FamilyMart Co., through its network of convenience store outlets in Asia, has begun offering help to foreign students looking to study in Japan.
In cooperation with Kawaijuku Educational Institution, a major prep school chain that offers university entrance exam preparation, and travel agency JTB Corp., FamilyMart will provide free newspapers at its overseas stores containing information on studying in Japan.
The new service will also offer assistance in obtaining visas and finding a place to live and part-time jobs in Japan. The company operates thousands of stores in Asia.
According to a survey of foreign students in Japan by 52school.com Corp., a member of the Kawaijuku group, many students found it hard to obtain information on universities and other schools in Japan matching their areas of study. They also had trouble applying to Japanese schools and finding a place to live upon arrival.
To help address such problems, FamilyMart started distributing a free newspaper with information on study in Japan at its convenience stores in Taiwan in mid-September. Taiwan has more than 2,500 FamilyMart stores.
Customers can pick up school application forms at the stores and receive help on how to apply. JTB will also assist students applying for student visas and make other arrangements, such as accommodations.
FamilyMart will help students get part-time jobs at its domestic stores.
According to Japan Student Services Organization, as of May 2009, about 133,000 foreign students were enrolled at Japanese four-year undergraduate schools, two-year junior colleges, graduate schools and other schools. Many were from Asian countries, including China, South Korea and Taiwan.
Based on a plan advocated in 2008 by then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to increase the number of foreign students in Japan to 300,000, the government hopes to attract more students from overseas. Government efforts include a project to improve the international competitiveness of Japan's institutions of higher education.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201010250291.html
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
More foreign students seeking work in Japan as companies pursue global talent
The number of foreign students looking for jobs in Japan is increasing as companies go global and seek more overseas workers -- providing tougher competition for Japanese students amid the ongoing economic downturn.
On Oct. 17 the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) held a job-seeking preparation seminar for overseas students. A total of 517 students from China, South Korea, Bangladesh and other countries took part -- a turnout that surpassed organizers' expectations. Many of the participants were from emerging Asian countries experiencing rapid economic growth, but wanted to work in Japan more than any other country.
"In China, the employment rate is not necessarily better than in Japan," said Ling Yi, a 27-year-old student from Shanghai who is in his first year of study in a postgraduate course at Kobe University. "The economic downturn and competition are harsh, but I want to find work in Japan."
Another 24-year-old participant from Vietnam, a third-year student at Osaka University, was also keen to work in Japan.
"Vietnam is like Japan 30 years ago. I want to pass on Japan's service system to Vietnam," the student said.
According to JASSO figures, there were 132,720 foreign students in Japan as of May 2009 -- a record high. The number of foreign students seeking jobs at Japanese companies has also been rising each year, reaching 11,040 in 2008.
At the same time Japanese companies have a keen eye on overseas students. About half of the approximately 600 new graduates that Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo chain, plans to take on in 2011 are foreigners. Companies such as Panasonic and Rakuten are also actively hiring personnel from overseas.
Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida said that the talent of workers was a factor in the trend.
"The reason that employment of students from overseas is increasing and regular employment of Japanese is decreasing is a matter of ability," he said.
Mainichi Communications, a major employment information provider, said Japanese students needed to realize the gravity of the situation.
"Companies are cutting back on employment and it's precisely because of this that they are looking at the qualities of the students regardless of their nationalities. Japanese students need a sense of crisis," a company representative said.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20101022p2a00m0na022000c.html
On Oct. 17 the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) held a job-seeking preparation seminar for overseas students. A total of 517 students from China, South Korea, Bangladesh and other countries took part -- a turnout that surpassed organizers' expectations. Many of the participants were from emerging Asian countries experiencing rapid economic growth, but wanted to work in Japan more than any other country.
"In China, the employment rate is not necessarily better than in Japan," said Ling Yi, a 27-year-old student from Shanghai who is in his first year of study in a postgraduate course at Kobe University. "The economic downturn and competition are harsh, but I want to find work in Japan."
Another 24-year-old participant from Vietnam, a third-year student at Osaka University, was also keen to work in Japan.
"Vietnam is like Japan 30 years ago. I want to pass on Japan's service system to Vietnam," the student said.
According to JASSO figures, there were 132,720 foreign students in Japan as of May 2009 -- a record high. The number of foreign students seeking jobs at Japanese companies has also been rising each year, reaching 11,040 in 2008.
At the same time Japanese companies have a keen eye on overseas students. About half of the approximately 600 new graduates that Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo chain, plans to take on in 2011 are foreigners. Companies such as Panasonic and Rakuten are also actively hiring personnel from overseas.
Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida said that the talent of workers was a factor in the trend.
"The reason that employment of students from overseas is increasing and regular employment of Japanese is decreasing is a matter of ability," he said.
Mainichi Communications, a major employment information provider, said Japanese students needed to realize the gravity of the situation.
