‘It’s a sales pitch! ’: Ambiguities and contradictions in the internationalization of Japanese non-elite universities

Abstract

This paper examines the internationalization of Japan’s higher education sector, focussing on two non-elite private universities. The study provides rich insights into social actors’ personal experiences and perceptions on how resource constraints, decision-making structures, and governmental policies hinder internationalization on the ground. Through interviews with 15 participants at two non-elite universities in Japan, the study highlights the challenges faced by institutions reliant on domestic student fees and with limited alternative revenue options. Findings reveal that internationalization efforts are often limited by financial constraints, internal decision-making processes, and minimal integration of global perspectives into teaching. In particular, the strong veto power of faculty meetings (kyōjukai) and a consensus-driven approach resulted in the ‘decoupling’ of internationalization as an organizational goal from the interests of the departments, where the global dimension was not prioritized.