The government intends to incorporate the metaverse into a initiative to streamline the process for outstanding international students to remain in Japan and pursue employment opportunities post-graduation. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will offer assistance by organizing virtual job fairs and employment seminars, creating a conducive environment for seamless interaction with prospective employers.
The government aims to achieve a 60% employment rate for foreign students in Japan by 2033. While the rate increased consistently from 31.9% in fiscal 2013 to 48.0% in fiscal 2018, it has plateaued, standing at 46.5% in the latest available statistics from fiscal 2021. The Ministry of Education notes instances where foreign students, interested in working in Japan, struggle due to a lack of understanding about the job hunting process and researching potential employers, leading them to abandon the idea and return to their home countries. To address this, the education ministry plans to utilize a portal site originally designed for sharing university lecture videos. Additionally, the ministry aims to establish metaverse venues for conducting job fairs and employment seminars.
Students will navigate a virtual space using their smartphones, controlling personal avatars as they visit company booths where they'll receive presentations from recruiter avatars. Holding the event in the metaverse is anticipated to attract not only students nationwide but also make company participation more accessible. An official from the education ministry stated that for foreign students unfamiliar with the Japanese job search process, participating in employment events has been challenging, and the aim is to streamline the connection between companies seeking to hire and students aspiring to work in Japan.
