Keeping language barrier behind, Indians flying to Japan to study

Language is no more a barrier to pursue higher education in Japan, experts believe. Now, Japanese Universities have started offering post-graduate and doctoral courses in English, which could be a big draw for Indians willing to pursue higher education abroad.

"Till now, Japan was not on the radar of Indians to pursue higher education as the curriculum was in Japanese. The language was a hurdle for Indians to go for higher education in Japan. But it is no more a case as universities there have started offering courses in English language," said Mukesh Patel, founder and coordinator of Japan Centre at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) on the concluding day of two-day programme, 'Japan Insights – ABC', organised in the city. The programme aims to increase bilateral cooperation between Japan and India in the fields of academia, business and culture.

Shiotani Maqsooda, herself a faculty, said Japan has universities that are at par with any of the western universities and now courses like MA and PhD are being offered in English there.

"Being Asian countries, Japan and India have lots of similarities in education so it is more conducive for Indian students," she said. However, rather than higher education, it is the basic education that is given high priority by Japanese authorities.