Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Table of Contents
- Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline
- Chapter 2 From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan’s Contemporary Higher Education System
- Chapter 3 The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change?
- Chapter 4 National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice
- Chapter 5 Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education
- Chapter 6 Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable
- Chapter 7 Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed
- Chapter 8 The Financing of Higher Education in Japan
- Chapter 9 Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends
- Chapter 10 The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings
- Chapter 11 Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes
- Chapter 12 Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era
- Chapter 13 Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Reality
- Chapter 14 International Students: Inbound Mobility at “Elite” and “Mass” Universities
- Chapter 15 Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues
- Chapter 16 Women’s Universities in Japan: Life Choices
- Chapter 17 Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges
- Chapter 18 Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education
- Chapter 19 International Faculty: Increasing Mobility
- Chapter 20 Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
- Chapter 21 Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way
- Chapter 22 The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809–2020
- Chapter 23 Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse
- Chapter 24 Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective
- Chapter 25 The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an “A.I. Society”
- Appendix 1 Chronology of Japan
- Appendix 2 Japanese National Universities, by Prefecture
- Appendix 3 Japanese Public Universities, by Region
- Glossary
- Index
Chapter 12 - Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2023
- Frontmatter
- Table of Contents
- Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline
- Chapter 2 From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan’s Contemporary Higher Education System
- Chapter 3 The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change?
- Chapter 4 National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice
- Chapter 5 Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education
- Chapter 6 Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable
- Chapter 7 Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed
- Chapter 8 The Financing of Higher Education in Japan
- Chapter 9 Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends
- Chapter 10 The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings
- Chapter 11 Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes
- Chapter 12 Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era
- Chapter 13 Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Reality
- Chapter 14 International Students: Inbound Mobility at “Elite” and “Mass” Universities
- Chapter 15 Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues
- Chapter 16 Women’s Universities in Japan: Life Choices
- Chapter 17 Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges
- Chapter 18 Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education
- Chapter 19 International Faculty: Increasing Mobility
- Chapter 20 Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
- Chapter 21 Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way
- Chapter 22 The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809–2020
- Chapter 23 Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse
- Chapter 24 Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective
- Chapter 25 The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an “A.I. Society”
- Appendix 1 Chronology of Japan
- Appendix 2 Japanese National Universities, by Prefecture
- Appendix 3 Japanese Public Universities, by Region
- Glossary
- Index
Summary
Japan was the first country in Asia to draw up a national policy for international students, the “100,000 International Students Plan (ISP),” and, after this target was achieved, the “300,000 ISP” was implemented as a high-level policy to unify the approach of various government ministries and agencies. Within international student policy, discrepancies and gaps often arise between the principles and intentions of the central government and the ways in which these are actually put into practice by those dealing directly with international students, leading to unintended consequences. Bearing these points in mind, this paper aims both to review the 300,000 ISP and to consider issues as we move into the next era.
Introduction
As the shift towards a knowledge-based economy and globalization gathers speed, it is no exaggeration to say that securing excellent students from overseas and retaining them after graduation is a decisive factor in a country’s economic power. In Japan, where the working-age population is set to decline rapidly due to a falling birth rate and aging society, a proactive and ongoing effort to attract highquality human resources from overseas to sustain the country’s society and economy is an urgent issue. Furthermore, industry, government, and academia are called to work in partnership to construct a pathway for such international students to study at Japanese educational institutions, gain employment with Japanese companies after graduation, and settle in Japan. Many countries, in particular industrially advanced countries, have rolled out international student policies with numerical targets, and the global competition for human resources is intensifying. Moreover, the over-commercialization and commodification of higher education are becoming a problem as international student education is transformed into a business, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Hosting international students: the current situation
According to statistics from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), on May 1, 2019, the total number of international students, including those studying at Japanese language schools (JLSs) and professional training colleges (PTCs), which offer vocational programs, was 312,214, while the number enrolled at higher education institutions (HEIs), such as universities and junior colleges, was 146,041 (see Figure 12.1). Taking the former number, we can say that the numerical target of the 300,000 ISP had already been achieved.
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- Handbook of Higher Education in Japan , pp. 161 - 175Publisher: Amsterdam University PressPrint publication year: 2021