Japan, once the pride of Asia, might be economically weakening due to its long economic stagnation and the rapid rise of China in recent years. But, perhaps unnoticed, Japan has been emerging as a cultural powerhouse in Asia through its soft power projection.
It has not been an easy ride, Japan faces stiff competition from China, which has a huge diaspora in many countries, and rising South Korea, whose hallyu (Korean Wave) is spreading widely in Southeast Asia. Yet it seems Japan is markedly gaining the upper hand over its rivals in Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Popular cultural products like manga comics, cartoon films, food, fashion, arts, J-Pop music and finally the Japanese language have penetrated Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.
Children at a young age are exposed to Japanese comics and cartoon films.
“I became interested in Japan through cartoon films. I like Naruto characters very much,” a teenager, who prefers to use her Japanese nickname Hitachiin, said during a Japanese education exhibition in Jakarta on Saturday.
Many people are also becoming patrons of Japanese food, which is healthy but out of reach for many. Japanese restaurants are mushrooming in Indonesia’s major cities, with long queues at expensive Japanese restaurants in Jakarta’s posher malls a common scene on weekends.
“Every week, we dine at a Japanese restaurant because our children like Japanese food. In the beginning I didn’t like it much but now it has become my favorite food,” Susi Alexandria, a housewife living in South Jakarta, said.
Another example of this growing Japanese cultural fever is its language.
“I am very happy to say that around 750,000 Indonesians are currently studying the Japanese language in Indonesia,” Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yoshinori Katori said recently during a language debate contest in Jakarta.
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Foundation, 3.56 million people around the world are currently learning Japanese outside Japan. Surprisingly, Indonesia ranks third in the world after South Korea’s 960,000 learners and China with 830,000.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/28/japanese-fever-hits-young-indonesians.html
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Exec: Non-English speakers cannot do business in 10 years
English is an indispensable business tool for Japanese, who must compete globally as the domestic markets shrink. This especially applies to young people.
So says Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain.
"Just think about Japan in 10 years' time. People who can do their jobs only in Japan will not be able to survive," Yanai, 62, speaking in Japanese, told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview. "Japanese students must think that they are competing with students from other Asian countries."
Fast Retailing will make English its official language for business from 2012.
Yanai spoke about what he expects from students entering the job market and why he believes English is essential for their future.
Excerpts from the interview follow:
Q: What is your definition of "global personnel"?
A: My definition is simple. It's people who can do the jobs they do in Japan anywhere in the world. Japan is losing its allure as a market due to a shrinking population, and companies must compete in the world to grow. What is needed is the ability to understand the culture and thinking in a different country and communicate heart to heart with its people.
Q: Is that why English will be the official language at your company?
A: If people cannot speak English in business in the future, it will be tantamount to not having a driver's license even though they have to drive. English is the language for business not only in the United States and Europe but also in Asia. I think (English is indispensable in business) even though I am running a company in the retail sector, which is most focused on the domestic market. That thinking must be taken for granted in the manufacturing sector, and also applies to the service sectors other than retailing.
Q: But was it necessary to go so far as to designate English as the official language?
A: Without officialdom, employees will not work hard. We can talk in Japanese if we have only Japanese employees. But we will employ non-Japanese people in half of the positions in the head office within three to five years. Without English, we will not be able to even hold meetings.
But I want to emphasize that English is merely a tool for business. Japanese will remain the standard language for our thinking and culture. We have no intention of assimilating our thinking to those of overseas enterprises.
Q: What if students who excel in all subjects except for English want to work for your company?
A: We don't need such students.
Q: You don't mince your words, do you?
A: Life is not a box of chocolates. Just think about Japan in 10 years' time. People who can do their jobs only in Japan will not be able to survive. Some Chinese students learn everyday Japanese conversation in half a year. Japanese students must think that they are competing with students from other Asian countries.
Q: Without working so hard, you could lead a reasonably affluent life in Japan, couldn't you?
A: If the nation becomes poor, you cannot maintain that "reasonably affluent" life. Believing in honorable poverty is dangerous.
Having said that, I can understand how you feel. When I was a student, I thought about how to make a living without working. I joined a company using someone's connections, quit the company in less than a year and crashed in a friend's apartment as a sponger. While the friend went to work, I stayed at his apartment. I lived like that for about half a year.
Q: Did you have something to gain?
A: I was wondering all the way through whether I should live a life like that. I did nothing productive. I was thinking about going abroad to study commerce, but I felt it was like a mere excuse. In the end, my father, who was operating a clothing store in my hometown, called me back, and I took over his business. Contrary to my expectations, I found I was cut out for it.
Q: In your younger days, you were not the hard worker that you are now, were you?
A: Because of my experience during that time, I want to tell young people to devote their energies to work. When you're a student, it's a time to be free and comfortable. But it is also something like a rootless wanderer. Work, on the other hand, has the power to change the world. It takes 10 years to go on your own in business. You can think about your life in many ways after that period.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ201111250021
So says Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain.
