Internationalization of Japanese higher education: Effective organization of internationally cooperative higher education programs

Abstract

This study explored challenges of international collaborations in Japanese higher education by identifying management frameworks and elements necessary to run effective programs. Internationalization was examined from three perspectives: collaboration between a university’s headquarters and its departments, program management, and quality assurance. A qualitative case-study design involved interviews with 48 directors of collaborative international programs. Results show that internationalization of Japanese higher education institutions has already progressed beyond the level of “amateur” activities but still faces several challenges. One key element of an entrepreneurial culture, effective central leadership, has already been introduced. Another key element is funding, but given limitations of forms dependent on public funding, self-funding systems, which have been established in some institutions, need to be embraced more widely. Quality assurance remains challenging for higher education, and most institutions have not yet obtained accreditation by external agencies.