Japan-Ukraine
Education Pathways
As of March 28, 2022, 3.9 million Ukrainians have fled the war in Ukraine, and the overwhelming majority have sought refuge in neighboring countries. (Source)
The Japanese government announced on March 1 that it would accept refugees from Ukraine, and as of March 27, 288 Ukrainians have entered Japan. Education institutions are in a unique position to admit refugee students and provide a safe environment for them to continue their education.
Pathways Japan and partner institutions have launched Japan-Ukraine Education Pathways in collaboration with universities and language schools across Japan to admit and support Ukrainian students and their families who have fled their homes as a direct consequence of the Russian invasion.
There are two programs under this initiative:
Currently, International Christian University (ICU) is the only host institution for University Pathways, and 11 language schools have committed to Language School Pathways.
Join Us
We invite education institutions to join our effort. Please refer to the How Pathways Work page to learn about the requirements and steps for building an education pathways program at your institution.
UNIVERSITIES
Universities that can admit Ukrainian students as auditors or students in foreign student faculty (留学生別科) may be able to receive students immediately. Universities which require students to be admitted through regular admissions procedures are advised to design scholarship programs to support students who have completed Japanese language training or are already fluent in English/Japanese, depending on the language of instruction.
LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
Language schools are important bridges for Ukrainian students and families to integrate into Japanese society. By offering intensive Japanese language training, students will be ready for the next step in their lives, whether it is application to a university or employment.
PRIMARY & SECONDARY SCHOOLS
International schools and Japanese schools with special programs for foreign students can provide optimal learning environments for Ukrainian children who are not yet fluent in Japanese.