"Just think about Japan in 10 years' time. People who can do their jobs only in Japan will not be able to survive," Yanai, 62, speaking in Japanese, told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview. "Japanese students must think that they are competing with students from other Asian countries."
Fast Retailing will make English its official language for business from 2012.
Yanai spoke about what he expects from students entering the job market and why he believes English is essential for their future.
Excerpts from the interview follow:
Q: What is your definition of "global personnel"?
A: My definition is simple. It's people who can do the jobs they do in Japan anywhere in the world. Japan is losing its allure as a market due to a shrinking population, and companies must compete in the world to grow. What is needed is the ability to understand the culture and thinking in a different country and communicate heart to heart with its people.
Q: Is that why English will be the official language at your company?
A: If people cannot speak English in business in the future, it will be tantamount to not having a driver's license even though they have to drive. English is the language for business not only in the United States and Europe but also in Asia. I think (English is indispensable in business) even though I am running a company in the retail sector, which is most focused on the domestic market. That thinking must be taken for granted in the manufacturing sector, and also applies to the service sectors other than retailing.
Q: But was it necessary to go so far as to designate English as the official language?
A: Without officialdom, employees will not work hard. We can talk in Japanese if we have only Japanese employees. But we will employ non-Japanese people in half of the positions in the head office within three to five years. Without English, we will not be able to even hold meetings.
But I want to emphasize that English is merely a tool for business. Japanese will remain the standard language for our thinking and culture. We have no intention of assimilating our thinking to those of overseas enterprises.
Q: What if students who excel in all subjects except for English want to work for your company?
A: We don't need such students.
Q: You don't mince your words, do you?
A: Life is not a box of chocolates. Just think about Japan in 10 years' time. People who can do their jobs only in Japan will not be able to survive. Some Chinese students learn everyday Japanese conversation in half a year. Japanese students must think that they are competing with students from other Asian countries.
Q: Without working so hard, you could lead a reasonably affluent life in Japan, couldn't you?
A: If the nation becomes poor, you cannot maintain that "reasonably affluent" life. Believing in honorable poverty is dangerous.
Having said that, I can understand how you feel. When I was a student, I thought about how to make a living without working. I joined a company using someone's connections, quit the company in less than a year and crashed in a friend's apartment as a sponger. While the friend went to work, I stayed at his apartment. I lived like that for about half a year.
Q: Did you have something to gain?
A: I was wondering all the way through whether I should live a life like that. I did nothing productive. I was thinking about going abroad to study commerce, but I felt it was like a mere excuse. In the end, my father, who was operating a clothing store in my hometown, called me back, and I took over his business. Contrary to my expectations, I found I was cut out for it.
Q: In your younger days, you were not the hard worker that you are now, were you?
A: Because of my experience during that time, I want to tell young people to devote their energies to work. When you're a student, it's a time to be free and comfortable. But it is also something like a rootless wanderer. Work, on the other hand, has the power to change the world. It takes 10 years to go on your own in business. You can think about your life in many ways after that period.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ201111250021
Friday, November 25, 2011
60% of next year's college graduates secure jobs60% of next year's college graduates secure jobs
More than half of the college students who will graduate next March had found jobs as of Oct. 1, while some 171,000 graduating students are believed to still be struggling to gain employment, according to a poll by the labor and education ministries released Friday.
While those who have landed a position at 59.9 percent are up by 2.3 percentage points from the same point last year, when the figure fell to its lowest level since the survey was first conducted in 1996, the number is still low compared with the early 2000s — a period bleak enough to be dubbed the "employment ice age.".
Among students at national and prefectural universities, 67.4 percent of the former had found jobs, up 4.2 points from a year earlier, as had 57.4 percent of the latter. The poll found 61.7 percent of male students found work, up 2.2 points, and 57.7 percent of females, up 2.4 points.
The rate for students at two-year junior colleges came to 22.7 percent, up 0.2 point.
Meanwhile, 41.5 percent of high school seniors who want to work after graduation had found jobs as of the end of September.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111119a9.html
While those who have landed a position at 59.9 percent are up by 2.3 percentage points from the same point last year, when the figure fell to its lowest level since the survey was first conducted in 1996, the number is still low compared with the early 2000s — a period bleak enough to be dubbed the "employment ice age.".
Among students at national and prefectural universities, 67.4 percent of the former had found jobs, up 4.2 points from a year earlier, as had 57.4 percent of the latter. The poll found 61.7 percent of male students found work, up 2.2 points, and 57.7 percent of females, up 2.4 points.
The rate for students at two-year junior colleges came to 22.7 percent, up 0.2 point.
