Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE)

Name

Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE)

Legal name

Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE)

Website

https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Curriculum and Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL), Higher Education Course Design & Online Program Development (EDAGAKAB), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• International education programs
• K-12 curriculum development
• Teacher professional development
• Online student courses
• Global studies resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: SPICE operates as a program within Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, funded through institutional grants, foundation support, and government Title VI funding. Programs for teachers and students are offered free of charge to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPICE develops and delivers standards-aligned lesson plans and curriculum units on international topics (Japan, China, Korea, global security, entrepreneurship, climate) drawing on Stanford University faculty scholarship, available through the SPICE Store and free multimedia portal. It runs free teacher professional development including seminars, summer institutes, and fellowships for K-12 and community college educators. It offers synchronous online courses introducing college-level scholarship on global issues to high school students in the United States, Japan, and China.

Product overview

SPICE is a comprehensive educational program at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies that makes Stanford scholarship on global issues accessible to K-12 and community college educators and students. The portfolio consists of three core offerings: Lesson Plans & Teaching Resources (standards-aligned curriculum units and multimedia resources available through the SPICE store and free downloads), Professional Development for Teachers (free seminars, summer institutes, and fellowships for educators), and Online Courses for Students (synchronous courses for high school students in the U.S., Japan, and China). The online student programs include the Reischauer Scholars Program on Japan, China Scholars Program on China, Sejong Korea Scholars Program on Korea, Stanford e-Japan for Japanese students, Stanford e-China for Chinese students, Stanford e-Entrepreneurship courses for both U.S. and Japanese students, U.S.-China Co-Lab on Climate Solutions, and nine regional programs in Japan (Stanford e-Fukuoka, Stanford e-Hiroshima, Stanford e-Kagoshima City, Stanford e-Kawasaki, Stanford e-Kobe, Stanford e-Oita, Stanford e-Tottori, Stanford e-Wakayama, and Stanford e-Yamaguchi). Additional offerings include Scholars Corner video series, Visual Arts & Documentary Film resources, SPICE Digest newsletter, and specialized programs for middle school teachers, high school teachers, teachers in Hawaii, and community college programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP): SPICE's longest-running online course for U.S. high school students focused on Japan and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Stanford e-Japan
• Stanford e-China
• China Scholars Program
• Sejong Korea Scholars Program
• Stanford e-Entrepreneurship U.S.
• Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan
• U.S.-China Co-Lab on Climate Solutions
• Stanford e-Yamaguchi
• Stanford e-Kagoshima City

Products and services

• Lesson Plans & Teaching Resources Content-rich, standards-aligned lesson plans and teaching resources on international topics developed using Stanford University's research, faculty, and scholarship. Distributed through the SPICE Store as paid products and through a free multimedia resources portal.
• Professional Development for Teachers Free teacher professional development including seminars, summer institutes, and fellowships for middle school teachers, high school teachers, community college instructors, and teachers in Hawaii.
• Online Courses for Students Interactive, synchronous online courses introducing college-level scholarship on global issues to high school students in the United States, Japan, and China, covering Japan, China, Korea, entrepreneurship, climate, and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) SPICE's longest-running online course for U.S. high school students providing a broad overview of Japan with a special focus on the U.S.-Japan relationship. Students engage with top scholars, ambassadors, and experts from the U.S. and Japan.
• Stanford e-Japan National online course enrolling high school students from Japan for intensive study of U.S. society, culture, and U.S.-Japan relations. Offered biannually, supported by the Yanai Tadashi Foundation.
• China Scholars Program Online course for U.S. high school students on China, providing opportunities to learn about China from different perspectives.
• Sejong Korea Scholars Program Online course for U.S. high school students on Korea, engaging with Korean society and culture.
• Stanford e-Entrepreneurship U.S. Online entrepreneurship course for U.S. high school students exploring social entrepreneurship, global citizenship, and creating positive change. Offered free of charge through anonymous donor support.
• Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan Online entrepreneurship course for Japanese high school students focusing on social entrepreneurship, design thinking, and addressing global challenges.
• Stanford e-China Online course for Chinese high school students on the United States, providing perspective on U.S. society and culture.
• U.S.-China Co-Lab on Climate Solutions Online course for U.S. and Chinese high school students on U.S.-China relations in the context of climate solutions and environmental challenges.
• Local Programs in Japan (Regional Programs) Regional online programs for students in Japan including Stanford e-Fukuoka, Stanford e-Hiroshima, Stanford e-Kagoshima City, Stanford e-Kawasaki, Stanford e-Kobe, Stanford e-Oita, Stanford e-Tottori, Stanford e-Wakayama, and Stanford e-Yamaguchi. Developed through collaborations between SPICE and local Japanese governments.
• Stanford e-Fukuoka Regional online course for high school students throughout Fukuoka Prefecture, developed in partnership with the Fukuoka Prefectural Government, focused on U.S.-Japan relations, Sustainable Development Goals, and entrepreneurship.
• Stanford e-Wakayama Regional online course for high school students throughout Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, expanding SPICE's regional programs portfolio.
• Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers Summer professional development institute for middle school teachers focusing on international and cross-cultural education topics.
• Virtual Seminar for High School Teachers Virtual professional development seminar for high school teachers on global issues and teaching resources.
• Fellowship for Teachers in Hawaii Professional development fellowship for teachers in Hawaii focusing on East Asian studies and global education.
• Community College Programs Programs and resources specifically designed for community college educators and students.
• Curriculum Unit: Uncovering North Korea Comprehensive curriculum unit addressing misconceptions about North Korea, providing context for understanding current events for U.S. high school students.
• Curriculum Unit: A Whisper to a Roar Documentary film about democracy activists in Egypt, Malaysia, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, with companion teacher's guide.
• Curriculum Unit: Divided Memories: Comparing History Textbooks Unit examining history textbooks from five Pacific Rim societies, comparing coverage of sensitive historical episodes in the 20th century.
• Scholars Corner Video series featuring scholars from the Freeman Spogli Institute discussing contemporary issues and research, accompanied by suggested classroom activities and lessons.
• Visual Arts & Documentary Film Documentary films and visual arts resources for educational use, including companion teacher's guides.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 RSP students from 35 U.S. states taught by Naomi Funahashi
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, notable and core.

