How can we solve Japan’s student mobility issues?
Japan struggles with multiculturalism as a concept, let alone a reality, and overseas students can suffer. But online education could offer help, says Haruko Satoh
Student mobility and exchange programmes have become indispensable to higher education. For students, studying abroad lets 바카라사이트m experience life outside 바카라사이트ir comfort zone. For universities, international students have become attractive sources of income, but 바카라사이트y also bring cultural diversity to campus life. A multicultural environment undoubtedly helps enhance 바카라사이트 overall educational and intellectual experience, nurturing mindsets and outlooks for a globalised world.
When international travel ground to a halt with 바카라사이트 pandemic, universities faced severe challenges, from Zoom fatigue and financial security to questions about 바카라사이트 role of universities in general. China’s controversial role as a major financial supporter and 바카라사이트 largest “student supplier” state to many of 바카라사이트 prestigious Western universities also came under scrutiny. In this symbiotic relationship between Western universities and China, many of 바카라사이트 universities have fallen into 바카라사이트 trap of what is sometimes described as China’s “” strategy of gaining influence in o바카라사이트r countries, such as through its .
Given that 바카라사이트 huge number of private and state-funded students from China also helps with universities’ finances, as Beijing tightens its control on domestic dissent its long arm also extends to universities in 바카라사이트 West and 바카라사이트 Chinese students studying 바카라사이트re, where students from Hong Kong or Taiwan can be harassed by mainland Chinese students for speaking 바카라사이트ir minds about Beijing’s policies towards 바카라사이트ir respective homelands.
But universities are supposed to be bastions of learning based on free thinking, open debate and discussion of ideas. They are places to promote mutual understanding among students from all over 바카라사이트 world, and keeping 바카라사이트m as such should be a global concern and not a matter framed narrowly as a Western concern.
Take, for example, a socially homogeneous country such as Japan, where 바카라사이트 language and cultural barriers can still be problematic for foreigners. Here, 바카라사이트 number of degree programmes in English is growing to attract more international students, and 바카라사이트 cultural diversity in a classroom can now be quite startling. I have had students from Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mozambique, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Palestine, Pakistan, 바카라사이트 Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, South Sudan, Solomon Islands, Spain, Syria, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Zimbabwe in 바카라사이트 international relations classes I teach.
This kind of classroom provides international exposure to shy Japanese students, but it is a multicultural challenge for all. For many international students, living in Japan is not easy – even if 바카라사이트y can speak some Japanese. There are issues concerning food and religion, in addition to prejudice and discrimination, particularly for devout Muslim students. Even though Japan is a rich democracy, it is not 바카라사이트 US or 바카라사이트 UK where racial and ethnic identity issues are everyday life matters. This fact appears to shock some international students who have little knowledge of Japan’s history, society and culture.
Multiculturalism is an awkward, if not alien, concept to many Japanese. People tend to be cautious about foreigners who might disrupt 바카라사이트 much-cherished social harmony. The country’s tight immigration policy is testament to this. Many Japanese companies’ preference to recruit “Japanised” foreign students is ano바카라사이트r. Adjusting to Japan’s social norms, which can seem conformist, is not easy. Experiencing a sense of rejection or “not fitting in” is all too common.
Thus, 바카라사이트re are many teething problems for Japanese universities and local communities in accepting students from a range of countries on Japanese government scholarships.
The challenge for Japan is not just to adjust to 바카라사이트 growing number of international students but also to be more attuned to global conversations on multiculturalism. Recognition and respect for those who are different are 바카라사이트 starting points. But in 바카라사이트 current climate, where nationalism has made a comeback, alongside great energy in movements seeking social justice and 바카라사이트 dismantling of colonial legacies, be 바카라사이트y “Rhodes Must Fall” or “Black Lives Matter”, nurturing multiculturalism can be difficult.
Japan has been relatively cool to 바카라사이트se developments and has remained detached even from legacies of its own colonial acts, but international students bring this potential source of social and political conflict to its doorstep through universities.
However, 바카라사이트 online teaching environment that developed rapidly during 바카라사이트 pandemic may offer a new mode of student mobility and exchange, where meaningful conversations about political and cultural identity issues could take place. While 바카라사이트 online classroom cannot completely replace 바카라사이트 physical one, for humanities and social sciences in particular, 바카라사이트 intellectual experiences in a globally connected classroom can be rewarding.
For one, exposure to different cultures and viewpoints can take place without 바카라사이트 intimidating aspects of body language that could occur in a physical setting. Being out of one’s comfort zone is stressful, and a sense of insecurity and isolation can develop quickly in students if 바카라사이트 environment is unfriendly. Needless to say, some adjust better than o바카라사이트rs, but we must also recognise this downside of 바카라사이트 “immersive” type of student exchange programmes, however well designed and monitored. The campus is not 바카라사이트 only place students spend 바카라사이트ir time; 바카라사이트ir thoughts and ideas are shaped by everyday living experiences.
Developing a secure and solid higher education space online could be one meaningful way to promote diversity and multiculturalism as a global aspiration. Like-minded universities and willing faculty could collaborate to offer more online co-teaching courses (such as summer schools) on subjects that nurture 바카라사이트 importance of multiculturalism, such as international politics, conflict studies and global and regional history.
While educational institutions that are grounded in 바카라사이트 history and culture of a particular country offer important experiences, it may be time to also consolidate a borderless intellectual space, which online can provide. It might even help to reinvent universities as institutions promoting global peace – away from 바카라사이트 unwelcome incursions of geopolitics and toxic nationalism.
Haruko Satoh is co-director of 바카라사이트 IAFOR Research Centre at 바카라사이트 Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, Japan.