"Companies are cutting back on employment and it's precisely because of this that they are looking at the qualities of the students regardless of their nationalities. Japanese students need a sense of crisis," a company representative said.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20101022p2a00m0na022000c.html
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Study abroad key to Japan's future
The lack of student interest in studying abroad is casting a shadow over the future of this quickly graying nation, according to a noted German business professor.
"I can't overemphasize the importance of studying abroad," David Bach, the 35-year-old dean of programs at the IE Business School in Madrid, said in a recent interview with The Japan Times.
"It's incredibly important for Japan to have global managers. I think a global management education experience is a very important contribution to that, knowing people from all over the world, learning from them and learning a foreign language."
Bach, who was in Tokyo earlier this month to recruit students and meet alumni, said that because the Japanese market is bound to shrink due to its aging and shrinking population, Japan must bolster its international business expertise if it is to remain a wealthy nation.
"That means understanding the world. And earlier generations of Japanese managers did that very well," Bach said. "They went to Europe, they went to the U.S., starting in the '50s and the '60s, learning and acquiring the skills, understanding the customers and going out in full force."
It's important for succeeding generations to maintain this spirit in light of tremendous new opportunities in emerging markets, including India, Brazil and China, said Bach, a professor of strategic management.
Founded in 1973, the IE Business School is one of the leading institutions of its kind in the world and has a diverse student body. Often listed among the world's top 20 MBA programs by the Financial Times and The Economist, 90 percent of the students in its English MBA programs come from abroad, covering more than 70 different countries.
"You'll not get that diversity anywhere else. In the United States, at the most international diverse MBA program you might have 30 percent maybe 35 percent international students. Not 90 percent," Bach said.
The school offers each course in both English and Spanish. Of the approximately 700 students in its one-year MBA program, about 500 opt for the English classes, according to the professor.
"The leading European programs, such as ours, INSEAD (in France) and IMD (in Switzerland) are increasingly one-year programs. They are not two-year programs," he said, referring to the MBA programs in the U.S. "So, essentially, with half the time, with a lot more diversity, you can get the same degree."
Bach graduated from Yale University and received his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.
Bach, who also studied political science outside his own country, said it's very important to have the experience of living abroad and interacting with the people there.
"It provides you with ways to critically assess your own country and your own experience. Until you are in a foreign country, you take everything for granted," Bach said. "Comparison is incredibly important when it comes to gaining real insight."
Asked about the impression of Japanese students, Bach said they are smart and well-prepared. "The Japanese students add a lot to our program."
The knowledge of Japanese students, who have grown up in a Japanese political economy and who understand the way Japanese corporate governance works, is very important to the MBA programs, he said. "Japanese students contribute something in our discussions that others cannot contribute."
The school enrolls about 10 to 15 Japanese students every year. Although the numbers have dropped off in the past, they are picking up again and the school hopes more will apply, Bach said.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101019f1.html
"I can't overemphasize the importance of studying abroad," David Bach, the 35-year-old dean of programs at the IE Business School in Madrid, said in a recent interview with The Japan Times.
"It's incredibly important for Japan to have global managers. I think a global management education experience is a very important contribution to that, knowing people from all over the world, learning from them and learning a foreign language."
Bach, who was in Tokyo earlier this month to recruit students and meet alumni, said that because the Japanese market is bound to shrink due to its aging and shrinking population, Japan must bolster its international business expertise if it is to remain a wealthy nation.
"That means understanding the world. And earlier generations of Japanese managers did that very well," Bach said. "They went to Europe, they went to the U.S., starting in the '50s and the '60s, learning and acquiring the skills, understanding the customers and going out in full force."
It's important for succeeding generations to maintain this spirit in light of tremendous new opportunities in emerging markets, including India, Brazil and China, said Bach, a professor of strategic management.
Founded in 1973, the IE Business School is one of the leading institutions of its kind in the world and has a diverse student body. Often listed among the world's top 20 MBA programs by the Financial Times and The Economist, 90 percent of the students in its English MBA programs come from abroad, covering more than 70 different countries.
"You'll not get that diversity anywhere else. In the United States, at the most international diverse MBA program you might have 30 percent maybe 35 percent international students. Not 90 percent," Bach said.
The school offers each course in both English and Spanish. Of the approximately 700 students in its one-year MBA program, about 500 opt for the English classes, according to the professor.
"The leading European programs, such as ours, INSEAD (in France) and IMD (in Switzerland) are increasingly one-year programs. They are not two-year programs," he said, referring to the MBA programs in the U.S. "So, essentially, with half the time, with a lot more diversity, you can get the same degree."
Bach graduated from Yale University and received his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.
Bach, who also studied political science outside his own country, said it's very important to have the experience of living abroad and interacting with the people there.
"It provides you with ways to critically assess your own country and your own experience. Until you are in a foreign country, you take everything for granted," Bach said. "Comparison is incredibly important when it comes to gaining real insight."
Asked about the impression of Japanese students, Bach said they are smart and well-prepared. "The Japanese students add a lot to our program."
