小規模大学での国際教育交換プログラム : その将来についての一考察

International education in Japan features two major categories of inbound programs. In the first, the majority of students are from East and South-East Asia. They are mainly degree-seeking students and have a high proficiency in the Japanese language. In the second category are students from mainly western countries, usually participating in institutional exchange programs, whose Japanese language ability is quite limited. These two groups have completely different requirements, and educational institutions in both Japan and their home countries must be aware of, and prepared to meet, these needs. Since WWII, Japan\u27s main educational exchange partner has been the U.S.A., but the student flow has always been unbalanced, i.e. the number of Japanese students enrolled in U.S. universities and colleges continues to grow, while the number of American students studying in Japan remains very small, even though demand for study opportunities in Japan has been growing steadily. In this paper, issues related to international educational programs as observed in Japanese higher education are discussed, focusing on Japan and the U.S.A.\u27s international student exchange relationship. Relevant factors are identified as, first, the majority of U.S. students do not have sufficient language proficiency to pursue their study in Japanese universities, except for special short term programs taught in English. Secondly, Japanese universities have not yet completely developed the capacity to accept non-Japanese students whose needs are different from ordinary Japanese students. With the objective of not only solving current problems but also of maximizing the benefits of international education programs, it is suggested that the U.S. put more emphasis on teaching the Japanese language at the secondary school level in order to increase the number of candidates who can study in Japan without special assistance. On the Japanese side, it is proposed that the educational consortia of small Japanese universities be established, in order to reduce financial and personnel burdens on individual institutions with limited resources, because under the present circumstances, small universities are the prospective educational institutions for the expansion of international education programs in Japan