Mexico-Japan Technical and Academic Exchange Program in Transition: Challenges and Issues of Interculturality

Our principal objective is to explore if interculturality is relevant for the success of a bilateral student mobility program, Mexico-Japan Technical and Academic Exchange Program (MJTAEP). First, the authors explain their methodology and objectives of field work. Second, they situate their analysis within a framework of growing academic cooperation, common ends, and variability, depending on national objectives. Third, they consider the motivations/aspirations of Mexican fellowship holders, as stated by respondents to an electronic survey (106), as well as in-depth interviews (21). The authors look specifically at the quality of courses aimed at providing linguistic, cultural, and technical tools to the Mexican grantees. Two topics are evaluated in detail: (1) the drivers and obstacles of academic integration of Mexicans in Japanese universities, and (2) the acquisition of hard and soft skills (relationships with sensei, alumni or administrative officers and knowledge/proficiency requirements) to facilitate student incorporation in the host society and institutions.