Japan Aims To Restore Foreign Student Numbers To Pre - Pandemic Level In 5 Years
Japan's education ministry says it aims to restore the number of foreign students in the country to the pre-pandemic level in around five years.
Japan had accepted more than 310,000 foreign students in 2019 -- a record high. The figure declined by 20 percent in the following two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ratio of foreign students who find employment in Japan has also been on the decline.
The ministry says that if such a situation continues, the issue may affect the whole of society. It will review the fields where there is demand for foreign students, to try to match the needs of the times and society.
It will also improve Japanese-language education and corporate internship programs to help foreign students find jobs or start businesses.
The number of Japanese students studying in other countries plunged from more than 110,000 in fiscal 2018 to around 1,500 in the next two years.
The ministry aims to use the national budget and funding from private organizations to support its activities for Japanese students.