Title: **NSF/Tokyo Report: US-Japan Exchange Programs for Postdoctoral
Fellows and Graduate Students: Accomplishments and Trends**

## Date: 4/23/98

Replaces: None

The National Science Foundation\'s offices in Tokyo and in Paris
periodically report on developments abroad that are related to the
Foundation\'s mission. These documents present facts for the use of NSF
program managers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF
policy.

Report Memorandum #98-08 April 16, 1998

**US-Japan Exchange Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate
Students: Accomplishments and Trends**

# [Abstract]{.underline}

Programs initiated within the past 10 years for postdoctoral fellows and
graduate students have provided more than 1300 Americans \[many of them
young scientists and engineers (S&Es)\] with a research experience in
Japan. Prior to 1988, research opportunities were limited, especially
longer-term research visits. A varied "menu" of research visitation
programs came into existence within the past 10 years; it is now
possible to visit Japan for as short as one week or as long as two
years. All or most of the costs of these research visits are borne by
one of the Japanese agencies concerned with S&T. Even though Japan is
experiencing fiscal problems, the GOJ continues to place a high priority
on S&T. Consequently, S&T budgets have not decreased and the programs
that bring foreign researchers to Japan remain strong even though
interest by Americans in applying for a long-term research experience in
Japan has been in decline since 1991.

# [Introduction]{.underline}

The primary purpose of this report is to assess the first 10 years of
US-Japan programs for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. Many
of these programs came into being after the signing of the US-Japan S&T
Agreement (UJST) in 1988, however, some programs had non-UJST origins.
Prior to the signing of the UJST in June of 1988, the major bilateral
program that NSF had with Japan was the Cooperative Science Program
(CSP). The first significant cooperative scientific bilateral
arrangement for either country, CSP was begun in 1961 and continues
today. Within the framework of this bilateral cooperative science
program, more than 27,000 scientists and engineers (mostly senior-level)
from the US and Japan have participated in jointly funded research
projects as well as joint seminars.

After the signing of the UJST, numerous exchange programs began. These
new programs were aimed at correcting the imbalance in researcher flow
between the US and Japan. Costs for these programs were largely borne by
the Japanese sponsoring agencies. These programs greatly expanded and
diversified the opportunities for US scientists and engineers to visit
Japan. Additionally, many of the new programs were sharply focused on
early career S&Es, an NSF priority. The new programs instituted since
1988 can be divided into two categories: fellowships and summer
programs.

### Fellowships-

NSF nominates researchers for five fellowship programs administered by
the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Science
and Technology Agency of Japan (STA). The range of programs allows
research visits of as short as one week to as long as two years to
Japanese universities, inter-university research institutes, and over
120 Japanese national laboratories, public corporations, and non-profit
research organizations. Another fellowship program, supported by the
Center for Global Partnership (CGP), enables American senior-level and
postdoctoral scientists and engineers to work at public or private
laboratories in Japan. NSF implements this program using funds provided
by CGP.

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, established in 1988, supports 1-2 year
visits to Japanese universities or inter-university research institutes.
To be eligible, US researchers must be within six years of their Ph.D.
Through 1997, this program supported **144** US researchers (nominated
by NSF). An additional **99** were nominated through their host
researcher during this period (Table 1). In response to NSF requests to
provide shorter-term fellowship opportunities, JSPS created the
Short-term Postdoctoral Fellowship (3-11 months) and allowed NSF to
nominate US researchers for a Short-term Invitational Fellowship (7-60
days). The former was instituted in 1997 and US researchers within 10
years of their Ph.D. are eligible. This program (JSPS Short-term
Postdoctoral Fellowship) is exclusively for US scientists and engineers;
all other fellowship programs sponsored by JSPS and STA are also
available to non-US researchers. For the latter program (Short-term
Invitational Fellowship), NSF could only begin nominating individuals in
1995; this program is open to all Ph.D. holders in science and
engineering. The JSPS Short-term Invitational Fellowship supported
**106** researchers (nominated by NSF) since 1995 (another **189** were
nominated through host researchers from 1995-97). The JSPS Short-term
Postdoctoral Fellowship supported **5 **NSF-nominated fellows in its
initial year (**40** were nominated by host researchers).

The Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA) Postdoctoral
Fellowship, established in 1988, supports 6-24 month visits to over 120
Japanese national laboratories, public corporations, and non-profit
research organizations. To be eligible, US researchers must be within
six years of their Ph.D. Through 1997, this program supported **143** US
researchers (nominated by NSF). An additional **25** were nominated by
their host researcher during this period. In 1994, STA created the
Short-term Fellowship Program (1-3 months). Through 1997, this program
has attracted **55 **participants nominated by NSF with an additional
**27** nominated by their host researcher.

The Center for Global Partnership (CGP) Science Fellowship, established
in 1992, enables American senior-level and postdoctoral scientists and
engineers to work at public or private laboratories in Japan from 3-24
months. This program is unique and attractive in several ways. It is the
only fellowship program that 1) can place a fellow at a private
laboratory in Japan; 2) supports stays longer than 3 months for senior
researchers; and 3) it is the only program offered by INT that can pay
50% of salary and benefits. Through 1997, **71** US researchers have
participated.

