Buddy Programs and the Limits of Internationalization in Japanese Higher Education

As Japan expands its internationalization policies, concerns have emerged regarding universities’ capacity to support a growing population of international students. One response has been the construction of “buddy programs,” which pair domestic and international students to foster intercultural exchange and social integration. While prior research highlights positive outcomes, often through survey-based measures, these approaches flatten the complexities within student perspectives. Drawing on a critical framework, this study examines the lived experiences of buddy programs within Japan’s higher education internationalization agenda. Based on semi-structured interviews with short-term study abroad participants, this research offers an ethnographically informed analysis of how students navigate and interpret these structures. Findings highlight tensions between institutional narratives and lived realities, pointing to the need for more reflexive approaches to internationalization.