日本における中国人留学生の 増加に関する考察

国際移動の視点から

抄録

　　Since 1999, there has been a rapid increase in the number of international students studying in Japan. The Japanese government proposed " The 100,000 International Students Plan” in 1983 and this was accomplished in 2003 with an increased number (90% ) of self-financed international students. The causes are attributed to Japan's relation of immigration rules and the lifting of exit restrictions in the East Asian nations. But. after the plan was fulfilled, the number of international students continued to rise, despite the Ministry of Justice's concern about the qualifications of international students and its attempts to strengthen eligibility screening for foreign residents. Most of the students are self-financed international students from China. Why has this type of international migration increased in recent years? This study analyzes the causes by using quantitative methods that employ research on human capital. 　　Using the international migration of students, and, specifically, the ftow of Chinese students to Japan as the framework. 7 factors were extracted om Underlying factors in students' choice of a country of study” by OECD (2008) and "The reasons more Chinese students study abroad at their own expense,” by Shirato (2007). Then, these were applied to H. De Wit's push-pull factors on the international migration of foreign students; a proxy variable was given to each factor; and multiple regression analysis was employed, using calendar year data since 1990 and with the number of interτlational students as explanatory variable. Variables were selected using stepwise regression, and two factors were found to be highly influential. The pull factor was the failure of private Japanese universities to meet their enrollment quotas and the push factor was the abolition of China's unified distribution system (assigned workplaces for college graduates). In other words, with Japan's shortage of 18-year-olds, it has become much easier to be admitted to private colleges and other institutions. In addition, while it has be me easier to be admitted to Chinese universities with their rapidly increased admission quotas, it is has become difficult to secure employment after graduation. Chinese students anticipate that if they can learn technical knowledge and skills at Japanese institutions of higher education and find employment in Japan, they can return home with this work experience and receive enough income to compensate for the cost of studying abroad. This anticipation appears to be one of the reasons for studying abroad. This suggests that expansion of Japanese employment opportunities may become an incentive for further acceleration of the international migration of Chinese students under the current promotion of “ The 300,000 international Students Plan.”