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PART Issues and Developments of Policies in Education, Science and Culture

Recently the number of foreign students studying at Japanese universities has been rapidly increasing. As of 1988, they numbered about 25,000, and yet the number is still smaller than those of the United States and European countries. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is promoting comprehensive measures, with reference to recommendations from knowledgeable persons toward a target of accommodating 100,000 foreign students at the beginning of the 21st century. The Ministers' Forum on the Promotion of International Exchange of Students, which started in April 1988, has made several suggestions, and with these in mind, the Ministry places emphasis on the following measures.

1) In order that foreigners aspiring to study in our country can realize the aspiration smoothly, it is important to create a system abroad through which foreigners are prepared before departure for study in Japan. For this purpose, the Ministry of Education. Science and Culture provides various kinds of information related to study in Japan through the Information Center of the Association of International Education ; it also operates preparatory education programs including Japanese language teaching programs for students financed by the Chinese and Malaysian Governments by sending Japanese language teachers to these countries. Furthermore, in 1989, the Ministry held Japan Education Fairs in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and conducted a preparatory survey for implementing abroad a common examination for privately funded foreign students.

2) In order that foreign students can devote themselves to a satisfactory academic life, the establishment of a stable base of living is essential. Therefore, the Ministry is trying to increase the number of government scholarship students (Monbusho Scholarship students), and is implementing for privately funded students, such assistance measures as the provision of honors scholarships, tuition waivers and assistance for medical treatment expenses. In regard to housing accommodations which constitute a basis for the success of study in Japan. the Ministry is promoting not only the construction of foreign student dormitories at national universities, but also requesting the cooperation of the public housing authorities as well as private corporations to offer public housing and company housing for the use of foreign students. Thus in FY 1989, the Ministry initiated such measures as the Designated Housing System, the Construction Encouragement Fund System and subsidies for the Corporate Friendship Network for Foreign Students.

1) In order to develop a system for receiving foreign students at universities, the Ministry provides, in the case of national universities, earmarked special fund for the guidance of foreign students, the placement of academic advisors for foreign students and non-teaching staff in charge of foreign students. In case of private universities, the Ministry promotes the receiving of foreign students by providing a special subsidy of current expenses reflecting the number of foreign students received.

4) It is important to develop a system for receiving foreign students, involving the public and private sectors. As of August 1989, 11 Regional Associations for the Promotion of Exchange of Students have been established, consisting of representatives of local universities, local public bodies and economic organizations ; they have started activities based in their own locality. Follow-up services for former foreign students such as the sending of specialized academic journals have been undertaken in order to make the benefit of having studied in Japan rewarding.

Recently, overseas studies of Japanese students are also rapidly increasing. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture operates a program to send Japanese students abroad with Japanese government funds and cooperates with foreign governments in the recruiting and selecting of their sponsored students. It is also trying to provide aspirants with necessary information concerning study abroad through the Information Center of the Association of International Education, so that each person may be able to select a suitable destination abroad in accord with their own objectives.