Meanwhile, 41.5 percent of high school seniors who want to work after graduation had found jobs as of the end of September.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111119a9.html
Saturday, November 19, 2011
EDUCATION RENAISSANCE / Universities targeting parents to attract students
The following article is a translation from The Yomiuri Shimbun's Educational Renaissance series. This installment, the third and last of three articles, focuses on universities' efforts to attract students by holding explanation sessions specially designed to win over parents.
About 120 parents gathered at Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 31 to attend an hourlong meeting for parents whose children are considering attending the university. The event was aimed at explaining various issues students will face, including those related to scholarships and job hunting.
The meeting was followed by a campus tour. About 60 parents were guided by Atsushi Kuroko, head of the planning and admissions department, and other school officials and to various facilities including a center to support supplemental study.
"Please encourage your children to visit the center if they aren't able to keep up with their classes. In the case of boys, fathers aren't good at handling sons, so mothers should take the lead," Kuroko said, making the parents laugh.
"This is the third introductory session I've attended. But I've never attended a tour specifically designed for parents before. The explanations were so easy to understand I had nothing to ask," said a pleased mother who visited the campus with her daughter.
The school launched the campus tour for parents in 2007, adding to the explanation sessions for parents it launched in 2000. In 2008, the institute had school officials who help with postgraduate employment attend the session. Thanks to university's efforts, the number of parents attending open houses--originally intended for students--reached 1,285 in the 2011 school year compared with 582 in the 2007 school year.
"A parents-only session allows us to hear parents' opinions firsthand and discuss them," Kuroko said.
At a time when universities are competing fiercely to get more students--39 percent of private universities in the country under-enrolled--schools are trying a variety of measures to appeal to parents.
Nanzan University in Aichi Prefecture has held open house events for parents in March every year since 2007. This year, in a newly built building, about 300 parents listened to university students talk about their experiences studying abroad and took a trial lesson.
Ritsumeikan University has held an event designed for parents titled, "Let's go to Kitano Tenmangu shrine to pray for entrance exam success," during their summer open house since 2009.
The university's cooperative association students give tours around the Kinugasa campus in Kyoto.
"It seems like parents enjoy the walk and the chance to talk with students," a member of the association said.
"Parents' opinions have a strong influence on a student's choice of schools. It is important to win the hearts of parents who visit schools," said Kenji Yasuda, a senior official of Daigaku Tsushin, an education information firm.
"Recently, parents want to tour campuses together with their children. I expect there'll be more events where they can take part together," Yasuda added.
It appears there is nothing to stop the battle between universities to win the hearts and minds of parents.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/T111117003665.htm
About 120 parents gathered at Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, on July 31 to attend an hourlong meeting for parents whose children are considering attending the university. The event was aimed at explaining various issues students will face, including those related to scholarships and job hunting.
The meeting was followed by a campus tour. About 60 parents were guided by Atsushi Kuroko, head of the planning and admissions department, and other school officials and to various facilities including a center to support supplemental study.
"Please encourage your children to visit the center if they aren't able to keep up with their classes. In the case of boys, fathers aren't good at handling sons, so mothers should take the lead," Kuroko said, making the parents laugh.
"This is the third introductory session I've attended. But I've never attended a tour specifically designed for parents before. The explanations were so easy to understand I had nothing to ask," said a pleased mother who visited the campus with her daughter.
The school launched the campus tour for parents in 2007, adding to the explanation sessions for parents it launched in 2000. In 2008, the institute had school officials who help with postgraduate employment attend the session. Thanks to university's efforts, the number of parents attending open houses--originally intended for students--reached 1,285 in the 2011 school year compared with 582 in the 2007 school year.
"A parents-only session allows us to hear parents' opinions firsthand and discuss them," Kuroko said.
At a time when universities are competing fiercely to get more students--39 percent of private universities in the country under-enrolled--schools are trying a variety of measures to appeal to parents.
Nanzan University in Aichi Prefecture has held open house events for parents in March every year since 2007. This year, in a newly built building, about 300 parents listened to university students talk about their experiences studying abroad and took a trial lesson.
Ritsumeikan University has held an event designed for parents titled, "Let's go to Kitano Tenmangu shrine to pray for entrance exam success," during their summer open house since 2009.
The university's cooperative association students give tours around the Kinugasa campus in Kyoto.
"It seems like parents enjoy the walk and the chance to talk with students," a member of the association said.
"Parents' opinions have a strong influence on a student's choice of schools. It is important to win the hearts of parents who visit schools," said Kenji Yasuda, a senior official of Daigaku Tsushin, an education information firm.
"Recently, parents want to tour campuses together with their children. I expect there'll be more events where they can take part together," Yasuda added.
It appears there is nothing to stop the battle between universities to win the hearts and minds of parents.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/T111117003665.htm
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Considering How to Train Global Human Resources”symposium
Osaka Foundation of International Exchange and Osaka Prefectural Office will be holding a symposium entitled “Considering How to Train Global Human Resources” with the aim of training global human resources who will play an active role in the world. http://www.event21.jp/global/
At the symposium， a discussion will be held on what global human resources are， what global human resources must do， and from this provide a key to those who will bear the future， the young people， on how they can become global human resources.
