Japan's challenge of fostering "global human resources": policy debates and practices

Abstract

In recent years in Japan, ‘global jinzai (global human resources)’ is a term appearing most frequently in the discourse of human resource development through tertiary education. This article aims to analyze the poliy debates and actual challenges of Japan’s challenges in fostering ‘global human resources’. Firstly, the author explains the background on why the Japanese government and society find it important to stress the necessity of ‘global human resources’, focusing on the lack of policy level initiatives and individual level incentives for study and working outside of Japan. Secondly, the article examines how policy debate on ‘global human resources’ has started as an initiative to encourage Japanese youth to study and work abroad. Thirdly, the actual practices for fostering ‘global human resources, through various initiatives by education institutions and industries are examined. Finally, the author concludes with the achievement and remaining challenges of this national level movement of fostering ‘global human resources’.