The knowledge of Japanese students, who have grown up in a Japanese political economy and who understand the way Japanese corporate governance works, is very important to the MBA programs, he said. "Japanese students contribute something in our discussions that others cannot contribute."
The school enrolls about 10 to 15 Japanese students every year. Although the numbers have dropped off in the past, they are picking up again and the school hopes more will apply, Bach said.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101019f1.html
Sunday, October 17, 2010
ELS plans language centres on campus
A SUBSIDIARY of language teaching giant Berlitz is planning to establish English teaching schools for foreign students at several Australian universities.
ELS has almost 50 schools with 15,000 students in the US and plans to expand into Australia and Canada.
ELS offers its own certificate of English proficiency, which competes with the widely accepted IELTS and TOEFL qualifications.
More than 600 US universities use the ELS 112 certification and 46 of them have an ELS language school on campus. The company also has a network of 1200 recruiting agents across the world looking for students who want to study abroad.
The company has been eyeing the strong growth in international student numbers in Australia, which it sees, along with Canada, as the next frontier. It has begun talks with several Australian universities.
ELS director of public relations Tadashi Okamura told the HES the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was predicting 7.2 per cent annual growth in foreign student numbers worldwide, with China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia the big growth areas.
"We will see more and more opportunity in this area, especially in China," he said.
"A lot of people want to go to university, but because of the [relatively small] number of universities in China, they have to look for another country to study in.
"We have decided to expand this service not only in the US but to Australia and also Canada. We want to establish a network of universities in English-speaking countries."
He said one Australian university, which he declined to name, had already accepted the ELS 112 certificate of proficiency and the company was hoping this breakthrough would lead to broad acceptance across the sector.
Mr Okamura said ELS had already been in contact with the federal government about its intentions to expand into Australia and was pleased with the support it received.
Twenty per cent of undergraduate students in Australia are international students, compared with 3 per cent in Japan, he said.
"Australia is very, very active in recruiting international students. This is a national government policy to increase the number of international students, so they [the federal government] are very keen to work with us."
The company's pitch to universities is to deliver them foreign students with guaranteed English competency, allowing the universities to focus on delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses and research.
Its pitch to students is about continuity: they can do their English training and degree in the same place.
"For the students we provide intensive English training, provide accommodation and help in applying to universities," Mr Okamura said.
ELS is aiming to establish language centres at as many universities as possible, depending on demand and student numbers. Its US operation has one language school for every 13 universities that accept its ELS 112 certification.
Like Berlitz, ELS is part of the publicly listed Benesse Group. The group's core business has been in educational products and services in Japan, but with the country's fertility rate dwindling, it has advanced into English teaching abroad through its acquisition of Berlitz and ELS.
Benesse, with interests in nursing homes in Japan, appears to have deep pockets to fund the expansion.
ELS has almost 50 schools with 15,000 students in the US and plans to expand into Australia and Canada.
ELS offers its own certificate of English proficiency, which competes with the widely accepted IELTS and TOEFL qualifications.
More than 600 US universities use the ELS 112 certification and 46 of them have an ELS language school on campus. The company also has a network of 1200 recruiting agents across the world looking for students who want to study abroad.
The company has been eyeing the strong growth in international student numbers in Australia, which it sees, along with Canada, as the next frontier. It has begun talks with several Australian universities.
ELS director of public relations Tadashi Okamura told the HES the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was predicting 7.2 per cent annual growth in foreign student numbers worldwide, with China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia the big growth areas.
"We will see more and more opportunity in this area, especially in China," he said.
"A lot of people want to go to university, but because of the [relatively small] number of universities in China, they have to look for another country to study in.
"We have decided to expand this service not only in the US but to Australia and also Canada. We want to establish a network of universities in English-speaking countries."
He said one Australian university, which he declined to name, had already accepted the ELS 112 certificate of proficiency and the company was hoping this breakthrough would lead to broad acceptance across the sector.
Mr Okamura said ELS had already been in contact with the federal government about its intentions to expand into Australia and was pleased with the support it received.
Twenty per cent of undergraduate students in Australia are international students, compared with 3 per cent in Japan, he said.
"Australia is very, very active in recruiting international students. This is a national government policy to increase the number of international students, so they [the federal government] are very keen to work with us."
The company's pitch to universities is to deliver them foreign students with guaranteed English competency, allowing the universities to focus on delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses and research.
Its pitch to students is about continuity: they can do their English training and degree in the same place.
"For the students we provide intensive English training, provide accommodation and help in applying to universities," Mr Okamura said.
ELS is aiming to establish language centres at as many universities as possible, depending on demand and student numbers. Its US operation has one language school for every 13 universities that accept its ELS 112 certification.
Like Berlitz, ELS is part of the publicly listed Benesse Group. The group's core business has been in educational products and services in Japan, but with the country's fertility rate dwindling, it has advanced into English teaching abroad through its acquisition of Berlitz and ELS.
Benesse, with interests in nursing homes in Japan, appears to have deep pockets to fund the expansion.
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