Mr. Mineo Nakajima， President of Akita International University， a university that holds all of its classes in English and obligates its students to study 1 year overseas， will give a lecture on “Training Global Human Resources and Japanese Universities”.
Also， Ms. Mari Yamashita， Director of the Public Relations Center of the United Nations， will talk about her own experiences and give a talk entitled “Let’s Fly to the World! The World’s Expectations of Japan-from the View Point of the United Nations”， where she will talk about what the world is expecting from Japan.
Panelists for the panel discussion include Mr. Toru Nakahara， Principal of Izumi High School， who was also a lawyer in the United States for 10 years， and Mr. Tomohiko Nakayama， the Manager of the Personnel Department of the Global Company， Daikin Industries， with Mr. Takeshi Matsuda， President of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies， as moderator.
Graduates from American Universities will talk about their experience and there will also be an explanation about study in American Universities and Graduate Schools given by the Japan-US Educational Commission.
Registration is free. Please through the following homepage: http://www.event21.jp/global/
◆ Program Details
Date ：December 3， 2011 (Saturday) 13:30-17:00
Venue ：ATC Hall (Asia Pacific Trade Center) Hall C， 2-1-10 Nanko Kita， Suminoe-ku Osaka City
Target ：High school， University， Vocational school students， Educational Institution Staff，
Company personnel， etc.
Capacity：800 people (Pre-registration. Registration will close when capacity is reached.）
Fee ：Free
12:30-13:30 Opening and Registration
13:30-13:40 Opening Remarks
13:40-14:10 Keynote Lecture “Global Human Resources Training and Japanese Universities”
Mineo Nakajima President， Aichi International University
14:10-14:40 Lecture “Let’s Fly to the World! The World’s Expectations of Japan-from the View Point of the United Nations”
Mari Yamashita Director， UN Public Relations Center
14:40-15:00 “ABC’s of American Universities and Graduate Schools”
Chizuru Sasada Japan-US Educational Council（Fullbright Japan）
Press Relations Room and Overseas Study Information Service Senior Overseas Study Adviser
15:00-15:15 Break
15:15-15:45 “Experience of Graduates from American Universities and Explanation on Enrolling in the US”
ＵＳＣＡＮＪ（U.S. College Alumni Network of Japan）
Yuuki Amaki（University of California Los Angeles（UCLA）Graduate）
Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages Overseas Study Coordinator and Hybrid English Learning Program Development Center Research Staff
Yoshitaka Yamamoto （Harvard University Graduate） Tokyo University Graduate School MA Student
15:45-16:55 Panel Discussion
Panelist ：Mineo Nakajima President， Aichi International University
Mari Yamashita Director， UN Public Relations Center
Tomohiko Yamada Manager， Daikin Industries Personnel Department
Toru Nakahara President， Izumi High School
Yoshitaka Yamamoto Harvard University Graduate
（Content） What are Global Human Resources? Why are Global Human Resources wanted? What are required of Global Human Resources? How do you train human resources (what should be done?)
Moderator: Takeshi Matsuda President， Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
17:00 Closing
(For details)
http://www.event21.jp/global/
http://www.pref.osaka.jp/hodo/attach/hodo-08584_4.pdf
At the symposium， a discussion will be held on what global human resources are， what global human resources must do， and from this provide a key to those who will bear the future， the young people， on how they can become global human resources.
Mr. Mineo Nakajima， President of Akita International University， a university that holds all of its classes in English and obligates its students to study 1 year overseas， will give a lecture on “Training Global Human Resources and Japanese Universities”.
Also， Ms. Mari Yamashita， Director of the Public Relations Center of the United Nations， will talk about her own experiences and give a talk entitled “Let’s Fly to the World! The World’s Expectations of Japan-from the View Point of the United Nations”， where she will talk about what the world is expecting from Japan.
Panelists for the panel discussion include Mr. Toru Nakahara， Principal of Izumi High School， who was also a lawyer in the United States for 10 years， and Mr. Tomohiko Nakayama， the Manager of the Personnel Department of the Global Company， Daikin Industries， with Mr. Takeshi Matsuda， President of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies， as moderator.
Graduates from American Universities will talk about their experience and there will also be an explanation about study in American Universities and Graduate Schools given by the Japan-US Educational Commission.
Registration is free. Please through the following homepage: http://www.event21.jp/global/
◆ Program Details
Date ：December 3， 2011 (Saturday) 13:30-17:00
Venue ：ATC Hall (Asia Pacific Trade Center) Hall C， 2-1-10 Nanko Kita， Suminoe-ku Osaka City
Target ：High school， University， Vocational school students， Educational Institution Staff，
Company personnel， etc.
