International Education Trends for the Future— Japan Update 2009 AIEA Conference, Atlanta George R. Harada, Hiroshima Univ. of Economics Yuichi Kondo, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

CONTENTS 300 Thousand International Student Acceptance Policy Stay, Work and Live after Graduation Expectations and Reality Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Conclusion: Intensifying Internationalization Strategy Development at Japanese Universities

Numbers of International Students May 2008

30 Thousand International Student Policy Attracting 300,000 international students (target date 2020)  Japan aims to open up its borders in relation to a “global strategy” to expand its development with the rest of the world with its people, products, money, and information. In this process, Japan will strategically recruit outstanding international students from various countries, regions and field, and linking this with the acceptance of skilled human resources. Japan will also continue to support countries in need of intellectual international contribution. Policy was jointly signed by six ministries on July 2008.

30 Thousand International Student Policy To execute this plan, Japan will: 1) Advance a plan that will start by providing incentives for thinking about coming to Japan  Japanese language education and Japanese culture will be supported and disseminated abroad; a network of “One-Stop Service Centers” will be established in countries around the world for prospective international and study-abroad students; in doing so, a “national brand” will be established; 2) Establish a comprehensive system (provide for a “grand design”) that will cover everything from entrance exams and entry into the country to life on campus and in society as well as assistance in the student’s studies and career placement. All of this will be done in coordination between the various ministries and organizations involved in promoting this plan;

30 Thousand International Student Policy 3) Advance the internationalization of universities  Select 12 universities (originally 30) to be leaders of the plan; promote internationalization of the curriculum; promote more double-degree programs and other attractive and innovative programs with overseas partners; provide for more competitive grants to those universities actively engaged in internationalization; *This process will require more active involvement of individual universities.

30 Thousand International Student Policy 4) Provide for an attractive study environment  Provide housing for international students the first year; improving the MEXT scholarship system; advance international exchange activities in the local community; provide more social and living support for international students and their families; 5) Globalize the Japanese society  Assist in career placement and entrepreneurial oppprotunities after graduation; clarification of visa status; extending the period of stay for graduates trying to find employment;

Stay, Work, and Live After Graduation The Nihon Keidanren reported twice (“Proposal on the Issue of Accepting Foreigner” (2004) and “A Second Proposal on the Issue of Foreign Human Resources” (2007) on the need to actively accept foreign workers. They recommended that Japan develop an economic society based on multiculturalism since every citizen in Japan could benefit from the diverse values, experiences and the intellectual knowledge of people from overseas. Influenced by these recommendations, the Economics and Finance Advisory Commission of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported in May 2008 the need to strengthen international human resources. One way they recommend to do this is to accept more skilled workers and to make the working environment more attractive. Another recommendation is to utilize the present internationalization of education and hire international students graduating from Japanese universities. (In fact, the new International Student Plan calls for a 50% employment rate target for all international student graduates by 2020)

Expectations and Reality Expectations: Helping out with the decreasing birth rate and decreasing numbers of 18 year olds entering higher education; Helping out to fill in the gaps created by the baby- boom generation retiring. Reality: Numbers of International students increasing, but at a slow rate; Many Japanese companies still refuse to hire foreigners for various reasons; Economic downturn making situation difficult.

Japanese Universities at the Crossroads （ Yokota Survey on Internationalization, September 2007) On accepting international students: 293 universities in total---61 National (95.3%); 36 Public (75%);196 Private (79.4%) Observation: Although most of the public universities have accepted international students, one fourth of the public universities and one fifth of the private universities have not accepted international students (as of the survey). Half of the universities did not consider accepting international students as being “extremely important.” May be an indication of universities still lagging behind in the promotion of the internationalization of the student body.

Japanese Universities at the Crossroads （ Yokota Survey on Internationalization, September 2007) Concerning the hiring of foreign faculty and researchers: 249 universities hiring in total---58 national (90.6%); 29 public (60.4%); 162 private (66.1%). Observation: Although there is a high percentage of universities hiring foreign faculty, the actual percentage of foreign faculty to the total number in the faculty is quite low standing at 2.5% on the average. With the issue of the internationalization of the curriculum becoming more and more significant, hiring of foreign faculty will be an important issue in the coming years.

Japanese Universities at the Crossroads （ Yokota Survey on Internationalization, September 2007) Concerning the hiring of foreign staff members for administration work: 52 universities in total---8 national (12.5%); 1 public (2.1%); 43 private (17.6%). Observation: There are very few foreign staff members at Japanese universities. According to the survey, the larger the numbers of international students, the higher the percentage of universities felt it important to have foreign staff members: international students--27.2% international students--54% 300 and over--73.2%

Japanese Universities at the Crossroads （ Yokota Survey on Internationalization, September 2007) Concerning the establishment of a separate office to handle international education exchange affairs: 177 universities in total establishing specialized offices for international affairs in total---52 national (81.3%); 7 public (14.6%); 118 private (48.7%). Observation: 82% of the national universities felt that it was “extremely important” in establishing a separate office to handle international affairs (international students, agreements, etc.,..) while only 43% of the public universities and 54% of the private universities did. As the 300 thousand international student acceptance policy get under way, and more international students are accepted and more agreements signed, more offices will need to be established.

Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Survey done by Hokkaido University, International Planning Department, October universities (68 universities answering- 58%) Q1: How important is for the university to disseminate information overseas? Very important (33 universities, 48.5%); Necessary (30 universities 44.1%); Neither (5 universities 7.4%); Not important (0).

Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Q2: Does your university disseminate information overseas? If so, which office or department is in charge of this activity? Yes (59 universities, 86.8%). No (5 universities, 13.2%). If yes, which office or department? International-related Department (46 universities, 67.6%); Public Relations Office (29 universities, 42.6%); International Student Office (15 universities, 22.1%); Admissions Office (6 universities, 8.8%); Other (3 universities, 4.4%).

Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Q3: What are the reasons for disseminating information and promoting public relations overseas? 1) Recruiting international students; 2) Strengthening the university brand name; 3) Promoting the recognition of the university; 4) Developing and improving the present image of the university; 5) Promoting fundraising purposes.

Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Q4: What are the reasons for not disseminating information and promoting public relations overseas? Don’t feel the need for overseas promotions (1 university, 11.1%); Not enough budget to promote overseas public relations (3 universities, 33.3%); Don’t have enough know-how (2 universities, 2.2%); Other (6 universities, 66.7%).

Survey on University Overseas PR & International Student Recruitment Q5: Does your university provide a website other than in the Japanese language? Only English (40 universities, 58.8%); Only Chinese (0); Only Korean (0); Three languages-English, Chinese, Korean (15 universities, 22%); English and Chinese (11 universities, 16.2%); Japanese only (1 university, 1.5%); Other (1 university, 1.5%).

Conclusion: Intensifying International Strategy Development at Japanese Universities Implementation of the 300 thousand international student acceptance plan will require more universities to get involved in internationalization. In this process, more universities will need to establish specialized international offices to manage the acceptance of international students and the maintenance of international programs and etc.,… As more institutions get involved and the international environment gets more and more competitive, strategy to develop more attractive programs to recruit more and better students will be important. More professionals in the field of international education exchange will be needed=>the traditional administrative rotation system will not fit well with this system.