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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

The number of international students studying in Japanese institutions of higher education reached approximately 45,000 in 1991. As this number is much smaller than that of international students in Western countries, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is now committed to systematic measures for increasing the number of international students with the aim of accepting 100,000 by the beginning of the 21st century.

First, in order that international students wishing to study in Japan may enter a Japanese university without difficulty, it is very important to develop relevant mechanisms in foreign countries for enabling students to make appropriate preparations for study in Japan. For this reason, through the Information Center of the Japan International Education Association, the Ministry provides students in foreign countries with various kinds of information related to study in Japan. In 1989 the Ministry started holding "Briefing Meetings on Study in Japan" in foreign countries. The Ministry is also conducting feasibility studies on the overseas administration of the "General Examination for Foreign Students" for persons who wish to study in Japan with private funds. In 1990 the Ministry started studying educational programs in other countries which prepare prospective international students for study in Japan.

Second, if international students are to live a productive university life in Japan, it is necessary to provide them with financial and other assistance. For this reason, the Ministry endeavors to systematically increase the number of Japanese Government Scholarships for international students, as well as to increase the number of special grants, and to further promote partial tuition exemptions for international students studying in Japan on private funds. The Ministry also helps provide more and better accommodations to international students in Japan, by various means including constructing more international student dormitory units at national universities, requesting cooperation from industries to allow international students to live in available company dormitory rooms and encouraging local governments to construct more international students dormitories.

Third, in order to reinforce the arrangements at national universities for the care of international students, the Ministry allocates among national universities special funds for extra teaching and guidance of international students, and has created new positions for teachers, tutors, and counselors to provide extra assistance to international students. With a view to enhancing guidance and assistance to international students, a Foreign Student Center and a Student Exchange Division were set up in three more universities in 1991 following a pattern established in 1990. In the case of private universities, the Ministry provides them with special subsidies through current expense subsidies for private universities and colleges which regards the number of international students enrolled as one factor in determining the amount provided.

Fourth, in order to promote student exchange and support structures for international students on the basis of joint efforts from both the public and private sectors, all prefectures have organized inter-sector committees, composed of representatives from universities in each locality, local governments, business associations, and so forth. These communities take advantage of their own unique features to conduct various activities for assisting international students. A variety of follow-up services, including the sending of specialized scientific journals, are provided to returned international students so that the benefits of their study in Japan can be maintained or enhanced.

By virtue of these measures, the number of international students in Japan has remarkably increased during recent years. At the same time many problems are becoming apparent. In May 1990, the Ministry set up a Consultative Committee for Study on Governmental Policies Regarding Foreign Students in Japan for the 21st Century. The Committee is carrying out investigative studies on methods of developing truly effective international students policies. In July of 1992, the Committee compiled a report which positively evaluated the "Plan for 100,000 foreign students by the year 2000," and furthermore, in regard to future foreign student policy, the report discussed the need for putting priority on policies for quality improvements in hosting international students such as methods for coping with the diverse motives and objectives of international students.

In addition, with regard to student exchange with foreign universities, the Ministry provides government scholarship system for sending Japanese students abroad, and is cooperating with foreign governments in the recruitment and selection of Japanese students going abroad on foreign government scholarships. The Ministry also provides Japanese college and secondary school students with information about study abroad through the Information Center of the Japan International Education Association, so that they may choose a foreign university best suited to their respective study goals.

It has been pointed out, however, that in response to the rapid increase in the number of Japanese students going abroad to study, many problems are arising such as difficulties between the students, the mediating agencies which place them, and the foreign universities accepting them. In addition to conducting comprehensive investigations on study abroad, the Ministry created a Consultative Committee on Overseas Study Programs of Mediating Agencies in December 1990. The committee has been carrying out survey research on possible means for improving such programs from an educational point of view and compiled a report in April of 1992.

A system which facilitates study abroad for upper secondary students was established in April 1988, and now it is possible for students returning from secondary schools abroad to transfer credit to Japanese upper secondary schools. In order to cope with this situation, the Ministry is endeavoring to improve measures for the guidance for such students, including the compiling of a handbook for guiding upper secondary school students planning to study abroad.