Shikoku University, the educational corporation that runs the Shikoku University Junior College, held a board meeting and decided to stop recruiting students for the Food and Nutrition major, Nursing and Welfare major, and Music major of the Human Health Department from the 2026 academic year. This is due to a significant drop in the number of applicants, which has led to serious under-enrollment issues, but the remaining Departments of Business and Communication and Early Childhood Education and Care will continue to recruit students.
According to Shikoku University, the Shikoku University Junior College was originally founded as Tokushima Clothing School in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture in 1925. After the war, it was re-established as Tokushima Fashion School for Girls, and became Tokushima Kasei Junior College in 1961. It was renamed Shikoku Women's Junior College in 1963, Shikoku Women's University Junior College in 1978, and Shikoku University Junior College in 1992.
The university has its Ojin Campus in Tokushima City, as well as satellite campuses in Mima City in the west of Tokushima Prefecture and Minami Town in the south, and offers three departments: Human Health, Food and Nutrition major (2025 students admitted in 25), Nursing and Welfare major (25 students), Music department (15 students), Business and Communication department (75 students), and Early Childhood Education and Care department (60 students). However, due to the declining population of 18-year-olds and young people turning away from junior colleges, the number of applicants has dropped significantly even in the two departments and two majors that announced they would be suspending recruitment, and the university has been unable to fill its admission quotas.
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research's future population estimate for 2023, published at the end of 2050, Tokushima Prefecture's population is expected to decrease from 2020 in 72 to 48. This is a decrease rate of nearly 35%, far exceeding the national average of 17%. After deliberation at the board of directors, it appears that the board has concluded that it will be difficult to resolve the situation in this social climate.
Meanwhile, Shikoku University is planning to reorganize the Department of Media Information (2026 students enrolled) in the Faculty of Business and Information Sciences in 65, and establish the Department of Digital Creation (tentative name: 100 students enrolled) in the Faculty of Digital Creation. In three courses, AI and Information Systems, Digital Innovation, and Media Design, the university aims to nurture "practical digital talent" who combine information science with economic and business thinking and can contribute to solving local and social issues.
Reference: [Shikoku University]
Suspension of student recruitment for the Department of Human Health and Department of Music at Shikoku University Junior College (from FY8 onwards)
Regarding the suspension of student recruitment for the Department of Media and Information Science, Faculty of Business and Information Sciences (from FY2026 onwards) due to the establishment of the Faculty of Digital Creation (tentative name) at Shikoku University
