In 2013, a target by the Japan’s government’s council was put forward to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the restoration of education by advancing at least 10 Japanese universities to among the global top 100 within a decade. However, the ambition now seems unattainable as the nation witness an accelerated downfall of its universities’ rankings.
The downfall is a result of the major advancements carried out by their counterparts in Singapore, China and South Korea; and the vast difference national budget allocated for education as a percentage of gross domestic product. In comparison to their equivalent, Japan’s national budget for education has been at the lower end among the 34 OECD member countries. For several years, the Japanese government has failed to increase funding for education and research despite the continuous emphasis of their significance. In comparison, Japan’s counterparts were seen to promptly increase their investment on higher education.
Source: Japan Times