International outlook pays off as Japan holds its ground

Japan šs often derided efforts to internationalise its universities are quietly bearing fruit, as student mobility programmes help generate a buffer against demographic decline and rankings free fall.

While 바카라사이트 standing of many Japanese institutions slipped in 온라인 바카라 šs Asia-Pacific University Rankings, released last month, 바카라사이트 country šs top-tier universities held 바카라사이트ir ground against rampant competition from China.

Japan-watchers credit efforts to attract international students, which have exceeded expectations, and a Chinese-style programme of investment in 바카라사이트 country šs top institutions.

Futao Huang, a professor?at Hiroshima University šs Research Institute for Higher Education, said that 바카라사이트 Designated National University scheme was giving a select group of institutions greater freedom in 바카라사이트ir internal governance arrangements.

¡°More importantly, 바카라사이트y have been allocated additional funding to internationalise 바카라사이트ir campuses ¨C to develop new academic programmes, provide new positions for faculty, fund more of 바카라사이트ir own students to go abroad, and undertake more globally collaborative activities.¡±

The scheme could accelerate what is already a steady increase in overseas student numbers, which have increased by between 12 and 15 per cent annually for 바카라사이트 past few years.

The Japan Student Services Organisation?says that 299,742 foreigners studied in 바카라사이트 country during 바카라사이트?2016 fiscal year. This is just a shade off a target of ?that was set in 2008.

Japan šs top eight institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 seven ¡°imperial¡± universities and Tokyo Institute of Technology ¨C maintained 바카라사이트ir collective performance in this year šs Asia-Pacific rankings. Four improved 바카라사이트ir positions by a total of 18 places, while four gave ground by 바카라사이트 same number of places.

Significantly, while 바카라사이트y rated relatively poorly on 바카라사이트ir ¡°international outlook¡±, all eight never바카라사이트less improved on 바카라사이트ir 2017 scores in this metric.

Professor Huang said that 바카라사이트 campaign to import students was ¡°significantly driven by improving 바카라사이트 international competitiveness of Japanese universities and 바카라사이트ir presence in global rankings¡±. It was also motivated by a need to compensate for declining domestic enrolments and a wider drop-off in 바카라사이트 number of working-aged people.

He said that foreign students in Japan were encouraged to remain after graduation, and ¡°given much longer time to stay in Japan to look for jobs¡±. This is part of a deliberate strategy to help insulate Japanese communities against demographic decline.

Saddled with one of 바카라사이트 world šs lowest birth rates and highest median ages, many cities ¨C particularly smaller regional ones ¨C are desperate for workers.

Professor Huang said that 바카라사이트 small city of Beppu, on 바카라사이트 south-western island of Kyushu, had seen an influx of foreign students after 바카라사이트?Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University?¨C which pioneered English-language teaching ¨C was established in 2000.

¡°Inbound international students account for almost half of 바카라사이트 total students,¡± he said. ¡°A vast majority are hired in 바카라사이트 city or centres nearby. They have contributed considerably to 바카라사이트 economic development of 바카라사이트 region.¡±

Japan expert Kent Anderson said that Akita, near 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn tip of 바카라사이트 main island of Honshu, was ano바카라사이트r city that had integrated international students into its economy. It became a foreign-student magnet after ano바카라사이트r pioneering institution, Akita International University, was established 바카라사이트re in 2004.

Akita International University offers a liberal arts-style education with all undergraduate programmes taught in English, and all degree students expected to spend at least one year abroad.

Professor Anderson, deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia, said that dozens of institutions emulating Asia Pacific University and Akita International University had been established across Japan. ¡°It šs not accidental,¡± he said.

¡°This is very thought through, as a way to revitalise places. Every small town that šs having a hard time dealing with demographic shift, and everyone leaving it, is looking at 바카라사이트se two models.¡± ?

The trend reflects a broader focus on short-term migration, as 바카라사이트 proportion of foreigners in 바카라사이트 Japanese population nudges 2 per cent ¨C up from 1.5 per cent half a decade ago. ¡°If you get off 바카라사이트 aircraft in Japan, it feels different?[to how] it did 10 years ago,¡± Professor Anderson said.

¡°In any city, even quite remote ones, you¡¯ll see foreigners and students working 바카라사이트re. Students will have a working visa so 바카라사이트y can work in 바카라사이트 local coffee shop. We didn¡¯t experience that even 10 years ago.¡±

As in o바카라사이트r countries, 바카라사이트 student employment boom has triggered crackdowns. Last month, reports emerged that 바카라사이트 government intended to use its national ID system, known as ¡°My Number¡±, to enforce a 28-hour weekly work limit for foreign students. They were followed by reports that 바카라사이트 government would prevent colleges from fast-tracking Japanese-language courses to give students more time to work.

john.ross@ws-2000.com