Higher education policies in Japanto ensure equity and inclusion
October 21st, 2023
Sophia UN Weeks – ProSPER.Net ForumKOBAYASHI Yosuke
Director, International Affairs Division, Higher Education Bureau
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-JapanSDG4 indicators in higher education(Goal 4)
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality educationand promote lifelong learning opportunities for all(Target 4.3)
By 2030, ensure equal access for all women andmen to affordable and quality technical, vocational
and tertiary education, including university
21. Higher education study support system in JapanBurden of education costs on households
In the case that two children go to university, education costs account for a significantly
larger proportion of the household economy.
（Ten thousand yen）

700
600
500
400
300200

Second child goes toBirth ofkindergarten.
second child
Birth offirst child

Second child goesto university.

First child goes tokindergarten.

First child goes touniversity.

100
030

3132

33

34

35

36

37

38

Average disposable income

3940

41

42

43

44

45

First child education costs

4647

48

49

50

51

52

53

54 （Years old）

Second child education costs(Source) - Statistics of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (2021)- Survey of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (2021)- Survey of the Japan Student Services Organization (2020)- Survey of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan (2022)

3

1. Higher education study support system in Japan(continued)
New system of higher education study support（Reduction or exemption of tuition fees & benefit scholarship）
Started in April 2020.

Who is eligible for assistance?
All students who fulfil the following two requirements:• To meet household income and asset requirements.
• To be a student who is willing to study.

Example of support amounts(e.g.) Going to a private university
from outside the home

How much support can I get?

How can I apply for?
(1st half-year)
From April
Around July

Support amounts

The amount of support depends on the following factors:• How much is your household income?
• The type of school to which you will go(university, junior college, college of technology, or
specialized training college).
• Whether you will commute from home or live alone.

Benefitscholarship

Appr. 910,000
JPY / Year

Tuition fees

Maximum
Appr. 700,000
JPY / Year

Entrancefees

Maximum
Appr. 260,000
JPY / Year

(2nd half-year)
From September
Around December

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2. Support for international student mobility inJapan
Current scale of international student mobility in Japan has not
fully returned to its pre-pandemic scale yet.
Inbound

Outbound
312,214

Total Number ofInternational Students
Series1
Studying
in Japan Series2

Total Number ofJapaneseSeries1
Students
Studying Abroad

228,403

Total No. ofInternational
Students

115,146

231,146

Total No. ofHigher
Education
Institution
Enrolments

181,741
10,9991,487
1123

4567891011122019

13142022

234567892018

1011122020
2021

JASSO 「International Student Survey in Japan」(2022)
JASSO 「Survey on Study Abroad for Japanese Students」(2021)

5

2. Support for international student mobility inJapan (continued)
In April 2023, Council for the Creation of Future Education, chaired byPrime Minister Kishida, formulated a new initiative "J-MIRAI."
Japan-Mobility and Internationalisation:
Re-engaging and Accelerating Initiative for future generations (J-MIRAI)
Outbound Japanese Students

Inbound/Retaining International Students

Outbound of 500,000
students by 2033

Inbound of 400,000
International students by 2033

At University

Before studying in Japan• Enhance overseas Japanese language education• Encourage admission and selection before
arrival to Japan through online interviews,registrations, etc.

• Enhance scholarships (JASSO, etc.) through boththe public and private sectors• Advance efforts to increase the number of
exchange students (exchange agreements) etc.
Connection to society• Provide necessary information to findemployment after studying abroad etc.

While studying in Japan• Increase the number of faculty members withdegrees from abroad and enhance courses thatallow students to graduate with English-onlyetc.
63. Support for the students evacuated from Ukraine
Number of Ukrainians who have evacuated to Japanand enrolled at universities (as of 23 August 2023).
• Number of university acceptances (total) 371 persons• Undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree students 340 persons• Researchers, university faculty and staff members 31 persons
Countermeasures by MEXT, Japan• In April 2022, MEXT issued a notice to universities, requesting them togive due consideration to the use of national scholarships for accepted
Ukrainian students.
Support for Ukraine students by the MEXT Scholarships in 2022

• Special support measures for Ukraine as the Japanese language andculture training students (non-degree courses). Supported total 23
university students.
• Support under the Programme for the Promotion of Acceptance ofInternational Students in 2022. Supported total 10 univ. students as
special quota (special additional recruitment (Ukrainian support)).

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Toyama-Kanazawa Declaration by G7 Education
Ministersʼ Meeting (May 14, 2023）
Summary④Promoting international mobility for creating new ideas, toward
international cooperation• resume student mobility and interactions in primary, secondary,vocational and technical, and higher education between G7 countries topre-pandemic levels and beyond• deepen inter-university and school partnerships to promoteinternational student mobility and international talent mobility andcirculation• support study-abroad programs, leverage ICT to facilitate exchanges,
and share learning contents online among higher education institutions
and across boarders

8Thank you for your attention!