Mimasaka University Junior College in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, and Suzuka University Junior College in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, have decided to stop recruiting students after the 2024 academic year.Both of these are due to the decline in the 18-year-old population in rural areas and the growing preference for four-year universities, which has led to serious shortages in enrollment, and clearly shows the plight of local private junior colleges.
According to Mimasaka Gakuen Educational Corporation, Mimasaka University Junior College was established in 1951 as Mimasaka Junior College, became Mimasaka Women's University Junior College in 1978, and became co-educational Mimasaka University Junior College in 2003.It has attracted students not only from the Mimasaka region in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture, but also from the neighboring prefectures of Tottori and Shimane, and has produced more than 1 graduates.
Currently, we have a Department of Early Childhood Education with a capacity of 70 students and a Department of Nutrition with 40 students, but as the number of applicants continues to decline, the number of students admitted in 2023 has fallen to 53 students, which is 58% of the capacity.Mimasaka Gakuen believes this is due to the decline in the 18-year-old population and the preference for four-year universities.
According to Kyoei Gakuen Educational Corporation, Suzuka University Junior College opened in 1966 as Suzuka Junior College, was renamed Suzuka International University Junior College in 1998, Suzuka Junior College in 2006, and Suzuka University Junior College in 2015. changed.
The Department of Lifestyle Communication offers both majors in food nutrition and child studies, but for the past 10 years or so, enrollment has been low, and in 2023 there were only 90 students enrolled out of a capacity of 37.Kyoei Gakuen also blames the decline in the 18-year-old population and the school's preference for four-year universities, leading to a drop in enrollment.
2025年度以降の学生募集停止は、これまで岐阜聖徳学園大学（3月24日発表、以下同）、上智大学（4月19日）、龍谷大学（5月31日）の短期大学部と、安田女子短期大学（7月7日）、城西短期大学（10月6日）と池坊短期大学（10月10日）が発表しており、鈴鹿大学、美作大学で8校を数える。このうち池坊短期大学以外は併設する大学を持つ。
Many of the departments at junior colleges are early childhood education, health and welfare, and nutrition, and if they were to be reorganized as university departments, they would include departments such as education, sports and health, environment, and agriculture.
reference:[Mimasaka Gakuen Educational Corporation] Regarding suspension of student recruitment for Mimasaka University Junior College (from 2025)
[Kyoei Gakuen Educational Corporation] Regarding the suspension of student recruitment for Suzuka University Junior College
