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Spring Fair Reports

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Spring- 2002 Post Fair Reports

By: Dr. T.B. Dosemagen, IEF Marketing Director

The Spring - 2002 American Education Fairs in East Asia were a tremendous success, made possible by the outstanding contributions of the wonderful school representatives from over 50 US post-secondary education institutions which joined IEF as partners in international student recruitment.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance was good, showing a nice rebound from the Fall - 2001 Tour. A convincing argument can be made that from the East Asian standpoint, the immediate post-September 11 concerns relating to safety, both in terms of study abroad and air travel, have been largely ameliorated by the steady passage of time.

The total number of students served via the Spring - 2002 American Education Fairs was 44,720. Per city attendance breaks down as follows:

SYMPOSIA & SEMINARS

Well attended seminars and symposia, hosted by school representatives and IEF special guests, were held in the following subject areas: Student Career Development & Job Placement Services in American Universities; Recent Policy Changes in American Educational Systems and The Impact on International Students; The TOEFL Test and Apiel Test for International Students; The Right University For The 'E' Generation; Visa Interview Preparations; Educational Testing Services and upcoming product innovations; The Benefits of Study at Community Colleges; The Future Development of TOEFL; MBA Admission Strategies For International Students; Studying Art in New York City; Application Strategies to US Colleges; Fulbright Commission Services; and the American Institute in Taiwan Operations. 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES & SCHOOL VISITS

April Fools Day in Korea witnessed a remarkable visit to Seoul's number-one foreign language high school, Daewon. The students were impressive, as were their impeccable English translations as interpreters for the two-day COEX - Seoul Fair.

On March 25 in Taiwan, while en-route from Kaohsiung to Taichung, we dropped by the National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences and the Tainan Nan-Rong Institute of Technology. The format was pleasant, lively and engaging, with town hall-styled question and answer sessions following individual school representative presentations. 

Visiting Nanjing, the former Chinese Capital and current southern Chinese educational nexus, yielded many interesting new contacts, particularly with the Jiangsu Province Education and International Exchange Center, and Division of Higher Education. A city and culture tour on April 3, capped off by a sumptuous Nanjing Dim Sum Dinner, provided great entree into the rich and vibrant Chinese culture.

Shanghai continues to amaze. With 20% of China's booming GDP and more construction cranes than turn of the century New York City, the two-day Fair was followed by a visit to the Shanghai Vocational Preparation High School. A closing banquet hosted by Dr. Fong brought a sense of relief and accomplishment to the weary travelers, as their nearly three-week East-Asian odyssey drew to a close.

EVALUATIONS & COMMENTS

At IEF, taking our partnerships with school representatives very seriously is our business. We asked Fair participants to provide an overall rating of their Spring - 2002 Fairs, while adding specific comments which will help us improve for the future. A summary of the evaluations received thus far provides a quick glimpse into our partners' impressions, and their valued comments:

Overall Ratings

Excellent -1
Very Good - 5
Good -3
Satisfactory -0
Below Average -0
Poor -1

Comments

"Appreciated the return to 2 days in Taipei…" "I was very pleased with the Fairs and service from IEF. Keep up the great work!" "Hotel accommodations are super, and interpreters are wonderful! I wanted to recruit them. The whole package worked amazingly well." "I really appreciate the service you provide regarding distributing our leftover brochures/catalogues/applications, this is truly a great service." "You did a great job, and I'm pleased that we had some good numbers at all the Fairs attended. So far, I've received 2 applications from the Fairs which is great for me." "Please promote the optional school visits well in advance." "I was honestly very tentative before coming - had heard from others that prior Fairs had low turnout, with changing schedules at the last minute, etc. You did a good job, and I shall certainly consider IEF in the future." "The organization is good. It is always nice to see Patrick and Rebecca, and Tim was both helpful and enthusiastic. Keep up the good work!" "The booth in Seoul was a little dirty."

"I appreciated the invited speakers at our Orientation Sessions…" "The visits to the two colleges between Kaohsiung and Taichung were very good experiences and should be continued." "One of the more valuable experiences for me was the opportunity to meet and talk with the school representatives. We are here to recruit new students, but we are also here to learn…" "Splendid job…typically IEF." 


SPECIAL Thanks

The IEF Education Foundation wishes to take this opportunity to thank the many support staff from the U.S. Embassies in China and Korea, as well as the American Institute in Taiwan, including Charles McClellan, Matthew OÇonnor, Christian Bendsen and Henry Haggard. We also wish to thank the many local education system information providers and briefers, including Dr. Steven Ching, Mr. Steven Huh, Yin Xiangwen, Yan Yujun, Zhao Xiao Qun and Rui Fang Chang. Special thanks also to Rae Ann Bories-Easley and Steven Smith for their masterful presentations on the mysterious workings of the U.S. post-secondary educational systems. Finally, to the IEF Taipei Staff, which endured (quite well, thankfully) a 6.8 earthquake the day after the last Fair in Taiwan. We salute you! 

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