Capacity：800 people (Pre-registration. Registration will close when capacity is reached.）
Fee ：Free
12:30-13:30 Opening and Registration
13:30-13:40 Opening Remarks
13:40-14:10 Keynote Lecture “Global Human Resources Training and Japanese Universities”
Mineo Nakajima President， Aichi International University
14:10-14:40 Lecture “Let’s Fly to the World! The World’s Expectations of Japan-from the View Point of the United Nations”
Mari Yamashita Director， UN Public Relations Center
14:40-15:00 “ABC’s of American Universities and Graduate Schools”
Chizuru Sasada Japan-US Educational Council（Fullbright Japan）
Press Relations Room and Overseas Study Information Service Senior Overseas Study Adviser
15:00-15:15 Break
15:15-15:45 “Experience of Graduates from American Universities and Explanation on Enrolling in the US”
ＵＳＣＡＮＪ（U.S. College Alumni Network of Japan）
Yuuki Amaki（University of California Los Angeles（UCLA）Graduate）
Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages Overseas Study Coordinator and Hybrid English Learning Program Development Center Research Staff
Yoshitaka Yamamoto （Harvard University Graduate） Tokyo University Graduate School MA Student
15:45-16:55 Panel Discussion
Panelist ：Mineo Nakajima President， Aichi International University
Mari Yamashita Director， UN Public Relations Center
Tomohiko Yamada Manager， Daikin Industries Personnel Department
Toru Nakahara President， Izumi High School
Yoshitaka Yamamoto Harvard University Graduate
（Content） What are Global Human Resources? Why are Global Human Resources wanted? What are required of Global Human Resources? How do you train human resources (what should be done?)
Moderator: Takeshi Matsuda President， Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
17:00 Closing
(For details)
http://www.event21.jp/global/
http://www.pref.osaka.jp/hodo/attach/hodo-08584_4.pdf
Japanese look abroad to boost international appeal
JAPAN'S universities - assailed by claims they have failed to cope with globalisation - are moving to boost their international competitiveness and appeal.
Big changes are happening as campuses are offering more courses in English to boost foreign student numbers.
The government's Global 30 program, launched in 2008, aims to attract 300,000 foreign students to Japan by encouraging 13 universities - including Tokyo, Kyoto, Waseda and Sophia - to become centres for international education.
Waseda University vice-president Katsuichi Uchida said his institution launched its school of international studies in 2004 in anticipation of the direction in which things were heading and now had six faculties teaching in English.
"In that school we take 600 students. Two-thirds are Japanese, one-third are foreign," Professor Uchida said.
"All courses are taught in English and all these students are required to spend a year in another country to study.
"Nowadays this is a kind of a model for the development of undergraduate education programs at Waseda."
He said the university was turning its focus to Chinese students and students from other parts of Asia where Japanese companies increasingly were basing many of their production facilities to capitalise on cheaper labour.
Waseda now has 4000 foreign students, of which 40 per cent are Chinese and 20 per cent South Korean.
"When you are on Waseda's campus you will hear students speaking in Chinese, Korean, English and Japanese," he said.
"Through this kind of environment, Japanese students now recognise diverse cultural backgrounds and languages.
"The purpose for us in receiving international students is not just to educate those students but also Japanese students."
Tokyo University has just flagged starting a September entrance system - to be aligned with the US academic calendar - and its president has emphasised the importance of globalisation of universities in recent speeches.
Professor Uchida said the attitude was changing with universities recruiting foreign students and changing to a more global curriculum and internationally recognised teaching methods.
"We have been the forerunner, but these days the other universities recognise the importance of globalisation," he said.
"We now understand the importance of liberal arts education to nurture critical
ways of thinking. We are now developing small classes and during classes we emphasise the importance of discussion between students and faculty members."
Sophia University president Tadashi Takizawa said the university, a small institution by Japanese standards, had more than 700 foreign students and was increasingly turning its eyes from West to East with a view to attracting students from other parts of Asia.
Sophia is a Jesuit-established institution that has been at the forefront of internationalised education in Japan.
Foreign student numbers in Japan have almost tripled since 2000, with the present total standing about 142,000. However, that's still small even when compared with Australia, which has more than 200,000 foreign students enrolled in higher education courses each year.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/international-students/japanese-look-abroad-to-boost-international-appeal/story-fnahn4sk-1226196048362
Big changes are happening as campuses are offering more courses in English to boost foreign student numbers.
The government's Global 30 program, launched in 2008, aims to attract 300,000 foreign students to Japan by encouraging 13 universities - including Tokyo, Kyoto, Waseda and Sophia - to become centres for international education.
Waseda University vice-president Katsuichi Uchida said his institution launched its school of international studies in 2004 in anticipation of the direction in which things were heading and now had six faculties teaching in English.
