TROY – This summer has marked the beginning of a journey for 28 Japanese undergraduate students at Troy University .

The University, in cooperation with National Collegiate Network, is hosting the students in a special intensive English language program.

“NCN recruits students from Japan who are interested in studying in American,” said Karoi Sumi, NCN’s coordinator in Troy . “We provide workshops in English prior to them traveling to the States and continue to monitor them, providing career planning workshops, academic and personal counseling.”

The students are a part of an evaluation by the 30-year old Japanese study-abroad agency of TROY’s international programs. Dr. Curt Porter, dean of international programs at TROY , said he hoped NCN would place an additional group on the Troy Campus each year.

“I certainly hope NCN will find Troy a positive place to bring their Japanese students,” he said. “We have such a vast experience in hosting international students, and the quality of the University’s academic program lends itself to a continued relationship.”

The American English Group has a special summer program where the students study four days in the classroom, augmented by two activities each week and travel each weekend, Porter said.

“Most of the students who are studying in Troy are interested in getting into the Athletic Training program,” Sumi said. “I believe they are interested in this because of the recent fame of the trainers who have worked with the Japanese baseball players who have come to the United States to play.”

NCN has over a 90 percent graduation rate for its students and a 100 percent job placement for those who graduate.