THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
The Okinawa Educational Initiative, announced today by President Clinton in a speech at the Cornerstone of Peace Park, is a U.S.-Japan initiative to provide fellowships for Okinawans to pursue advanced study and research at the East-West Center in Hawaii.
The Initiative seeks to build on the goodwill developed during the period prior to Okinawa's reversion to Japan when, under the Garioa and East-West Center programs, hundreds of Okinawans went to the United States for graduate study. Today, many of those students hold prominent positions in Okinawan government and business circles. The initiative demonstrates support for Okinawa's aspirations to play an active role in the emerging Asia Pacific community.
Initial funding for the Initiative will come from the American and the Japanese Governments. The East-West Center and the Center's Okinawa alumni chapter will also contribute to the initiative. In subsequent years, support will come from public and private sources in both countries. The East-West Center will be responsible for managing the program.
The U.S. is also making an Educational Grant to Establish a Partnership with Meio University. The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will award a grant of up to $125,000 to a U.S. college or university to establish a partnership with Meio University in Okinawa, Japan. The partnership is designed to strengthen Meio University's curriculum in convention and conference management and train qualified professionals to work in Okinawa's expanding tourist industry. The project will contribute to Okinawa's long-term international development goals and build closer U.S.-Japanese people-to-people relations on the island.
Activities over the three-year duration of the grant may include teaching, distance learning, practicums and student internships, and professional outreach from the U.S. and Okinawan institutions participating in the project.
The grant will be administered by the State Department's College and University Affiliations Program.
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