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Educational hub for higher studies

Japan has been growing above potential for several quarters, according to IMF first deputy managing director, David Lipton, at the…

Educational hub for higher studies

Students

Japan has been growing above potential for several quarters, according to IMF first deputy managing director, David Lipton, at the recent Asian Financial Forum. The country is one of the leading nations in the fields of technology, machinery, scientific and medical research, and is quickly turning into an educational hub for international students.

The expat population living in the country has shown a remarkable growth, and now there are 2.3 million foreigners residing in this country. The number of international students enrolled for education in Japan as on 1 May 2017 is 267,042 persons — an increase of 27,755 persons as compared to the result of 2016, with the majority of students coming from Asian countries. This country offers an advanced and superior educational system in the fields of science, technology and mathematics than other countries.

It has outperformed the US on the Programme for International Student Assessments for several years and its universities are highly sought after for research and development initiatives. Foreign graduates are witnessing an increase in demand, with the Japanese government constantly encouraging subsidised company internships, providing help with finding jobs after graduation and offering Japanese language courses, in addition to streamlining the process to get work visas.

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Several high-profile employers conduct campus recruitments and pick up foreign graduates for high-salaried jobs. The strong market for university graduates coupled with the expanding range of career support services and supportive policies for international students make Japan an emerging and attractive study destination for international students. The government has also set its target of reaching 3,00,000 foreign students by 2020, apart from raising the employment rate for its international graduates to 50 per cent.

According to figures received from the Japan Student Services Organisation, there has been a 10 per cent increase in international students in tertiary learning institutes, and a 15 per cent increase in enrollment of foreigners in linguistic academies. Japan attributes its success in increasing foreign enrollments to a number of factors, including the high level of education and specialised training programmes. Also, if we take a look at the 700+ Japanese universities in the country, most of them have been increasingly making an effort to build up their academic courses in English, in their quest to attract more students from foreign countries.

While the cost of living and other expenses such as tuition fees, transport, food and other day-to-day living expenses are major concerns before heading to a foreign country, Japan has proved to be relatively affordable as compared to countries like the US, UK, and France.

The cost of living can be brought down further if the students opt to stay slightly off the city centres. Some of the student-friendly cities in Japan include Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Yokohama. As of 2017, six universities have been listed in the Times Higher Education Top 100 World University Rankings, and 12 Japanese higher education institutions have earned their position in the Top 100 Asian University Rankings.

The Japanese economy witnessed its seventh consecutive quarter of growth with the GDP rising by 2.5 per cent in the July — September 2017 quarter. As per reports, there has been speculation on the renewed confidence among investors and small and medium businesses on the demand for skilled workers to fill jobs with raised pay packages. This is another incentive for students to consider Japan as an international study destination.

With the Japanese government focusing on every opportunity to emerge as a top-draw for foreign students, besides showing a keen interest in growing its international enrollment and boosting employment outcomes, Japan is soon set to become the destination of choice for higher studies amongst foreign students.

The writer is chairman and managing director, ESS Global- Study Abroad Consultant

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