### Summer Programs-

The \"Summer Institute in Japan\" Program evolved from discussions of
the Task Force on Access of the UJST, and was established (in 1990) to
provide U.S. science and engineering graduate students first-hand
experience in a Japanese research environment, intensive Japanese
language training, and an introduction to the science and science-policy
infrastructure of Japan. The goals of the program are to introduce U.S.
graduate students to Japanese science and engineering research
laboratories and to enable the development of professional and personal
relationships that will better enable students to collaborate with
Japanese counterparts in the future. The long-term goal of the program
is to increase the number of American scientists and engineers who are
both familiar with the culture and language of Japan, and the research
being conducted in Japan in their fields of expertise.

The program is jointly supported by STA and the following US agencies:
the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Agricultural Research
Service (ARS), and NSF. NSF and STA serve as implementing agencies.
Since the inception of the Summer Institute in 1990, **425** US graduate
students have participated.

The \"Monbusho Research Experience Fellowships for Young Foreign
Researchers\" (the so-called \"Monbusho Summer Program\") began in 1993
when NSF and counterpart organizations in Germany and the United Kingdom
joined Monbusho in a trial program to invite young foreign researchers
to Japan for a summer research experience. The program was formally
established in 1995 by Monbusho as the \"Research Experience Fellowships
for Young Foreign Researchers\" and included 15 students (7 from the US,
4 from the UK, and 4 from Germany). France joined as a partner in 1996.
For this past year (1997) Monbusho proposed to expand the total number
of participants to 80 including 50 students from the United States;
neither target was achieved, however. NSF nominated 23 of the total
number of 69 participants in 1997. Since program inception, **41** US
graduate students have participated.

The above programs accomplished two key objectives of NSF\'s
international mission: enabling US researchers to advance their work
through international cooperation; and providing US scientists and
engineers early in their careers with professional experience in other
countries. A total of **990** NSF-nominated researchers (**1370**
Americans overall including both NSF-nominated and host-nominated)
participated in the programs above. Only a very small percentage would
likely have had such a research experience in Japan without the
existence of these programs.

# [Trends]{.underline}

For long-term fellowships (defined as 3 months or greater), the level of
interest has been declining since 1991 (see Figure 1). Between 1989 and
1992, the number of long-term postdoctoral fellows and visiting
researchers (all programs) averaged 52.3 per year; from 1993 to 1996,
the yearly average dropped to 45.8. In 1997, the number was 29, the
lowest since the first year of the program in 1988. Early projections
for long-term fellows in 1998 are not encouraging; the final number is
not yet known but it likely will be equal to or lower than that for
1997.

Why the declining interest? A number of reasons have been put forward
(see below). And the decline in interest is not just confined to basic
science and engineering. Other US-Japan programs, such as the
Manufacturing Technology Fellowship Program, the Japan Industry and
Technology Management Training Program, and the Fulbright Fellowship
Program, are also experiencing drop-offs in applications. Some of the
reasons suggested for the decline are (in no special order):

1\. Language and culture barriers;

2\. Cost of living;

3\. Difficulty in obtaining meaningful spousal employment;

4\. Limited potential for permanent employment in Japan;

5\. Quality of the research experience in Japan;

6\. Declining pool of potential applicants;

7\. US economy

All of the above have not significantly worsened since 1988, and several
items have improved. Especially item #7. The US economy has become
significantly more robust since 1992 which was also the first year of
the declining trend for long-term visiting researchers. It appears
likely that there is an inverse correlation between the strength of the
US economy and the number of applications received for long-term
fellowship programs. It is very difficult for a 1-2 year fellowship
offer in a foreign country to compete with a salaried position in one's
home country.

Whereas fellowship applications have decreased from US applicants for
Japan fellowship opportunities, there has not been a similar decline
from other countries. There has been little difficulty filling long-term
fellowships offered to other Asian and Western European countries
indicating that the decline in interest is peculiar to the US. Should
the economies in Western Europe and Asia improve dramatically, it will
be interesting to note if there is a significant decline in the number
of fellows from those regions.

For short-term fellowships, the demand from US researchers remains
relatively strong. This indicates that such programs are desirable and
should be continued. It is hoped that these programs will help foster
long-term collaborations between Japanese and US researchers. As these
programs are still relatively new, it remains to be seen if this goal
will be achieved.

For the summer programs, the Summer Institute was at, or closely
approached, a maximum steady state from 1992-97 (see Figure 2). The
Monbusho Summer Program grew dramatically in 1997, almost tripling in
size from 1996. (This rapid growth was due, in large measure, to the
increased funding and slots provided by Monbusho.) Unfortunately,
eligible candidates for 1998 Summer Programs in Japan (69) were well
below the number of available slots (110) so concerns have been raised
(among both NSF and our Japanese counterparts) about possible declining
interest in these programs as well.

# Accepting the idea that both long-term fellowships and summer programs in Japan are valuable opportunities for the US S&E community that warrant continued NSF effort to try and increase demand, we need to better demonstrate the career-enhancing potential of a research visit to Japan. In doing so, we can hopefully attract more participants to these special programs.

Edward O. Murdy

Head, NSF Tokyo Regional Office

Attachment: Figure 1.xls

Figure 2.xls

Table 1.xls

Editor's Note: The remainder of this document consists of extensive data
in tabular form that is not available in the ASCII version. A hard copy
of this report, including the tables, can be obtained from Elena R.
King, Division of International Programs, National Science Foundation,
4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22230, Phone: (703) 306-1709; FAX: (703)
306-0476. When requesting a hard copy, please refer to Tokyo Report
Memorandum #TRM 98-08 **US-Japan Exchange Programs for Postdoctoral
Fellows and Graduate Students: Accomplishments and Trends**