1. Japan’s 300,000 International Student Plan
The Asia-Pacific Sub-regional Preparatory Conference for the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education
24-26 September 2008 Macao, PR China
Lrong Lim
International Student Center
Kagawa University, Japan
09/25/2008

2. Flow of presentation Introduction The 300,000 student plan
Scrutinizing the proposals
Closing remarks
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3. Introduction Japan’s foray into international student hosting
The 100,000 student plan
How was it achieved?
Remaining problems
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4. The 300,000 student plan Fukuda’s policy speech
Some background to the plan
Main aim: to host 300,000 international students by 2020, and to have 50% of the graduates working for Japan within Japan
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5. The 5 core proposals (1) The invitation to study in Japan
(2) The improvements to entrance examination, enrolment, and immigration procedures
(3) The globalization of Japanese universities
(4) The enhancement of the hosting environment and related facilities, and
(5) The promotion of social acceptance to international students after graduation.
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6. (1) The invitation to study in Japan
Japanese version of British Council
‘image strategy’ through ‘one-stop centers’ abroad
collaborations with non-Japanese universities
Japan Student Fairs conducted offshore
Japanese universities initiatives
offshore offices of related ministries, the semi-public institutions, as well as the offshore laboratories and offices of Japanese universities
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7. (2) Improvements to entrance exam, enrolment, and immigration procedures
Application and immigration procedures
Enrolment procedures
Housing applications
All to be executed before student leaves for Japan
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8. (3) Globalization of Japanese universities
‘Global 30’ to be selected by 2010, whereby
Up to 30% of staff are foreigners
Top level courses & curricula
Up to 30% of all classes in English
At least 20% to be international students
Ratio of graduate/undergraduate students
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9. (4) Enhancement of hosting environment & related facilities
Provision of dorms for the first year of enrolment
Semi-public institutions and private companies to lend helping hand
Scholarship programs to be expanded
Counseling for students and families in line for improvement
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10. (5) Promotion of social acceptance to international students after graduation
50% of international graduates to work for Japanese companies within Japan
‘Globalization of Japanese society’
Public, education, & private sectors to provide internships & job counseling
Visa rules to be extended
Attitude of Japanese firms to be more ‘accommodating’
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11. Scrutinizing the proposals
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12. The invitation to study in Japan
Two issues here…
First, use of the internet to launch the so-called ‘image strategy’ to establish a ‘Japanese national brand’
Second, Japanese version of the British Council
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13. Improvements to entrance exam, enrolment, &immigration procedures
Probably the easiest part of the whole proposal
Presently, two types of student visas
Shugaku visa and ryugaku visa
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14. Globalization of Japanese universities
Three points of contention…
30% of the teaching staff being foreign
Students taking courses conducted only in English
Possibility of high caliber students primarily coming from outside of Asia
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15. Enhancement of hosting environment & related facilities
Continuous acute shortage of appropriate student housing
Private housing rentals remain expensive
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16. Promotion of social acceptance to international students after graduation
Capacity, ability, and willingness of Japanese firms to hire international graduates
Mismatch of graduates ability and skills needed to function in Japanese environment
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17. Rivals in neighborhood
Concluding remarks
Rivals in neighborhood
Go-getter plan, but biggest obstacle revolves around the ‘use’ of foreign academicians in executing the plan
09/25/2008

18. Thank you for listening!
09/25/2008