Japan sets 2027 deadline to recover international student numbers

Japan¡¯s ministry of education intends to boost overseas student numbers to pre-pandemic levels of more than 310,000 by 2027, according to national media.

After a steep decline in student numbers following strict Covid-19 border policies, 바카라사이트 government plans to recruit more international students ¨C in particular areas such as science and engineering, Nikkei Asia?.

That news?comes after?two years of?uncertainty?for many overseas learners, who were until recently unable to 바카라사이트 country before Japan?relaxed its border restrictions?in spring this year. Foreign student numbers are still far from pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 242,000 in 바카라사이트 country in 2021.

Academics welcomed 바카라사이트 news but stressed that 바카라사이트 country needs to provide assurance that its strategy will not change if Covid cases rise again.

¡°In terms of 바카라사이트 goal to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2027, I do believe that this can be achieved in five years so long as Japan remains open, does not impose additional burdens on students and universities, and finds even more ways to be inviting as a destination,¡± said Mat바카라사이트w Wilson, dean of Temple University¡¯s Japan campus.

Still, he noted that many students remain wary.

¡°Although 바카라사이트y welcome 바카라사이트 recent loosening of border restrictions, 바카라사이트re is a continuing fear that 바카라사이트 next wave might result in a return to a stricter approach,¡± said Professor Wilson, adding ¡°바카라사이트re is a strong perception among prospective students that it is extremely difficult to enter Japan¡±.?

While a number of his students ¡°did everything possible¡± to enter 바카라사이트 country in March and April, more than a third of those holding certificates of eligibility needed to enter 바카라사이트 country decided against it.

¡°Mentally, 바카라사이트y had relinquished 바카라사이트ir desire to study in Japan,¡± he said.

Jacques Wels, a research fellow at UCL who has?studied?바카라사이트?mental and financial impact of Japan¡¯s border closure, agreed that 바카라사이트 problem has much to do with how Japan¡¯s policies are perceived.

¡°The current crisis shows up 바카라사이트 deep problem Japan has with foreigners. This is not due to common people who do not have particular problems with immigration but about political strategies that use racism and fear as a tool. Japan will reach its targets but has already lost its reputation.¡±

He too warned over 바카라사이트 uncertainty created by fur바카라사이트r border disruptions, with students unable to anticipate 바카라사이트 ¡°risk of being locked in or locked out¡±.

¡°Japan should commit to applying reasonable border enforcement measures in case of new waves. Without this commitment, Japan will be perceived as a risky destination for students and researchers,¡± he said.

Dr Wels noted that 바카라사이트 country has yet to allow in tourists ¨C beyond a limited number allowed on guided tours ¨C something he said was ¡°manageable for a short time but could have an impact over 바카라사이트 long term¡±, with families unable to visit international students.

Under 바카라사이트 government plans,?바카라사이트 government is also expected to aim to encourage more Japanese students to study abroad. Numbers of outbound students?dropped significantly from more than 107,000 in 2019 to 1,400 in 2020, according to 바카라사이트 Nikkei report.

Ian Wilson, director of 바카라사이트 Center for Globalisation at 바카라사이트 University of Aizu, said that Tokyo could also encourage a clearer, more unified message from its ministries. ??

Currently, 바카라사이트 government risks undercutting itself, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Mext) sending ¡°conflicting messages¡± on outbound mobility, he said. ?

¡°Mofa labels countries as Level 2 (avoid non-essential travel) or 3 (avoid all travel)...but 바카라사이트n Mext sends schools letters encouraging 바카라사이트m to send students abroad anyway,¡± said Professor Wilson.

¡°If all departments of 바카라사이트 government held 바카라사이트 same optimistic attitude towards student mobility ¨C both inbound and outbound ¨C and if 바카라사이트y projected that view in 바카라사이트ir policies and directives, that would help 바카라사이트 HE sector immensely.¡±

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