University Advisor
Overview
Expert Guidance & Personalized Attention:
We understand that choosing a college or university is an individual process, unique to each student. Our two full-time university advisors support UWC ISAK Japan’s fundamental mission to help students develop into transformational leaders by thoughtfully exploring all post-secondary options with an open mind.
We make an effort to expose students to many different types of universities so they can make informed choices about what schools will be the best fit — academically, geographically, personally, and financially. The advisors use a wide range of resources to support students and parents before, during, and after the application process. From college fairs to parent information sessions, we strive to provide the tools and information needed to help our students and families make the best decisions about where to apply.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Overseeing the vision for the UWC ISAK Japan’s University and Career Advising program designed to prepare students for a variety of post-secondary opportunities
- Managing transcripts and other necessary documents for applications.
- Overseeing and supporting the application process for all students and their families to identify post-secondary opportunities around the world.
- Support students and parents in their transition from Grade 10 to Grade 11 with preliminary university information and guidance on IB Diploma subject selection.
- Working with students and parents to help them feel well-informed, supported and empowered to identify suitable post-secondary opportunities.
- Supporting the management of operations critical to the program including:
- Coordinating standardized testing
- Developing and monitoring the department’s budgets
- Assisting with commencement exercises
- Managing the development of online resources and publications for university and career advising
- Assisting with the design and updating the school profile on a yearly basis.
- Serving as a liaison for UWC ISAK Japan to both domestic (Japan) and international colleges/universities, the College Board, ACT, International ACAC, NACAC, and other relevant organizations and institutions throughout the world
- Working with college/university admission officials to promote UWC ISAK Japan’s students and to stay current with changes to the college admission and scholarship competition process
- Collaborating with the University and Career Advising team to develop a comprehensive professional program that includes visiting colleges/universities and attending professional conferences
- Providing information to all stakeholders about the post graduation advisory program
- Supporting relationships and communication between parents, post graduation institutions, community members
Qualifications:
- Relevant experience in selective college admissions or college counseling
- B.A. or B.S. (A master’s degree is preferred)
- Possess excellent communication skills
- Strong writer, a compelling speaker, a thoughtful listener
- Strong time-management skills
- Empathy, energy, flexibility, maturity, optimism and a strong work ethic will be highly valued in this position
- Can function in a dynamic and fast-paced office environment that encourages collaboration, congeniality, and collegiality
- A self-starter with the ability to complete tasks in a timely fashion
Current Contract Period
August 1, 2020 – July 30, 2022. Thereafter employment may be renewed by agreement.
Salary
Salary is competitive for the region.
Required Academic and Professional Experience
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor or higher degree in the appropriate field
- Master’s or PhD degree in the field preferred
- Professional training is required
Professional Experience
- 3+ years counseling experience
- Experience teaching in international schools is preferred
- Experience in the UWC movement is preferred
- Residential experience is highly preferred
Mentoring Responsibilities
Residential duty is an additional contract offer, but commitment to residential life is a must. In addition to teaching responsibilities, all teachers will be assigned some or all of the following mentoring responsibilities:
- Serve as student advisory group leader
- Coach or supervise extracurricular sports and/or activities
- Participate in outdoor education opportunities and/or Japanese cultural activities
- Facilitate local service projects or leadership projects
- Residential duty is an additional contractual offer
Personality / Successful Traits
- Resonates with the UWC ISAK leadership model and willing to be an active participant in it
- Curious about and open to exploring mindfulness and design thinking in personal and professional life
- Positive; Enthusiastic about creating and contributing to a school that is evolving
- Pragmatic and resourceful; Able to identify needs and willing to address them
- Patient and flexible; Comfortable working in a school that is growing and evolving
- Self aware and motivated; engaged in continuous reflection and improvement
- Able to work independently and complete tasks without supervision while respecting existing roles and structures within the school
- Able to work in a team; enjoys collaborative teaching among different fields and inspired to work interdisciplinarily
- Enjoys a residential lifestyle; understands the demands and flexibility required of adults in a residential environment, including needs that come up unexpectedly.
How to Apply
To apply to UWC ISAK Japan, download the CV and Disclosure Form Template files, fill them out, and submit both files along with a 1-page cover letter to [email protected]
We are looking for applicants who will be a strong fit for our unique educational environment. Please read this general information and give it careful consideration before submitting an application.
General Information
UWC ISAK Japan Core ValuesA Shared UWC Mission
UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Our Distinct Identity
UWC ISAK Japan empowers students to become transformational leaders who explore new frontiers for the greater good of Asia and beyond.
