Consulate reveals what Japan has to offer to Indian students

In a joint effort to expand educational opportunities and promote cultural exchange, Japan and India are actively working to increase the number of Indian students studying in Japan. A Japanese representative at the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai highlighted the Indo-Japan cooperation in a conversation The Free press magazine (FPJ) briefly and discusses the cooperation efforts between the two countries.

“There has been an agreement between the two countries to increase the number of Indian students studying in Japan,” the representative of the Consulate General of Japan told FPJ. “The two governments will therefore work towards releasing this agreement,” the representative added.

What are the advantages of studying in Japan?

According to the representative, one of the main attractions for Indian students is the wide range of benefits that Japan offers. He emphasized that Japan has a high quality of education, significant scholarships, cheap education, employment opportunities and a safe medical system.

While referring to the website of the International College of Liberal Arts, the representative stated that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEXT) oversees Japanese universities, and degrees from these institutions are recognized around the world.

According to the website, Japan is facing demographic problems due to an aging population. This gives foreign students graduating from Japanese universities excellent job opportunities.

Shortage of skilled workers and work visa extension

Many industries are experiencing a skills shortage in Japan and companies are competing more fiercely for bilingual and trilingual workers. The majority of employers still require proficiency in Japanese, which can be acquired by attending a Japanese university. International graduates of Japanese universities may extend their work visas in Japan as many times as they wish, provided they continue to work.

Learn and earn at the same time

Moreover, students can earn a degree and learn Japanese at the same time. The country is known for its Japanese culture and history. It is also known for its self-discovery and adventurous spirit. The consulate believes that Japanese food tastes better in Japan.

Indian students prefer courses

“Based on the trends of Japanese government scholarship applicants, Indian students appear to have a tendency to study more fields of science,” a representative told FPJ.

While talking about the demise of Indian students studying in Japan since 2019. The representative said: “The decline from 2019 is due to COVID-19.” As stated by the Deputy Consulate General, the 2021 data shows an increase to 1,457, which further rises to 1,532 in 2022.

How can the influx of Indian students in Japan be stimulated?

To further encourage the influx of Indian students, both governments have initiated various programs and incentives. Last year, the Council for Creating the Future of Education, chaired by the Prime Minister, published a document entitled ‘Japan – Mobility and Internationalization: Re-engaging and Accelerating Initiative for Future Generations (J-MIRAI)’

According to the roadmap shared by the representative, taken from the Cabinet Secretary’s website, the Japanese government plans to maintain the growth rate of “300,000 exchange students.”

– Increase the total number of foreign students from 312,000 to 380,000 at universities, vocational schools and Japanese language institutes.

– The number of foreign students seeking a bachelor’s degree increases from 3% to 5%.

– Master’s students increase from 19% to 20%.

– PhD-seeking students increase from 21% to 33%.

– The share of foreign students in secondary schools will increase from 0.2% to 0.7%.

– The number of foreign students in secondary schools increases from 6,000 to 20,000.

– Japan’s post-graduation employment rate is expected to rise from 48% to 60%, excluding those pursuing further education.

Promotion of Japanese government scholarships and support initiatives

Finally, the representative emphasized that the Japanese government has been actively promoting Japanese government scholarships in India in various areas such as research, undergraduate studies, teacher training and specialized training institutes.

“The University of Tokyo’s India Office, with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), is leading initiatives to boost enrollment of Indian students in Japan, with plans to increase budgetary allocation for this purpose to double,” the representative added.

In addition to government initiatives, organizations such as the Mombusho Scholars Association of India (MOSAI) play a crucial role in providing advice and support services to Indian students studying in Japan, including Japanese language education.

Published: Monday, April 22, 2024 08:26 IST