THE QUEST FOR RECOGNITION
Andy Homden assesses the significance of an agreement that the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) has recently reached with the Japanese Ministry of Education.
The agreement
Firstly, what exactly has been agreed? In short, COBIS has received formal recognition of the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. In other words, COBIS have received an endorsement at the highest possible level of their school accreditation process as meeting the standards expected for educational institutions in Japan. From August 2025, this will have an immediate significance for COBIS school graduates wishing to apply for undergraduate courses offered by Japanese universities using their international qualifications rather than having to take Japanese national examinations.
And the warmth of the official enthusiasm for the agreement is unmistakable: The MEXT Higher Education Bureau has commented that the agreement has,
“made it possible for students who have completed courses accredited by COBIS to be admitted to universities in Japan. We hope that COBIS accredited schools will continue to provide high quality education and will cooperate with Japanese universities to ensure a smooth admissions process”.
In a country that is so protective of its own high standards in education this is a singular achievement by COBIS. It is also one that must be seen in a longer-term context.
An ongoing task
Over the last thirty to forty years, one of the most important global tasks facing international curriculum providers has been winning recognition of their courses by universities around the world. Their success has been one of the most important reasons for the growth of international education.
It has not always been easy: looking back, it is hard to believe how hard the International Baccalaureate Organisation had to work in the 1980s and 90s for recognition of the IB Diploma on equal terms with national qualifications (even in the US and the UK!), given that it is now almost universally regarded as one of, if not the, gold standard for university entrance. But fight it did and international students around the word have been the beneficiaries. Cambridge International have also conducted a very successful campaign for global recognition.
And the task goes on, which is especially important for the large number of host national students following international pre-university courses in their own country if they wish to enter their own national universities. As recently as 2023 the IBO announced that from May 2025 the stipulation that certain subjects must be taken at Higher Level for the purposes of entry into German universities were to be eased. (See https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-ib-schools/the-ib-announces-important-recognition-development-in-germany/).
Without these ongoing campaigns for recognition, international education would simply not be growing as it is and the COBIS – MEXT agreement is an important extension of this work. But it also feels different and of special significance. Why? After all, school accreditation by US-based organisations such as NEASC (the New England Association of Schools and Colleges) or by the internationally-based Council of International Schools (CIS) has long been seen as a guarantee of matriculation standards for universities, giving them the confidence to recognise an international school’s graduation diploma for matriculation purposes on the same basis as a diploma from an accredited school in the USA.
Firstly, although the tradition of international education in Japan is of long standing, provision has been for expatriates rather than Japanese students. Japanese students have been free to attend international schools after completing their Junior High School years, but few have chosen to do so: in effect it would rule out entering a Japanese university. That will now change, which is a revolution in a country that sets itself such high standards in its own educational system.
Secondly – the agreement applies to all COBIS accredited schools. In effect a national education system is recognising COBIS as an equal international partner in the business of quality assurance.
This is nothing short of a revolution and all credit to Colin Bell and his team for pulling it off. As Bell himself commented:
“COBIS member schools can now confidently promote this recognition as a key value proposition, making their learning centres more attractive to prospective students and parents seeking high-quality education that can lead to university pathways in Japan, as well as in the UK, and other countries worldwide. At COBIS, our mission is to support and empower all British international schools in their provision of high-quality education, and this acknowledgement only bolsters us in that mission.”
Having the agreement announced by senior officials at MEXT including Mr. Kitayama Koji, Deputy Assistant Minister, International Affairs Division, standing alongside Matthew Knowles the former British Council Director for Japan, is hugely symbolic and reflects the importance of this development for the Japanese government.
Reaction to the announcement
British educators in Japan have been quick to welcome the development. Fei-Fei Hu, Founder and Chair of the Governing Board of Rugby School Japan commented:
“We are absolutely delighted that COBIS has received official recognition from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT). This milestone underscores that the education provided by our school not only meets global standards but also holds the endorsement of our local authority. COBIS Accreditation has always been significant to us, but this recognition amplifies its value and clarity even further. As we serve the world’s largest metropolis here in Greater Tokyo, with a population of 38 million, we are excited to advance our commitment to whole-person education in the Far East.”
His view was entirely endorsed by Claire Fletcher, Founding Head at Phoenix House International School, in Tokyo, while Ian Clayton, Principal of the British School Tokyo sees a clear road ahead for British international students at accredited COBIS schools, so far as entry to Japanese universities is concerned:
 “The fact that MEXT now identifies the COBIS standards alongside the other global benchmarks is great news for British based education”
Achievement
Kudos, then, to Colin Bell and COBIS for identifying a new way forward in the task of securing recognition for international schools and concluding such a ground-breaking agreement. The time was clearly right, but what they have been able to achieve in one of the more conservative educational jurisdictions around the world should not be underestimated. One wishes them well as they pursue similar initiatives elsewhere!
Andy Homden is CEO of Consilium Education, which supports British and International schools around the world.
Feature Image: Louie Martinez thetalkinglens on Unsplash
Support Image: Getty Images For Unsplash+
