FACT SHEET

New Program of Assistance for Educational Exchange
•	The Australian Government seeks to provide new opportunities for students, academics and professionals in the worst-affected areas to send some time in Australia – to study and learn, to experience Australia - and in doing so we aim to play a small part in helping to rebuild lives and communities.  
•	A new program of assistance for education exchange will provide financial support for university students, academics and researchers, in a way that contributes to the educational growth of the Tohoku region.
•	Priority will be given to those in the affected areas, who have had their studies or professional development interrupted, and where there may be a benefit from an exchange with Australia.
•	This includes students who will be supported to either continue their current studies, where those have been disrupted by the devastating events of 11 March 2011, or to undertake new studies in Australia.
•	It also includes academics and researchers who wish to travel between Japan and Australia to continue or enhance their collaboration in education.
•	Recognising the need to support the educational rebuilding of Japan’s affected areas, this funding will also be available to support Australian university students, academics or researchers to travel to Japan on short-term exchange, where they are invited by an institution in the affected areas.
•	It is envisaged that up to 100 individuals could be supported on an educational exchange under this new program of assistance.
•	Funding will contribute towards the costs of travel, accommodation, academic engagement and tuition as necessary.  
•	Where it is for student exchange, this may include English language study, vocational education or training and higher education studies at any accredited institution.
•	Individuals will be able to seek financial support for exchange in 2011 or 2012.  It is expected that around $5,000 will support each exchange applicant.  
•	Exact funding amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis, reflecting an individual’s proposal for exchange.
•	The educational exchange is expected to be short-term in nature, with an average duration of around two weeks.
•	Applications will need the support of a host institution in Japan and its Australian institutional partner.  
•	Further details will be determined in conjunction with the Japanese Government, to ensure the program contributes to the continued education growth of the Tohoku region.
•	Total funding of $500,000 (approx ¥44m) will support this program of assistance.

Support through Scholarships
•	The Australian Government will make available a further package of support by making 10 prestigious Endeavour Awards available for Japan every year, with a focus in 2012 on students in affected areas.
•	The Endeavour Awards is the Australian Government’s internationally competitive, scholarship program providing opportunities for study, research and professional development in Australia. Awards are also available for Australians to undertake study, research and professional development abroad.
•	In recognition of the educational impact of the events of 11 March 2011, 10 scholarships are available per year on an ongoing basis, for Japanese citizens to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia.  
•	In 2012 the scholarships will be targeted to Japanese citizens from affected areas, who are students or professionals.  Under this program, Australian students or professionals will also be able to undertake study or professional development at institutions in Japan’s affected areas, when circumstances are right for them to do so.
•	Financial support will be available to undertake research at a Masters or PhD level for up to 4 years, for vocational education and training for up to 2.5 years, or for professional development for up to 4 months.
•	These scholarships will operate as part of the Australian Government’s Endeavour Awards, and under the guidelines that apply to the Endeavour Awards for 2012.
•	In recognition of the particular disadvantage experienced by Japanese citizens in the affected areas, applications can be received outside the dates applying under the Guidelines, up until 30 November 2011.