Japanese Universities Asked to Increase Study Abroad

The Japanese Education Ministry is encouraging universities to increase the number of students studying abroad.

The ministry said last month that it would fund 40 Japanese universities to start study-abroad programs. The selected schools will receive ¥120 million to ¥260 million, or $1.4 million to $3.1 million, per year for five years. Universities will be chosen based on their plans to promote overseas study, implement English classes, hire foreign teachers and establish credit transfers with foreign universities.

This project is the latest bid by Japan to reverse the decrease in Japanese students studying abroad per year. This figure has dropped from its peak of 82,945 in 2004 to 59,923 in 2009, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

nytimes.com