Demographic Change of InboundInternational Students in Japan

Kazuko SuematsuGlobal Learning Center

Tohoku University

1Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Inbound Student Mobility in Japan

• JASSO

2

9.5↑）Total

Undergrad StudentsVo-tech StudentsPrep. Course

Higher Ed InstitutionsJap. Lang School

Grad Students

Japan Student Services Organization (2014) Annual Survey of International Students in Japan Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Top 10 origins of int’l students in Japan

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20000

40000

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120000

China Vietnam Korea Nepal Taiwan Thailand Indonesia Malaysia USA Myanmar

2013 2014

- Number of Chinese & Korean students have declined in the past few years.

- Southeast Asian students have increased,in some countries, drastically.

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Top 5 Countries where incoming int’l students have grown (2013 2014)

• Vietnam 91.6 %• Nepal 79.9 %• Myanmar 21.1 %• Indonesia 14.4 %• Thailand 13.0 %

4Japan Student Services Organization (2014) Annual Survey of International Students in Japan Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Case Study of Tohoku University

Tohoku University is located in the largest city in the Northeast region, the city of Sendai, an “Academic City”.

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

2,200+International Students from

98 countries/ areas（As of November, 2015）

AfricaMid. East

EuropeMid & South AmericaNorth America

Oceania

Asia

8

8.8%2.6%

1.8%

2.3%1.5%

1646

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

International Students at Tohoku University

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8

0

50

100

150

200

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2012 2013 2014 2015

Indonesia Cambodia Singapore Thailand PhillipinesBrunei Vietnam Malaysia Myanmar Laos

ASEAN Student Enrollments

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Why drastically increasing? 1. Tertiary population is growing. 2. Economy & SES are improving. 3. Japanese companies are moving their

production to Southeast Asia→ More job opportunities.

4. Governmental Initiatives (ODA, Japanese Education in Secondary School, Study-abroadfairs, Global University Projects to attract morenon-traditional students)

5. Word-of-mouth + SNS6. Japanese universities’ efforts for student

recruitment 9Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

10JICA Annual Report (2014) Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Top Global University Project

11

Name of University Theme

1 Tohoku University Tohoku University’s Global Initiative2 Hokkaido University Hokkaido Universal Campus Initiative

3 University of Tsukuba Transforming Higher Education for a Brighter Future through Transborder University Initiatives

4 The University of Tokyo Designing a Global Campus Model by The University of Tokyo

5 Tokyo Medical and Dental University -Health for All- TMDU initiative in creating next generation professionals for global health promotion

6 Tokyo Institute of Technology Enhancing Tokyo Tech Education and Research Quality through Administrative Reforms for Internationalization

7 Nagoya University Asian Hub University contributing to a sustainable society in the 21st century

8 Kyoto University Japan Gateway: Kyoto University Top Global Program

9 Osaka University Global University "World Tekijuku”

10 Hiroshima University Hiroshima University Global Campus Expansion and Innovation Initiative

11 Kyushu University Strategic Hub Area for top-global Research and Education, Kyushu University (SHARE-Q)

12 Keio University Enhancing Sustainability of Global Society through Jitsugaku (Science)

13 Waseda University Waseda Goes Global: A Plan to Build a Worldwide Academic Network that is Open, Dynamic and Diverse

Comprehensive Institutional Internationalization

Approx. 380 billion Yen (US$300 mil) will be allocated to both

inbound/outbound study-abroad scholarships.

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

Over 40

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Tohoku University’s strategies for Southeast Asia

• Offices in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand• Recruitment at top high schools &

partner universities • Scholarships • Summer Camp at Tohoku Univ.• English taught programs• Outbound programs (Thailand, Vietnam,

Indonesia, Malaysia) • Extensive support for SEA students

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So is it only a hot trend?

14Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

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Growth in Tertiary Enrollment

2012 2024

Tertiary Enrollment = Tertiary-Aged Population Projections x Gross Tertiary Enrollment Rate

British Council (2014) Postgraduate Student Mobility Trends to 2024

Projection for Student-Mobility

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.

– US will be the leading country to host postgraduates of 407,000 in 2024, followed by the UK with 241,000.

– The annual average growth in inbound: Australia & Canada will lead (4.1%) other countries such as the US (4%), Germany (3.6%), UK (3.5%), and Japan(1.6%).

– China continues to be the leading provider of postgraduates to Japan, and Indonesians will be the second largest population in 2024. The strongest growth will be seen in Saudi Arabians, Indonesians,and Indians.

Inbound to Destination Markets

Projection for Student Mobility: Key Findings

Copyright(C) 2016 Kazuko Suematsu All rights reserved.