• Fukuoka Prefectural GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Launched Stanford e-Fukuoka in spring 2022, an online course for high school students throughout Fukuoka Prefecture focused on U.S.-Japan relations, Sustainable Development Goals, and entrepreneurship.
• Project DastaannotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace-building initiative that utilizes bespoke digital experiences to reconnect displaced refugees of the Partition of India and Pakistan with their childhood communities. SPICE collaborated with Project Dastaan to develop curriculum materials on the 1947 Partition, including the use of visuals and interviews from the project.
• CatchLightnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual storytelling organization supporting SPICE's Partition curriculum initiative. Partnership enables access to film content and visual materials for educational use in the classroom-friendly discussion guide.
• Freeman Spogli Institute for International StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPICE is a program of the Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) at Stanford University. This parent-institute relationship provides institutional support, faculty access, and administrative infrastructure.
• Japanese Prefectural and Municipal GovernmentsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight regional programs in Japan developed through collaborations with prefectural governments (Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Oita, Tottori, Wakayama) and municipal governments (Kawasaki, Kobe, Kagoshima) to deliver online courses to local high school students.
• U.S. Consulate FukuokanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with U.S. Consulate Fukuoka enables cultural diplomacy programs, including exhibitions and meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Japan, supporting the Stanford e-Fukuoka program.
• Center for East Asian StudiesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerStanford's Title VI National Resource Center providing funding and support for curriculum development on East Asian topics, including the Korea Gone Global series.
• Consulate General of Japan in San FrancisconotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing support for regional programs in Japan, including representation at award ceremonies and coordination with Japanese education boards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pulitzer Center: Pulitzer Center produces standards-aligned K-12 global news and international affairs curriculum and teacher PD, closely paralleling SPICE's lesson plans and discussion guides on topics like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, cybersecurity, and Partition.
• United States-Japan Foundation: The U.S.-Japan Foundation funds programs that deepen Americans' understanding of Japan, including K-12 education and teacher awards (e.g., Elgin Heinz Teacher Award that SPICE staff have won), making it a directly comparable grantmaker and peer in the U.S.-Japan education space.
• East-West Center: East-West Center is a federally funded institution that develops Asia-Pacific educational resources for K-12 and postsecondary audiences, mirroring SPICE's Title VI-funded curriculum development on East Asia and U.S.-Asia relations.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS Intercultural Programs delivers global K-12 intercultural exchange and curriculum resources, comparable to SPICE's cross-cultural student online courses and teacher resources.
• iEARN (International Education and Resource Network): iEARN runs global K-12 collaborative online learning projects connecting students and teachers across countries, closely mirroring SPICE's synchronous online courses connecting U.S., Japanese, and Chinese high school students.
• Constitutional Rights Foundation: Constitutional Rights Foundation develops K-12 civic and global education curricula and teacher PD on topics like human rights, civil liberties, and international affairs, comparable to SPICE's civic and global issues curriculum portfolio.
• The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles: The Japan Foundation funds U.S.-Japan cultural and educational exchange programs, including teacher training and K-12 curriculum support, making it a closely comparable funder/program operator to SPICE's Japan-focused programs.
• Asia Society: Asia Society runs global education programs for K-12 students and educators on Asia and international affairs, and is a direct partner/peer to SPICE given overlapping focus on Asia-focused curriculum, teacher PD, and student programming; SPICE's Reischauer Scholars Program has even been recognized with Asia Society's Goldman Sachs Foundation prize.

Broad incumbents

• National Geographic Education: National Geographic Education produces standards-aligned K-12 global studies curriculum, multimedia resources, and teacher PD across many international topics, comparable to SPICE but at significantly broader scale and commercial reach.
• Council on Foreign Relations Education: CFR Education offers free K-12 international affairs curriculum, discussion guides, and teacher resources, comparable to SPICE's global issues curriculum (e.g., Russia-Ukraine, North Korea) but as part of a much broader foreign-policy institution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StanfordSPICE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/StanfordSPICE
• Facebookfacebook.com/stanfordspice
• Instagraminstagram.com/stanford.spice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stanfordspice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE)