysis of TeamUp participants’ feedback, USJBF recommends the following next steps for the campaign:

  • Create a concierge service – Designate a specialist with expertise in U.S.-Japan higher education partnerships to offer personalized guidance to U.S. and Japanese universities seeking introductions to potential partners.
  • Leverage participant experience – Utilize the expertise of universities in the West Coast region that have demonstrated a long-history of partnering with Japanese institutions.
  • Increase participant interaction through follow up activities, such as webinars and teleconferences with past participants and key stakeholders to check in, provide mentorship, and to facilitate networking and idea-sharing on strategies and best practices for navigating common challenges to U.S.-Japan partnerships.
  • Increase access points for inbound Japanese and outbound minority American students by addressing specific concerns and barriers.
  • Promote innovations in virtual exchange (also known as COIL – Cooperative Online International Learning) that provides opportunities to greatly enhance the efficacy of short-term programs.