We believe not only in the power of education, but also in the power of young people to become catalysts for positive change. We aim to create an environment where students learn to understand and appreciate different perspectives, challenge themselves academically and emotionally, and develop their innate potential as change-makers who can identify what is most important and needed, take action in the face of discomfort, use diversity as a strength, and support others in this practice.
Our Motto
Our school motto reflects our hopes for and dedication to all UWC ISAK Japan students as they journey through one of the most important and exciting times of their lives.
One Life. Realize Your Potential. Be a Catalyst for Positive Change.
Leadership Education at UWC ISAK Japan
Part of our distinct identity as a UWC is our focus on leadership, specifically leading ourselves and leading with others.
We believe in transformational leadership.
Who is a transformational leader?
A transformational leader is someone who consistently identifies what is most important and what is needed, takes action in the face of discomfort, uses diversity as a strength, and supports others in this practice. With continuous practice, a transformational leader creates positive change within self and the community at large.
A transformational leader consistently applies these foundational skills of leadership:
- Awareness: Deeply observes oneself and the environment, and understands what is important for self and the greater good.
- Connection: Empathizes with members of a community, understands their diverse potentials and values, and supports them towards a common goal.
- Action Taking: Steps out of one’s comfort zone to courageously bring ideas to life.
- Self-Discipline: Responds positively to challenges with measured reflection, growth mindset, resilience and optimism.
- Creativity: Generates innovative ideas and questions and builds upon those of others
Leadership is a practice.
Leadership is not a position or status that a selective group of people earn, whether by the virtue of their economic or social position in society or their innate demeanor or personality. At UWC ISAK Japan, we believe that leadership is a practice. This practice is integrated into our curriculum, and we believe that with practice, individuals can grow and integrate the essential skills of leadership.
About UWC
Founded in 1962, UWC (United World Colleges) is a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. UWC is comprised of schools and colleges in 17 countries, with national committees and selection contacts in more than 155 countries. UWC fosters a lifelong commitment to social responsibility, and to date has inspired a network of 60,000 alumni who believe it is possible to work for positive change.
The majority of students attending UWCs are selected by UWC national committees. In support of the belief that education should be independent of a student’s ability to pay, 70% of national committee selected IB Diploma students receive full scholarships. The UWC movement places a high value on experiential learning, outdoor education, service and other cultural understanding, alongside the academically challenging International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
About UWC ISAK Japan
UWC ISAK Japan is Japan’s only full-boarding international high school and the newest member of the United World Colleges movement. Following the Japanese school system, UWC ISAK is a three-year high school, with all students in grades 11 and 12 following the IB Diploma Programme curriculum. The school is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) and all graduates receive a Japanese high school diploma. Currently 173 students from 57 countries attend UWC ISAK Japan, with 70% of students receiving full or partial need-based scholarship support. 30% of enrolled students are Japanese, with the remaining 70% coming from homes outside of Japan.
Location
Karuizawa is located in Nagano Prefecture, home to the 1998 Winter Olympics and fondly referred to as the “Roof of Japan.” Karuizawa has been attracting an international mix of visitors since the late nineteenth century. The mountainous climate keeps Kaurizawa cool and comfortable during Japan’s summer months, making it a popular escape from Tokyo’s heat and humidity. Karuizawa experiences four seasons with regular snow in the winter which generally lasts from early December through February. Monthly temperatures average between 21 and -5 throughout the year.
While the full-time population of Karuizawa is fewer than 20,000, the population of the town increases dramatically during the summer tourist season. From Tokyo, it takes approximately 70 minutes to reach Karuizawa station on the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train).
Karuizawa is a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts and offers year-round recreation including hiking, cycling, tennis golf and skiing. In addition, a vibrant arts & crafts scene includes art galleries and museums, a performing arts center, a symphony hall, and and a community symphony. There are also many good restaurants with wide ranging cuisines, a large upscale outlet mall with designer shops, a variety of onsen hot springs and a local volcano, Mt. Asama.
UWC ISAK Japan is located on the outskirts of Karuizawa, in a quiet residential community and the school is not within easy walking distance to a train station or a large supermarket. Schooling options for faculty children are limited to the local public schools where all instruction and communication is in Japanese. We are not able to guarantee admission to UWC ISAK for faculty children in grades 10-12 or to guarantee scholarships if faculty children are admitted.
For more information about the town of Karuizawa, please go to the following website:
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/karuizawa-guide