Direction of Global Policy Based on Higher Education
Hello everyone, this is Shimoyama from IMS. Since the weekend, we have had clear skies and temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius every day, which seems to indicate that the rainy season has already ended. It is getting hot suddenly, so please be careful not to get heat stroke.
As is well-known, Japan has adopted a so-called "isolationist" policy since the start of COVID in 2020. Due to this, international students have not been allowed to enter the country for a long period of time. Even online, students have had to take classes in the middle of the night in their local time zone. And in other cases, students in areas without a good communication environment had difficulty participating.
As we have repeatedly reported on our YouTube channel, it may be quite difficult to dispel the mistrust that has developed among foreign students over the past two years, even as new entry for foreign students has finally been permitted since March of this year.
Restoring Study Abroad Numbers
This week we saw a report that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has decided to restore the number of international students and Japanese students studying abroad -- which declined due to COVID -- to pre-COVID levels by 2027. The number of foreign students is estimated to be about 310,000, while the number of Japanese students studying abroad is estimated to be about 120,000. The "Direction of Global Policy Centered on Higher Education (Draft)" presented by the University Subcommittee of the Central Council for Education lists the following as strategic ways to secure foreign students.
- Re-establishment of Priority Areas and Regions of Focus
Regarding the acceptance of international students, etc., redefine the priority fields and priority areas in cooperation with related ministries and agencies, based on the changing needs of the times and society. Various support programs for international students will be strategically reviewed. - Strengthen information dissemination to international students in cooperation with overseas study abroad centers and external PR agencies
In cooperation with overseas study abroad centers of universities and related ministries and organizations that promote the attractiveness of Japan to the outside world, strengthen the communication of the attractiveness of studying in Japan and role models who have found employment in Japan to foreign students who are interested in studying in Japan, in order to revive the momentum for studying in Japan, which has declined. - Strengthen support for foreign students to find employment and start businesses
In response to the growing demand for high-level foreign human resources, promote the development of educational programs centered on business Japanese language education and internships, which are positioned as important skills for employment at domestic companies, etc., Also expand necessary support to encourage participation in such programs, thereby promoting the settlement of foreign students in Japan. - Strengthen employment support for international students in the region
In cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies, strengthen efforts to support the employment and retention of foreign students by forming a consortium consisting of local governments, universities, economic organizations, Japanese companies, JETRO, etc. in the region. - Strengthening and revitalizing the network of people with study abroad experience for the development of knowledgeable human resources
In cooperation with relevant ministries and universities, deepen follow-up especially for former Japanese Government Scholarship students who have returned to their home countries, in order to strengthen the network of those who have studied abroad locally. Promote their activities as continuous intellectuals, and to activate said network, which will lead to the acquisition of future foreign students. - Improving the quality of Japanese Language education in Japan
In order to promote the smooth acceptance of foreign students at Japanese universities and Japanese language education institutions, etc. in Japan, conduct studies to promptly submit a new bill concerning a new qualification system for Japanese language teachers, and an accreditation system to maintain and improve the standards of Japanese language education institutions. - Acceptance of international students at the high school level
With a view to continued study at Japanese universities and future retention of foreign students, actively promote the acceptance of foreign students from the upper secondary school level and support the development of an environment for receiving such students.
A National Problem, and a National Solution
It is said that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is focusing on accepting foreign students because, "with the rapidly declining birthrate in Japan, it is essential to accept excellent human resources from all over the world to improve Japan's educational and research capabilities." If we are serious about securing foreign students, the entire country needs to address this issue. As a consulting firm which advises major universities, we are not a stranger to this issue, and we will continue to monitor it closely.
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