"In that school we take 600 students. Two-thirds are Japanese, one-third are foreign," Professor Uchida said.
"All courses are taught in English and all these students are required to spend a year in another country to study.
"Nowadays this is a kind of a model for the development of undergraduate education programs at Waseda."
He said the university was turning its focus to Chinese students and students from other parts of Asia where Japanese companies increasingly were basing many of their production facilities to capitalise on cheaper labour.
Waseda now has 4000 foreign students, of which 40 per cent are Chinese and 20 per cent South Korean.
"When you are on Waseda's campus you will hear students speaking in Chinese, Korean, English and Japanese," he said.
"Through this kind of environment, Japanese students now recognise diverse cultural backgrounds and languages.
"The purpose for us in receiving international students is not just to educate those students but also Japanese students."
Tokyo University has just flagged starting a September entrance system - to be aligned with the US academic calendar - and its president has emphasised the importance of globalisation of universities in recent speeches.
Professor Uchida said the attitude was changing with universities recruiting foreign students and changing to a more global curriculum and internationally recognised teaching methods.
"We have been the forerunner, but these days the other universities recognise the importance of globalisation," he said.
"We now understand the importance of liberal arts education to nurture critical
ways of thinking. We are now developing small classes and during classes we emphasise the importance of discussion between students and faculty members."
Sophia University president Tadashi Takizawa said the university, a small institution by Japanese standards, had more than 700 foreign students and was increasingly turning its eyes from West to East with a view to attracting students from other parts of Asia.
Sophia is a Jesuit-established institution that has been at the forefront of internationalised education in Japan.
Foreign student numbers in Japan have almost tripled since 2000, with the present total standing about 142,000. However, that's still small even when compared with Australia, which has more than 200,000 foreign students enrolled in higher education courses each year.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/international-students/japanese-look-abroad-to-boost-international-appeal/story-fnahn4sk-1226196048362
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Japanese universities want more Indian students
You don't have to master Japanese to be able to study in a Japanese university. This was the most important take-home message of the day-long education fair organised last week by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation.
Eleven Japanese universities participated in the fair, which showcased their government's 'Global 30' initiative to attract best students from across the world. Japan had kickstarted the initiative in 2009 with the ambitious target of having 300,000 foreign students by 2020.
Language being the biggest barrier for Japanese universities, one of the early decisions taken by that country's government was to relax the rule making it mandatory for all foreign students enrolling for higher studies to learn Japanese. The 11 universities that participated in the fair were among the first to impart education in English.
"This was very challenging because we had to get professors who speak in English and also have a deep understanding of Japanese culture," said Satoshi Hata, who heads the India Office of the East Asian nation's top private university, Ritsumeikan University, which has campuses in four cities, including Kyoto. "The number of international professors teaching in Japan is also increasing," Hata added.
The pride of place at the fair of course belonged to the University of Tokyo, one of the oldest in Japan, having been founded in 1877. The university with a student population of 28,000 has just 35 from India enrolled in its engineering and information science programmes.
At the neighbouring Waseda University, which has 4,000 international students, India's presence adds up 10. The sought-after programmes at this university are political science, economics and engineering. An obvious gain of studying in a Japanese university for Indian students is their employability in Japanese firms, which are expanding steadily across the country.
"We hope to increase the number of students from this country by opening an office in Bangalore in February 2012," Yoshino Hiroshi, director of the University of Tokyo's India Office said. At present, the majority of the international student are from China and Korea. Of the more than 140,000 foreign students studying in various Japanese universities, Chinese students add up to 86,173, whereas Indians total only 546.
Students from India are enrolled mostly in engineering and Japanese language and literature programmes, the latter being particularly useful for those who wish to work as translators in Japanese companies. A number of these Indian students are on scholarships.
"Last year we gave scholarships to around 50 students from India," Kei Eda, first secretary, Embassy of Japan, said. "We want more Indian students to come and study in Japan."But before you set your sights on Japan, start preparing for the Entrance to Japanese Universities Admission for International Students (EJU) exam, which is similar to the GRE. For details on the syllabus and question patterns, go to the website of the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO), www.jasso.go.jp.
http://m.indiatoday.in/itwapsite/story?sid=159148&secid=114
Eleven Japanese universities participated in the fair, which showcased their government's 'Global 30' initiative to attract best students from across the world. Japan had kickstarted the initiative in 2009 with the ambitious target of having 300,000 foreign students by 2020.
Language being the biggest barrier for Japanese universities, one of the early decisions taken by that country's government was to relax the rule making it mandatory for all foreign students enrolling for higher studies to learn Japanese. The 11 universities that participated in the fair were among the first to impart education in English.
"This was very challenging because we had to get professors who speak in English and also have a deep understanding of Japanese culture," said Satoshi Hata, who heads the India Office of the East Asian nation's top private university, Ritsumeikan University, which has campuses in four cities, including Kyoto. "The number of international professors teaching in Japan is also increasing," Hata added.
