On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the "FY2025 Year-End SAF Annual General Meeting and Networking Event" was held at Chuo University Tama Campus.
Despite the busy year-end season, participants from 13 universities nationwide attended, and the meeting brought together many stakeholders, including the IES Abroad Tokyo Center and SAF staff.
This general meeting was held as a forum to share SAF's latest accomplishments and program updates, and to think together with universities partners about how they can cooperate with SAF even more for students in the future.
Simultaneously, another purpose was to promote exchange between universities and bring together industry knowledge and best practices—conversation that would lead to improved study abroad support for everyone.
But First: International Education Dormitory Tour
Prior to the general meeting, everyone toured Chuo University's international education dormitory. A total of 24 people attended, including staff from 12 universities who had requested it in advance, and staff from the IES Abroad Tokyo Center.
The facility is very well-equipped and directly connected to the International Center building. This tour helped partners visualize the students' study and living environment, drawing high interest from all participants.
Annual General Meeting Agenda
- Greetings / Introduction of today's participating schools
- SAF FY2025 Activity Report
- SAF Program Updates
- Report on Information Sessions and Events
- Sharing of Member School Survey Results (*Partial only)
- Student Support: Recent Trends
- Student Testimonials
- Discussion and Information Exchange
- Greetings
First Half of the General Meeting: Report and Sharing Session
29 participants from 13 universities and the IES Abroad Tokyo Center attended the general meeting, making it an event with a total of approximately 40 people including SAF staff.
In the opening greetings, Professor Fumiko Kurihara (Deputy Director of the International Center and Professor of the Faculty of Commerce at Chuo University) offered a warm welcome and spoke about the importance of promoting study abroad at universities, while mentioning its current state at Chuo University.
SAF FY2025 Activity Report: Current Status of the Organization and Network
SAF shared an overview of the organization and the positioning of its global network. SAF, founded in 2000, merged with its parent organization, IES Abroad (founded in 1950), and has since operated within the broader IES Global network.
Regarding the management structure, SAF reminded partners of its multiple bases in the U.S. and Asia. It was also mentioned that staff work within Japan as well, each team supporting both students and universities in shared roles ie. conducting information sessions at universities, and providing student support before and after applications.
In addition, the current status of the partner university network was shared, reconfirming that universities and SAF advance student support while collaborating on a daily basis, and that the general meeting and networking event serve as a place to update that collaboration once a year.
SAF Program Update: Expansion of Choices and New Study Abroad Models
In the program updates, new options were shared such as the expansion of short-term programs (study tours) and the launch of internship programs.
Internships have been drawing lots of attention recently. New program combinations have been designed that may become new trends in the future, such as offering a summer internship after an academic semester.
Overall, the presentation shared that the study abroad model at SAF is evolving. Another example is how through the partnership between IES and SAF, students can now access IES programs alongside the traditional SAF network. This expanded framework offers multiple pathways, including programs based entirely at an IES Center or hybrid models that combine IES coursework with enrollment at a local university.
Report on Information Sessions and Events: Creating Touchpoints with Universities and Students
The meeting also covered the status of this year’s information sessions and events. On-campus sessions continue to be a vital touchpoint, helping students see study abroad as an accessible and concrete goal.
Additionally, we announced the winners of the SAF Japan Study Abroad Photo Contest. This initiative highlights the authentic experiences and perspectives of our students by sharing the stories behind their photos.
Sharing of Member School Survey Results
While a full analysis is yet to come, a preview of the annual university survey revealed a significant shift in student trends.
Despite year-to-year variations in participating institutions, data for FY2025 indicates that South Korea has overtaken the United States as the top destination for mid-to-long-term exchange programs.
The survey also highlighted a diversifying landscape for short-term programs, with students now venturing into regions such as Northern Europe, Kenya, and Cambodia. Additionally, the data provided insights into the average number of "Tobitate! (Leap for Tomorrow)" scholarship applicants per school.
A comprehensive report of these findings will be shared with all participants at a later date.
Student Testimonials: Real Voices of Study Abroad
The event also featured a student testimonial session, where two SAF participants from Chuo University took the stage.
They shared firsthand accounts of their daily lives and academic journeys overseas, including the specific challenges they navigated. Their stories served as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of study abroad and the profound personal growth students achieve through the process.
Discussion and Information Exchange
The second half of the annual meeting featured a dynamic discussion and information exchange. Participants engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue, covering key themes such as student outreach strategies, language proficiency support, and crisis management. The session also addressed international partnership trends, specifically the development of new university networks and the maintenance of existing institutional agreements.
In particular, the perspective of how to reach students who have not yet considered study abroad as an option was shared as a common challenge faced on university campuses. Each university brought forward their initiatives, such as innovations in public relations, information flow, and outreach methods.
This session served as an opportunity to reconfirm the significance of the SAF Annual Meeting not merely as a report, but as a forum where universities and SAF think together about their "next steps."
Networking Event and Looking Forward
After the general meeting concluded, a networking event was held on campus with 39 participants, including SAF staff. In a relaxed atmosphere, information exchange and networking continued, making it a valuable opportunity to deepen the connections between universities.
