<Survey Report> G30 and its Implications for Japan

Abstract

In 2009, the Japanese government, led by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, launched the Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization (Global 30, G30). The project aims to enhance the internationalization of Japanese universities. Thirteen institutions were designated as pilot universities for the project. Last year, when the governing party changed to the Democratic Party of Japan, the budget for the project was reduced. Despite the budget cut, the thirteen universities seem determined to achieve their original goals. The new government also publicized its “21 national strategic projects for the revitalization of Japan for the 21st century, " which includes the G30 Project. This paper reviews the international context of G30, and shows that, from an international perspective, it is not an isolated initiative, and that it is vital for the Japanese government and the selected universities to continue their efforts towards internationalization. It also analyses the possible impacts that G30 may have on the future strategies of Japanese universities.

2009年に自由民主党のもとで日本政府は「留学生30万人計画」(以下、G30)を立ち上げた。計画は日本の大学の国際化を進めるものであり、13の大学が国際化拠点大学として選定をされた。2009年の政権交代により当該予算の削減があったが、13大学はそれぞれの計画を進めつつある。本論文は、G30が国際的に孤立した動きではなく、日本政府や大学にとって高等教育の国際化が必然的な動きであること、英語での授業導入に伴う問題点など非英語圏の大学が抱える共通の問題を持つこと、そしてG30の持つインパクトが日本の大学の将来に決定的な意味を持つことを分析する。