Full Description
Just as higher education (HE) in Europe had its beginnings in religious training for the priesthood, HE in feudal Japan, too, provided instruction for a religious life. But while the evolution to secular instruction was gradual in Europe, in Japan it came with a big bang: the opening of the country and consequent Westernization and all that that involved in the mid-19th century.,This first volume in the new Japan Documents Handbook series tells the story in 25 chapters of how Japan's HE system has become what it is now, ending with a very tentative glimpse into the rest of the 21st century. A variety of themes are covered by scholars: chapters that concentrate on governance look at the distinction between national, public, and private institutions; others consider important topics such as internationalization, student recruitment, and faculty mobility. More innovative topics include Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education. All provide copious references to other authorities, but rather than just toe the conventional line they include opinions and proposals that may be contentious or even revolutionary. The editor provides an overview of the subject and its treatment in an Introduction.
Contents
1. Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline, 2. From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan's Contemporary Higher Education System, 3. The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change?, 4. National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice, 5. Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education, 6. Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable, 7. Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed, 8. The Financing of Higher Education in Japan, 9. Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends, 10. The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings, 11. Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes, 12. Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era, 13. Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Realities, 14. International Students: Inbound Mobility at Elite and Mass Universities, 15. Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues, 16. Women's Universities in Japan: Life Choices, 17. Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges, 18. Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education, 19. International Faculty: Increasing Mobility, 20. Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, 21. Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way, 22. The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809-2020, 23. Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse, 24. Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective, 25. The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an AI Society
