We welcome students from across the globe

Welcoming students, faculty, and professionals from around the world, International Programs at Outreach College provide access to the resources at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) through our New Intensive Course in English language programs (NICE). Students expand their skills for work and life through Intensive English language courses. Custom programs provide specialized English language training for groups and offer opportunities to expand knowledge in specific academic areas through workshops, seminars, and short courses.

From Fall 2023 to Summer 2024, many of our programs/courses were conducted in-person on campus. We have continued to provide language instruction to those who are inspired to improve their English skills and Japanese language conversation skills in Hawai‘i and in the United States. In the time period covered in this report, the OCIP brought a total of 1309 students to the UHM campus.  

Initiatives

• Developed and implemented a new 5-week add-on course to the 3-week NICE Program twice for selected university groups. Hawai‘i Exploration and Research Course.  Showcased different UHM research units, government units and community organizations such as the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and O‘ahu non-profit organization, Mālama Maunalua.
• Launched the 2-week NICE Program to meet partner universities’ scheduling requests. 
• Collaborated with Hankyong National University in South Korea to welcome a group of 20 students with different kinds and degrees of disabilities, and implemented an A La Carte English Program for them. It was the first group in South Korea to get its federal funding to send students with disabilities abroad.

Significant Achievements/Highlights of the Year

Programmatic Highlights:

• The 10-week NICE remains in compliance with the Commission on English Langauge Program Accreditation (CEA), and it is valid till 2032. We provided place-based learning opportunities for students in NICE Programs.
• We welcomed 531 students to the 2-week and 3-week NICE sessions in AY 2023-2024. 
• Expanding a network of partner foreign universities. Welcomed students from 46 universities.
• Registered 453 students for our Japanese Language courses from across Hawai‘i and the U.S. in AY 2023-2024. 
• Collaborated with various UHM units including UHM John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program, Coral Resilience Lab, Lyon Arboretum, and Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology to provide place-based learning opportunities for international students. 

Faculty and Staff Professional & Academic Contributions:

• Saori Doi became an affiliate member at the UHM Center of Japanese Studies. 
• Lisa Nakandakari and Saori Doi presented a joint poster titled “Place-Based ESL Learning: Meeting Client’s Needs and Expanding Programs Sustainably “ at 2023 NAFSA Region XII Conference.
• Saori Doi co-presented in a session titled “Creating a Sustainable Short-Term International Program” at 2023 NAFSA Region XII Conference.
• Saori Doi made a poster presentation entitled “Program planning and review for busy IEP administrators” at 2023 NAFSA Region XII Conference.
• Saori Doi presented on “Place-based ESL Learning: Designing a “Beyond ESL” Study Abroad Program” at 2024 EnglishUSA Virtual Professional Development Conference and at IAFOR International Conference on Education. 

Work Opportunities to UHM students:

• Provided work opportunities to 47 UHM students to serve as Interchangers (i.e., conversation partners) in our ESL courses and Tutoring and Interchange Plus sessions. Provided a total of $32,551.60 in financial support to those Interchangers. 

Language Use Opportunities beyond Hawai‘i:

• Provided volunteer opportunities to approximately 300 Japanese native speakers from Japan and Hawai‘i to serve as conversation partners in our Japanese Language courses held online.