NEW YORK — With the goal of attracting a greater number of Japanese students, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is exploring avenues such as expanded scholarships and fortified partnerships with Japanese educational institutions.
Emphasizing the significance of Japan in its strategy, Keren Yarhi-Milo, the Dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, stated in a recent interview with Nikkei, “Japan is a significant priority for us.” The school’s aspiration is to “draw more [Japanese] students into our community, providing them with education, skills, and a platform to interact within our global community.”
SIPA, located in New York, stands as a prominent global public policy institution with notable alumni including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Yarhi-Milo underscored the intention to have both students and faculty actively engage with Japan, considering its role in the global economy and its strategic significance within the East Asian region characterized by escalating geopolitical tensions.
The school prides itself on its international outreach and seeks to sustain its competitive advantage and “global presence” among public policy institutions. In line with this, SIPA aims to diversify its student body by attracting Japanese students and also drawing public policy educators and experts from Japan.
SIPA’s admission data reveals a stagnant trend in annual applications from Japan, hovering around 50 over the past five years. Of these applicants, the school typically admits about 20 students each year.
While applications from China and India continue to grow, there are concerns over potential waning Chinese interest due to ongoing U.S.-China relations strains. The annual application count from India ranges from 150 to 200, whereas Chinese applicants exceed 1,000.
To boost enrollment from Japan, SIPA is exploring modifications to its dual-degree program with the University of Tokyo, aiming to simplify the process and reduce associated costs, as mentioned by the dean.
However, the obstacle of SIPA’s relatively high tuition fees, which can reach up to $65,000 annually, remains a significant challenge for prospective students. Yarhi-Milo expressed hopes of working alongside the Japanese government and private sector to expand scholarship opportunities and secure funding, thus easing the accessibility of SIPA’s programs.
She voiced her aspiration for Japanese authorities to recognize their eagerness to collaborate and welcome Japanese students to their academic community, affirming her dedication to securing funding for this endeavor.
Yarhi-Milo is presently touring universities in Japan, including the University of Tokyo and Keio University, engaging with students and promoting SIPA as a compelling avenue for advanced studies. Notably, in recent years, the trend of applying to graduate programs has shifted towards earlier entry, after a period of professional work experience, according to Yarhi-Milo. She highlighted the changing landscape, noting that it no longer adheres to the traditional trajectory of completing undergraduate studies followed by a decade-long interval before entering graduate school.
