What are the four reform directions necessary for Japanese universities to survive?
Click here for the first part →External pressure and the current situation of young people exposed to Japanese universities
[3] Four possibilities of Japanese universities in Japan
Chart 1As we have seen in, domestic higher education institutions are expected to be in a state of four-sided humor due to external pressure in various directions in the future.In what direction should Japan's university reform go?
Chart 3 shows the possibilities of Japanese higher education institutions to survive from the three external pressures when operating for 18-year-olds in Japan.
◆ Y-axis is the motivation to improve the outcome (learning result) by oneself.
◆ X-axis is tuition
◆ Z-axis is investment vs. outcome
And
In order for higher education institutions located in all quadrants to confront and survive universities around the world, it is premised that their existence value will be lost unless investment vs. outcomes (Z-axis) are maximized.
Investment vs. outcomes are learning outcomes / tuition fees.It is an index that the lower the tuition fee and the higher the learning result, the better.The outcomes of learning are the knowledge and specialized skills expressed in human power, ability to live, basic ability for working adults, bachelor's ability, etc., as well as the ability to play an active role in society no matter how the world changes.
The reason why I put the axis of motivation to improve the outcome on the Y axis is in consideration of the current awareness of Japanese high school students mentioned above.This is because the reality is that there are high school students who are highly motivated to study independently and actively, and high school students who are not.
Chart 3 Possibility of Japanese higher education institutions (for 18-year-olds in Japan)
<Quadrant I> Possibility of a real university
Quadrant I is the possibility of a real university aimed at high school students who are willing to increase their outcomes by themselves, collecting high tuition fees and maximizing investment-to-outcomes.
Competing universities that exert external pressure are top-class universities in emerging countries such as Western countries, Asia, and Africa.It is expected that competition will emerge at hybrid universities (real classes have few opportunities to go to overseas campuses in VR).
The point is how to build outcomes that are clearly differentiated from competing universities around the world and create attractiveness that attracts international students as inbound tourists.The weapons are the contents that can only be learned in Japan, the unique technology of Japan, and the world's best research in a specific field.In addition, we can guarantee our superiority in fields where we can value by living and learning in Japan against the background of Japanese history and culture.A small number of universities will remain in the country where the country has concentrated its investment (competitive grants).
Also, as symbolized by the reform of Tokyo Institute of Technology (Established "Science and Technology Creation Research Institute" to further strengthen research capabilities), It will be a center of domestic research and will remain valuable as a training center for researchers limited to its own fields.Selecting and concentrating on fields that attract the world will increase the chances of survival in Japan.
<Quadrant II> Possibility of online university
Quadrant II is the possibility of an online university that utilizes artificial intelligence for high school students who are highly motivated to increase their outcomes, with the aim of maximizing investment-to-outcomes with low tuition fees.
Competing universities that are externally pressured are online universities that have abundant financial power and make full use of advanced technology in emerging countries such as Western countries, Asia, and Africa.It is a competing university that can obtain a diploma of high investment vs. outcomes while staying in Japan, overcoming the barriers of language and distance.It's aimed at highly motivated high school students, so if it doesn't have a differentiating appeal from competing universities around the world, it won't stay at online universities in the country.
As in the first quadrant, the contents that can only be learned in Japan, the technology unique to Japan, and the contents of education in a specific field will be weapons.In addition, it will be necessary to attract measures such as offline exchanges, hands-on / experience-based education, and internships that are unique to Japan.In addition, the ability to develop cutting-edge educational systems that utilize artificial intelligence that is competitive with foreign universities or companies will be questioned.
Not only is it necessary to maximize the number of current students because it is online, but it is also necessary to have a management method that minimizes tuition fees.The number of full-time faculty members should be the minimum number of university establishment standards to minimize labor costs, and it is also necessary to devise ways to reduce labor costs while increasing outcomes by actively utilizing industry practitioners as part-time lecturers at universities.In addition, management efforts such as streamlining the online learning system, activating fund procurement such as donations, and continuous development of online learning technology are indispensable.
