PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 4 Improvement and Enrichment of Higher Education
1 Outline of Policies
Higher education in Japan has attained a rapid quantitative
expansion since the middle of the l960's, and in recent years, the circumstances
surrounding Japanese higher education have been undergoing remarkable changes
due to the impact of specific factors, such as: the advancement in scientific
research; the development of an internationalized and information oriented society;
the rapid change in demographic patterns with the 18 year old cohort peaking
in 1992; and the increasing demands from a lifelong learning society.
Considering these changes, the Ministry of Education, Science
and Culture has been implementing policies to promote the reform of higher education
in accordance with the recommendations of the University Council with regard
to the following: the revision of the Standards for the Establishment of Universities
and the degree system; revision of the system including the establishment of
the National Institution for Academic Degrees; the improvement of higher education
institutions; the improvement of procedures for the selection of entrants: and
the enrichment of student aid programs.