Japan’s Policies to Attract and Retain International Students: Economic and Migration Approaches

The article examines measures taken by the Japanese government, institutions and various organizations to attract and retain international students. In March 2023, the Japanese government announced its aim to increase the number of foreign students in Japan to 400 000 in ten years. Measures to attract and retain foreign talents are part of the “new capitalism” program and are consistent with the goal of internationalizing the Japanese education system, especially higher education. In particular, the article analyzes the dynamics of the number of foreign students in Japan, and lists support measures provided by the government, institutions and other organizations. It also assesses the potential for attracting and retaining international students in the context of Japan’s declining working-age population and discusses the challenges of employment and life for foreigners in Japan during and after graduation. The study showed that, although education has traditionally been one of the main directions of Japanese cultural diplomacy, in contemporary Japan attracting foreign students is also viewed as one of the ways to solve social problems and ensure sustainable economic growth. For example, it is assumed that foreign graduates of Japanese universities will partially compensate for the labor shortage in Japan, and will also play an important role in expanding Japanese business and strengthening its positions in regional and global markets. In order to attract foreign students, the government, universities and various organizations are taking comprehensive measures to provide them with support, ranging from simplifying the admission procedure, providing scholarships for study, providing extensive information support, to assisting with employment after graduation. At the same time, the study identifies the problems faced by foreigners, in particular foreign students, which significantly limit the massive influx of foreign specialists to Japan.