Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Council for the Implementation of Education Rebuilding at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion was held on university education and the fostering of global talents, among other matters.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"Today, I would like us to pick up on last meeting's discussion on university education.
At the last meeting, we discussed the fostering of global talents. I believe it is imperative that targeted support is provided to globally competitive Japanese universities by actively recruiting top-class non-Japanese lecturers and young people, and that bold moves are taken to strengthen supports in order to drive up the number of international students studying in Japan, and the number of Japanese students studying overseas.
Today, we will also discuss the strengthening of university functions, including the enhancement of education designed to develop students for the future, adult continuing education, and governance reform.
It was pointed out that the present job-hunting schedule does not allow university students to focus on their schoolwork. Last month, I directly requested the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives to push back the recruitment schedule. They responded that they would cooperate. Now it is the universities' turn to meet expectations. I would like universities to take steps to reform university education so that the potential of youths, on which Japan's future rests, may be maximized.
Fostering highly-skilled talents who will support the future growth industries of Japan is central to the growth strategy. Universities are the key to achieving this. It is essential that universities and businesses work together to develop adult continuing education programs.
Furthermore, to steadily implement these reforms, it is indispensable that university functions are strengthened, including governance reform, to enable motivated university presidents to carry out reforms unflinchingly.
I ask that members propose bold reforms, bearing in mind the establishment of the growth strategy."