JET reception
On 11 and 12 July 2013, the successful applicants to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme attended their pre-departure orientation at Queen Mary University in London.
Scheduled to fly out at the beginning of August to start work in schools and local authorities all over Japan, the orientation was intended to equip participants with the information they need to adapt to life successfully on the JET Programme, as well as a taster of Japanese language skills.
Established in 1987 with the purpose of increasing mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations, JET aims to promote international links in Japan’s local communities by helping to improve foreign language education and developing international exchange at a community level.
Around 140 participants have headed to Japan, and at the end of the month will work as either Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) in elementary, junior or high schools, or Coordinators of International Relations (CIR) – working in local authorities and international organisations up and down Japan.
The first part of the orientation consisted of welcome addresses from the various organisations involved in running the different aspects of the JET Programme in the UK, including the Embassy of Japan, EJEF, CLAIR and the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh. The JETs also received an outline of Japanese-UK relations and the Japanese education system before breaking up into smaller groups for Japanese language training.
The language sessions, with participants grouped by ability, from basic greetings and survival Japanese for those who had never studied the language before, to using the politest forms of Japanese in office situations for the more advanced participants.
The two day orientation was rounded off by a reception at the Embassy of Japan in Piccadilly, where they were wished every success by Minister Plenipotentiary Akio, the Director of the Japan Local Government Centre Yuichiro Hanyu, and Fiona Steele, the UK chair of the JET Alumni Association. JLGC wish the 2013 JETs the best of luck in their new positions.
Local Government Annual Conference and Exhibition, Manchester.
This July several JLGC members attended the annual LGA conference in Manchester. The event gave us the opportunity to learn more about the most pressing issues currently facing the sector in the UK and to explore opportunities for international exchange between Japanese and UK local authorities.
LGA chairman Sir Merrick Cockell used the conference to launch the LGA’s campaign ‘Rewiring Public Services’ which called for radical changes in the way public services are delivered in the face of severe funding cuts. The LGA set out a ten step plan which would result in local authorities being given greater independence from central government to manage their own finances and way of working. Throughout the conference government ministers from all parties including the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles and his labour counterpart Hillary Benn, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable and Health Minister Jeremy Hunt were invited to give their thoughts on the campaign. Lord Heseltine also spoke about his vision for increased localism and the promotion of local growth.
During the workshop sessions we were able to learn about the innovative techniques UK local authorities are implementing in order to provide efficient public services with a lower budget, and the strategies they have adopted in order to adapt to the latest changes in national policy. A prominent theme was the challenge of promoting local economies and many sessions investigated the different approaches local authorities have taken. There were many areas in which Japan and the UK could learn from each other and we were able to start these discussions with councillors from across the UK during the networking sessions.
Cambridge training
Three JLGC staff who arrived in the UK in April, visited Cambridge City Council, and got the opportunity to look at what goes on in UK local authorities.
As well as viewing a newly built residential area, a cluster of research facilities and a hospital which has been rapidly developed in the south of the city, there were also lectures on city finances, community development, the workings of the council and a look at the role of the Customer Service Centre, in Cambridge. In addition, JLGC were able to visit the Cambridgeshire Council HQ, and hear about the economic growth strategy of the county.
It was strongly felt that public finances are being implemented much more efficiently due to the budget cuts, with current conditions in the county seeing a further lack of housing, together with an increasing population.
As is the case with other local authorities, in Cambridge demand for services from the public are continuing to increase, but staff numbers are being cut and work needs to be done more efficiently. Self service is being promoted In order to cut the cost of dealing with requests, where citizens can get the answers to questions by themselves, such as through enhancing websites. Also, at the exit of the customer service centre computer terminals have been placed to get the comments of service users, in order to improve the service. In the city, around 2000 organisations are supported by funding from the council, and through cooperation with residents, are continuing to improve living standards in the community. The population will grow further in the future and it is belived that further cooperation with local residents will become increasingly important.
In addition, Cambridge is currently experience a deepening housing shortage through the rise in workers needed for growing economy of the area. So that the economy of the region can develop further there is the need to attract new business to the area, but new housing supply is also essential for this. As many commuters come from the outskirts of the city due to central rent costs being so high, the county has established five free car parks for 6,000 cars, with buses running from each of the car parks to the city centre.
One big difference between UK and Japanese town halls in general is the level of security going into the offices. In Cambridge to get into a room, identity has to be confirmed with a security card, so that property, personal details and staff are protected. In Japan, you can open and close any door freely, and anyone can go in and out of any area.
JLGC would like to thank Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire Council staff for taking time out of their busy schedule and friendly welcome over the two days.
Hello and Goodbye
Shinichi Kawanago, Special Advisor from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, seconded to JLGC for two years returns to Tokyo to take up a new role as Director for International Joint Projects, International Affairs Division at the Headquarters of the Governor of Tokyo in July. While in London he was responsible for research projects including those in support of the Tokyo 2020 bid for the Olympic Games. JLGC would like to thank him for his contribution to the London office while in the UK and wish him the best of luck in his new position at TMG.
In his place, JLGC welcomes Assistant Director Chihiro Sakurai, also seconded from TMG to London this July, starting a two year secondment and working on research project management on behalf of Japanese local governments
