CofC International Education Director Travels to Japan on Fulbright

^{Above: Melissa Ochal (center) with the other six seminar participants.}

Melissa Ochal, director of the College of Charleston Center for International Education, received a Japan Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award for the 2024–25 academic year, allowing her to participate in a two-week group seminar last June that focused on Japan’s higher education system. She presented about her experience at the NAFSA: Association of International Education Region VII conference earlier this month to encourage others to apply for a Fulbright IEA seminar.

“The program was a great experience,” says Ochal, explaining that she and six other higher education administrators from around the United States visited Tokyo and Hiroshima to learn about Japan’s higher education system, society and culture. “We visited universities, met with government officials and experienced the culture through visits to historical and religious sites and a cooking class.”

Since 1952, generations of American Fulbrighters have immersed themselves to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and society that make Japan one of the most fascinating civilizations in history, as well as the most indispensable partner nation for the United States today.

“I had never traveled to Japan before but had been advising students going there to study abroad and welcoming students from Japan for years,” says Ochal. “I wanted to get a better sense of daily life and Japanese culture so that I could better advise students.” 

Hosted by the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission, the seminar consisted of briefings, campus visits, appointments with select government officials, and meetings with Japanese international education professionals.

RELATED: Read about three faculty members who also received Fulbright awards this academic year.

In addition, Ochal met with some Japanese students from the College’s Japanese partner university, Kansai Gaidai University, who were coming to the College of Charleston for two years.

“It was great to meet them and answer questions about CofC and Charleston,” says Ochal, noting that the seminar gave her a lot of insight into the country and its people. “I feel better prepared to advise students considering Japan for their study abroad experience and also to help our Japanese students as they adjust to life in the U.S.”

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” The Fulbright Scholar Program offers U.S. faculty and administrators – chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – grants to lecture, conduct research or participate in seminars around the world.