Name
Public Interest Incorporated Organization Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center
Brief overview
The Northern Regions Center,currently HIECC (Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center), was established to actively promote the economy, culture and academic exchange between Hokkaido and other northern areas and to facilitate appropriate exchanges with other regions. By so doing ,it aimed to contribute to the country's economic, cultural and academic development, as well as the development and prosperity of northern regions in general.
Following its transition into HIECC, the organization has been committed to taking a more active role as the base for comprehensive, international exchange in Hokkaido, which aims to further develop Hokkaido, by creating affluent and vibrant local communities, through global exchange and cooperation.
Representative
President: Toshio Sato
Established
May 1978
History
| Apr. 1971 | The Northern Regions Study Council is established. |
| Jan. 1972 | Permitted for the Council’s status as an incorporated association by the National Government. |
| Apr. 1978 | The council is reorganized into the Northern Regions Center |
| Apr. 1996 | The Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) entrusts the Sapporo international Center with the operation and management. |
| Mar. 1998 | The Ministry of Home Affairs(now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) grants the Center the status of a “Recognized Local International Exchange Association.” |
| Apr. 1998 | The Center integrates the Hokkaido International Exchange Center for Youths and Women |
| July. 2004 | The Center integrates the Northern Regions Exchange Fund |
| Apr. 2010 | The Center succeeds to the business of the North Pacific Region Advanced Research Center. |
| Aug. 2011 | The Center changes its status to a public interest incorporated association and its name to the Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center. |
Location
Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center
060-0003 West 7, North 3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Tel +81-11-221-7840
Fax +81-11-211-7845
Organizational Chart
Activities and operation
- Organizing lectures and symposiums
・Lectures on international understanding
・Lectures on understanding northern regions
・Seminars on business management in Russia
・Researches on North Pacific Regions - Collection and dissemination of international information.
・Collection of research and studies
・Operation of International Information Network (Website)
・Issuing quarterly periodical “HOPPOKEN” - Dispatch of Japanese delegates to foreign countries
・Dispatch of youth delegates to foreign countries
・Training in foreign countries aiming to cultivate facilitators specializing in development education - Promotion of multi-cultural society
・Building foreigners-friendly community
- Promoting exchanges with foreign countries
・Organizing Japan-China youth exchange program
・Accepting foreign delegates to Hokkaido
・Promotion of Japan-Korea exchange model in a new era
Promotion of exchanges between Hokkaido citizens and foreign students
・Offering student aid for international students
・Promotion of community based exchange programs for international students - Provision of support for immigrants abroad
・Accepting descendants of immigrants from Hokkaido as foreign students
・Provision of support for the association of immigrants from Hokkaido prefecture - Provision of subsidy for various international exchange activities
・Provision of support for organizing international exchange program
Working together with communities and other organizations
・Organizing meetings with local communities to exchange information on international issues
・Establishing and managing the council for the official diplomatic and consular offices in Hokkaido
- Participation in JICA training project
・Conducting JICA training project as a commissioned body - Acceptance of international trainees
・Acceptance of technical trainees from South America
・ Acceptance of JICA youth training participants- Collection and dissemination of information related to international cooperation
・Issuing quarterly periodical specializing in international cooperation “DEAI”
- Collection and dissemination of information related to international cooperation
- Community based international exchanges/Development education
・Promoting exchange programs based on communities
・Planning and managing school visit programs
Becoming a Supporting Member
HIECC is partly operated with funds raised through membership fees.
HIECC welcomes membership applications from those who understand and endorse its objectives and activities.
● Annual corporate and organizational membership fees -10,000 yen per membership
● Annual individual membership fees -5,000 yen per membership