What It Takes to Internationalize Higher Education in Korea and Japan: English-Mediated Courses and International Students

Abstract

Globalization has been one of the most influential forces on higher education, and its implications have indicated inequalities for universities in the“centers” versus the“peripheries” debate (Altbach 2006). In the cases of Japan and Korea, they have several top research universities, according to the university ranking systems of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the London Times Higher Education Supplement. However, the position of Japan and Korea as non-English speaking countries in Asia, combined with the predominance of English in higher education, appears to place them both on the peripheries of the elite higher education institutions. One example that may indicate their peripheral position is the mobility of international students. With respect to international student mobility, Korea has been one of the top sending countries globally for many years, particularly to the United States, while it has been the lowest among developed nations as a host country (Davis 2003; Institute of International Education [HE] 2009). Similarly, Japan has been a major sending country, while it is recently emerging as a study abroad destination (HE 2009, 2010).