The pride of place at the fair of course belonged to the University of Tokyo, one of the oldest in Japan, having been founded in 1877. The university with a student population of 28,000 has just 35 from India enrolled in its engineering and information science programmes.
At the neighbouring Waseda University, which has 4,000 international students, India's presence adds up 10. The sought-after programmes at this university are political science, economics and engineering. An obvious gain of studying in a Japanese university for Indian students is their employability in Japanese firms, which are expanding steadily across the country.
"We hope to increase the number of students from this country by opening an office in Bangalore in February 2012," Yoshino Hiroshi, director of the University of Tokyo's India Office said. At present, the majority of the international student are from China and Korea. Of the more than 140,000 foreign students studying in various Japanese universities, Chinese students add up to 86,173, whereas Indians total only 546.
Students from India are enrolled mostly in engineering and Japanese language and literature programmes, the latter being particularly useful for those who wish to work as translators in Japanese companies. A number of these Indian students are on scholarships.
"Last year we gave scholarships to around 50 students from India," Kei Eda, first secretary, Embassy of Japan, said. "We want more Indian students to come and study in Japan."But before you set your sights on Japan, start preparing for the Entrance to Japanese Universities Admission for International Students (EJU) exam, which is similar to the GRE. For details on the syllabus and question patterns, go to the website of the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO), www.jasso.go.jp.
http://m.indiatoday.in/itwapsite/story?sid=159148&secid=114
Study in Japan, work around the world (part 1)
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, was established in April 2000. Though relatively new to the academic scene, the school is one of the most popular universities among Japan's leading corporations today, with over 400 companies visiting the campus to recruit.
What makes APU so popular? What is unique about the school? These are among the questions answered in this four-part interview series.
The first interviewee is Susumu Yamamoto, a professor at the College of International Management (APM), one of two undergraduate colleges at APU, who also serves as the dean of careers.
News photo
Q: You were working for a leading Japanese company before starting to teach at APU. Why the switch and why APU?
Yamamoto: Yes, that's true. Before taking up my current position at APU in 2006, I worked for Sony, but I also loved studying and I obtained my doctorate. Actually, I had a vague longing to eventually teach at a university. The offer from APU came at such a time and I found it appealing.
APU is very unique for giving most of its lectures in English and Japanese. This means that the students are able to choose from a lecture conducted in Japanese or English.
Q: Tell us about your students. Where do they come from? What is their attitude toward study, work and social life?
Yamamoto: About half of our students as well as professors come from overseas. It is the only school in Japan where undergraduate students come from about 80 countries. They come to APU straight after graduating from high school. Generally speaking, these students enter our school on an English basis with no command of the Japanese language. Consequently, they receive very intensive training in Japanese during their first year.
The students themselves are highly motivated and are hard workers. The same also goes for our Japanese students. Those who come to APU are enthusiasts with a clear objective, often with a rich international experience. They study in Japanese, but then receive intensive training in English. So by the time of graduation, all APU students become fluent in at least two languages, English and Japanese, regardless of nationality.
Our students are very active in after-school club activities, too. For example, our traditional Korean dance group club has become a local sensation for their fine dancing. The distinctive advantage of this club is that many members are not Korean. They learn from each other, from different cultures.
Many also take up part-time jobs during their free time. I don't know when they sleep, but their campus life is so rich and full that I often wish there was a school like APU when I was a young student.
News photo
Q: Why do you think APU has become popular among many leading companies in Japan?
Yamamoto: For one thing, because our students are fully bilingual. We also provide "practical" knowledge by having numerous professors with different business backgrounds teaching our courses. Each class is also very interactive, encouraging everybody to speak up, which in turn enhances the communication ability of each student.
Another background factor is the materialistic change of the Japanese corporations themselves. Japanese companies are seeking manpower that are global in a true sense. Also, research shows that companies plan to hire more international students next year. They are after those who can battle and survive anywhere in the world.
APU develops students with such capabilities. What I mean by "battle and survive" does not mean to fight and win one's way. It is the ability to communicate and solve the issue at hand. The outside world is filled with myriad uncertainties and you never know what may happen next. Those who excel merely in their academic studies often sit at their desks and contemplate for hours, days or even weeks to obtain the "very best solution." But when working on-site, you don't have that time to spare as things change minute by minute. Under such pressing conditions, you must go for the "second-best answer." That thought process is respected at APU, making our courses very realistic and practical.
Q: How well is APU evaluated in the global arena?
Yamamoto: Our reputation is growing rapidly. Many of our graduates go back to their hometown on their holidays as proud workers of prominent Japanese companies. Their parents boast about their children, too, saying that APU is the way to get their children into general management at good companies. Such word-of-mouth information quickly spreads around the community. The good reputation helps us obtain more high-level students from around the world.
