The Dr. Kaoru Ando Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 by family members, the Indiana University Alumni Club of Japan and friends. The scholarship administered by Education Abroad, is awarded to an eligible student at Indiana University wishing to study Japanese language and culture in Japan.
In his lifetime, Dr. Ando held a point of view and an abundance of experience that could be termed nothing less than "global." He started his career focused primarily on moving his country forward in computer technology, but as time went on, he became increasingly involved in the international aspects of computer technology. He had strong convictions about the importance of international cooperation.
Dr. Kaoru Ando was born in Tokyo in 1914 as the third son of Professor Katuichiro Ando of Kyoto University and Ko Ando, the first violinist in Japan. In 1936 he graduated from Indiana University in management studies. Upon returning to Japan he joined the Watson Statistical Accounting Machines Corp. of Japan (now IBM Japan Ltd.), where he was involved in the sale of punched card systems. Immediately following the end of the Second World War, Dr. Ando become a consultant to the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers in social statistics, economic statistics, and social analysis and simulations.
He then returned to IBM Japan Ltd. and helped launch the Japanese general-purpose-computer business. Following this, he became senior vice president of Japan IBM and served as a special advisor to IBM Asia Ltd. As he became increasingly involved in the international aspects of computer technology, his deep-seated convictions as to the importance of international cooperation grew. After joining Fujitsu FACOM Information Processing Corporation in 1966, he was broadly successful in the information processing industry, not only in Japan but also on an international scale. In the autumn of 1974, he was awarded the Blue Ribbon Medal from the Japanese Government for his contribution to industrial computerization in Japan. This distinction earned him an Imperial Audience.
In 1977 he was appointed to be the Japanese representative to IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) and become president of this prestigious organization from 1983-1986.
Dr. Ando received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University in 1976 and an LL.D. from the same institution in 1980. He established the IU Alumni Club of Japan and served as president from 1964-1981.
The award will be based on academic merit and financial need, with preference to students who demonstrate an interest in U.S.-Japan relations. Applicants to the Nanzan program will be automatically considered for this award, which will average $1,000 for the student's period of study.