Following our recent event Japanese HE Unpacked, we caught up with AHEP Consultant Jenny Jenkins, who was in attendance on 8 May. In this article, Jenny shares her reflections and summarises some of the key takeaways from the session, offering a snapshot of the cultural context, strategic priorities, and professional structures shaping higher education in Japan today. Whether you joined us on the day or couldn’t make it, her insights provide a valuable window into the discussion with our colleagues from Japan Association of University Administrative Management (JUAM)
Did you know that Japan has 813 Universities? That’s pretty significant. Most are private and regional (77%) and the remainder are national or public Universities. I picked this and many other fascinating facts and insights at the recent AHEP seminar ‘Japanese HE unpacked’. Till then, like many I suspect, my knowledge of Japanese HE was minimal. It was a really interesting session – showing some striking parallels and divergences between the UK and Japanese HE sectors that gave me pause for thought. As our own sector navigates funding challenges, regulatory concerns and geopolitical uncertainties, our Japanese colleagues, facing similar issues with different causes and scale, offer interesting alternative perspectives.
Market Change:
In terms of the domestic market, the presenters spoke of the huge demographic challenges they face – Japan’s 18-year-old population is declining faster than predicted, forcing institutions to confront existential questions about sustainability.
While the UK’s demographic trough differs in scale, both sectors are having to address fundamental questions about institutional viability and purpose in the context of an unpredictable future and in the face of shifting international markets.
Until recently, international students were not a core priority for Japanese universities. That’s now changing at speed. Japan has set ambitious targets to host 400,000 by 2033. Yet their recruitment approach differs markedly – most Japanese universities still require on-campus testing, charge domestic rates to international students, and maintain strict enrolment caps. My guess is that many of this ‘frictions’ will begin to fall asway as the reality of a highly competitive global market starts to become apparent. But it’s a shift that is unlikely to be swift given that these practices are pretty central to the approach taken by Japanese HEIs. Lots of debate yet to be had I suspect.
Redefining Regional Impact:
Perhaps especially thought-provoking was Japan’s approach to regional revitalisation. Their universities are increasingly expected to serve as community anchors and economic drivers – an interesting read across to the UK’s growing emphasis on civic universities and levelling up. As one speaker noted, “universities’ own survival increasingly depends on the vitality of surrounding communities.”
Professional Development:
Fascinating to hear about the Japanese approach to professional services careers – rotating staff through multiple departments as generalists rather than specialists . There are parallels with graduate trainee schemes in the UK that have operated in-house, regionally and within linked networks (Ambitious Futures springs to mind). I can’t help but think that the Uks HE sector would really benefit from a reboot of such schemes – they build a well rounded talent pipeline for future professional services roles and they can bring significant resilience to HEIs that need to deploy project resource at speed to unblock issues in key parts of the organisation.
Yet both systems face similar challenges in balancing institutional needs with individual professional development. The Japanese presenters’ emphasis on self-motivation and external networking through organisations like AHEP resonated strongly.
The Japanese government aims to host 400,000 international students by 2033 across universities, language schools and specialist institutions. However, significant barriers remain:
- Traditional admission processes often require on-campus exams or interviews
- Only 37 universities (part of the Top Global University project) dominate over 40% of international student enrolments
- Universities charge domestic and international students the same fees, reducing financial flexibility
- Strict enrolment caps limit expansion
The seminar highlighted distinctive aspects of administrative careers in Japanese universities:
- Staff typically rotate through different departments as generalists rather than specialists
- Universities are gradually developing more international expertise
- Staff development opportunities include training programmes, project management experience and team-based initiatives
Cross-Cultural Exchange:
The presenters emphasised the value of international exchange between higher education professionals, noting that organisations like AHEP and JUAN (Japan University Administrative Network) provide crucial platforms for sharing best practices.
As higher education faces similar challenges globally, such cross-border professional exchanges offer great opportunities to develop innovative solutions and fresh perspectives.
Supporting today’s students requires a holistic, adaptable, and deeply human-centred approach. By implementing practical, evidence-informed strategies derived from both data and student voices, fostering genuine partnerships, and advocating for necessary resources (while acknowledging staff wellbeing), professional services play a critical role in creating university environments where all students can succeed, despite the challenges they face.
If you enjoyed this article and want to access events like Japanese HE Unpacked, why not consider joining AHEP? Membership starts from just £4 a month, giving you access to thought-provoking sessions, practical resources, and a vibrant community of higher education professionals. Explore the membership levels today…
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