All this encourages us. We are also happy that many graduates keep coming back to visit us whenever they have the time. They say that they've come to like APU even more after graduating.
Q: Tell us about the role of APU's career office now and toward the future.
Yamamoto: We support the students' job hunting activities in our own way, by giving guidance on resume preparation, rehearsing their interviews and so on. As the next step, we want to further improve the quality of our career support services. Since image is often different from reality, we must study the details of each company so that we can provide clearer information on what kind of work is actually conducted at a certain company.
Toward the future, we hope to extend our support to our graduates who may continue their studies and find work in other countries. Ultimately, we want our students to become happy, regardless of whatever choice they make in their life after graduating from APU.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is at 1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita. For more information, call APU at (0977) 78-1114 or visit www.apu.ac.jp.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/global-career-viewpoint.html?ymdh=2011110709
What makes APU so popular? What is unique about the school? These are among the questions answered in this four-part interview series.
The first interviewee is Susumu Yamamoto, a professor at the College of International Management (APM), one of two undergraduate colleges at APU, who also serves as the dean of careers.
News photo
Q: You were working for a leading Japanese company before starting to teach at APU. Why the switch and why APU?
Yamamoto: Yes, that's true. Before taking up my current position at APU in 2006, I worked for Sony, but I also loved studying and I obtained my doctorate. Actually, I had a vague longing to eventually teach at a university. The offer from APU came at such a time and I found it appealing.
APU is very unique for giving most of its lectures in English and Japanese. This means that the students are able to choose from a lecture conducted in Japanese or English.
Q: Tell us about your students. Where do they come from? What is their attitude toward study, work and social life?
Yamamoto: About half of our students as well as professors come from overseas. It is the only school in Japan where undergraduate students come from about 80 countries. They come to APU straight after graduating from high school. Generally speaking, these students enter our school on an English basis with no command of the Japanese language. Consequently, they receive very intensive training in Japanese during their first year.
The students themselves are highly motivated and are hard workers. The same also goes for our Japanese students. Those who come to APU are enthusiasts with a clear objective, often with a rich international experience. They study in Japanese, but then receive intensive training in English. So by the time of graduation, all APU students become fluent in at least two languages, English and Japanese, regardless of nationality.
Our students are very active in after-school club activities, too. For example, our traditional Korean dance group club has become a local sensation for their fine dancing. The distinctive advantage of this club is that many members are not Korean. They learn from each other, from different cultures.
Many also take up part-time jobs during their free time. I don't know when they sleep, but their campus life is so rich and full that I often wish there was a school like APU when I was a young student.
News photo
Q: Why do you think APU has become popular among many leading companies in Japan?
Yamamoto: For one thing, because our students are fully bilingual. We also provide "practical" knowledge by having numerous professors with different business backgrounds teaching our courses. Each class is also very interactive, encouraging everybody to speak up, which in turn enhances the communication ability of each student.
Another background factor is the materialistic change of the Japanese corporations themselves. Japanese companies are seeking manpower that are global in a true sense. Also, research shows that companies plan to hire more international students next year. They are after those who can battle and survive anywhere in the world.
APU develops students with such capabilities. What I mean by "battle and survive" does not mean to fight and win one's way. It is the ability to communicate and solve the issue at hand. The outside world is filled with myriad uncertainties and you never know what may happen next. Those who excel merely in their academic studies often sit at their desks and contemplate for hours, days or even weeks to obtain the "very best solution." But when working on-site, you don't have that time to spare as things change minute by minute. Under such pressing conditions, you must go for the "second-best answer." That thought process is respected at APU, making our courses very realistic and practical.
Q: How well is APU evaluated in the global arena?
Yamamoto: Our reputation is growing rapidly. Many of our graduates go back to their hometown on their holidays as proud workers of prominent Japanese companies. Their parents boast about their children, too, saying that APU is the way to get their children into general management at good companies. Such word-of-mouth information quickly spreads around the community. The good reputation helps us obtain more high-level students from around the world.
All this encourages us. We are also happy that many graduates keep coming back to visit us whenever they have the time. They say that they've come to like APU even more after graduating.
Q: Tell us about the role of APU's career office now and toward the future.
Yamamoto: We support the students' job hunting activities in our own way, by giving guidance on resume preparation, rehearsing their interviews and so on. As the next step, we want to further improve the quality of our career support services. Since image is often different from reality, we must study the details of each company so that we can provide clearer information on what kind of work is actually conducted at a certain company.
Toward the future, we hope to extend our support to our graduates who may continue their studies and find work in other countries. Ultimately, we want our students to become happy, regardless of whatever choice they make in their life after graduating from APU.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is at 1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita. For more information, call APU at (0977) 78-1114 or visit www.apu.ac.jp.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/global-career-viewpoint.html?ymdh=2011110709
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