What is the mechanism, overall picture, and features?

――Please explain the basic mechanism first.
Ishida: The model is in the joint veterinary school of Kagoshima University and Yamaguchi University, which started in 24.It happened that a friend from college was in charge of Yamaguchi University, so I heard about it.Of course, the veterinary school and the school of education have different periods of study and capacity, and there are differences depending on whether or not there is a national examination.However, collaborative universities and faculties will jointly supplement weak subjects with distance lessons, or jointly establish common subjects to deal with new issues, and improve the quality of education by making each other's curriculum almost the same. The point is the same.

Hiratsuka: It is "Saisei Itsuichi Education" that both sides provide liberal arts and specialized subjects that aim to convey knowledge properly.Each student will receive 31 credits and both students will receive 62 credits.The graduation requirement for this joint education course is to take more than XNUMX% of the classes at the other university. "Common education (subject)" is also a major feature.The number of credits and syllabus will be unified between the two universities, and the courses will be offered under the same subject name.I think it applies to all fields of education, but the curriculum is not always necessary and sufficient, and there are still cases where teachers want to teach themselves.Creating a common curriculum between completely different organizations has the effect of improving from this perspective, and I think it will have a great effect on promoting education that is internationally applicable.

Ishida: Most of the subjects are taught by distance learning through communication media, but Kagoshima and Yamaguchi Universities have reported that they have achieved results comparable to real lessons.During this time, information technology is steadily advancing, and we can expect a sense of realism that can withstand interactive lessons, and with technologies such as 3D spatial displays that form a real image in space, we can get a sense of realism. It is no longer the story of the world of science fiction movies that you can enjoy.With these technological advances in mind, I think it is necessary to take a positive view of distance lectures and brush them up.Of course, educational training and practical subjects will remain real.

--How do students come and go?
Hiratsuka: Face-to-face lessons are held for practical subjects, but in that case, we are considering intensive lectures centered on the movement of teachers, and the movement of students is a "special teaching profession" that takes the form of a new joint seminar camp. It's just an exercise (group accommodation training).Before and after the training (including during long vacations), we plan to hold it twice at a training facility where you can practice outdoors in Akagi and Utsunomiya.

Ishida: In addition to that, there may be opportunities to go to the other school, such as holding joint seminars and presentations in units of graduation thesis level seminars, but you can drive from the main gate to the main gate in about an hour and a half. Easy to do.

--What is your degree?
Ishida and Hiratsuka: The two universities will jointly name each other.

--About the entrance exam
Ishida: From the 2020 entrance examination, both universities will be recruiting under the same framework of 13 systems and XNUMX fields, and individual academic ability tests for general entrance examinations (first semester schedule) will be interviewed with essays except for practical subjects.

In 2020, to Japan's first Faculty of Joint Education!

What can you get and what are you aiming for?

--Background and history of efforts
Ishida: Before explaining that, I would like to explain the background behind this initiative.
Regarding the Faculty of Education, "The Future of National Teacher Training Universities and Faculty (Report)" was issued in 13, and not only the supply and demand outlook due to the declining birthrate, but also the existence of zero exemption courses and the low employment rate. In 2004 (16), Shimane University and Tottori University were integrated * XNUMX.

Hiratsuka: At the same time, we were considering integration with Saitama University, centered on the Faculty of Education.As a result, I was frustrated ...

Ishida: The situation is even more urgent now than it was then.It is said that the current enrollment capacity of 2034 students at Utsunomiya University and 170 students at Gunma University should be reduced to roughly 220 in the 100th term (from XNUMX), as the birthrate continues to decline. ing.

Hiratsuka: In that case, the courses that teach subjects will have to be reduced.However, the expectations of the prefectural board of education for the Faculty of Education of the local national university are very high.I want all subjects (10 subjects) to be covered in compulsory education, especially in the training of junior high school teachers.Even if it is supplemented by the integration, it would be a problem if a license that cannot be obtained from a local university comes out.In fact, that was the reason why the integration with Saitama University was frustrated.

--The local education department will not be weakened, and the synergistic effect will increase.
Ishida: The Faculty of Joint Education can clear this point first.By not eliminating or weakening the Faculty of Education from the community, we can still take responsibility for the compulsory education course and teacher training system.

Hiratsuka: Moreover, because we have resources for the second department, we can strategically allocate teachers and expand English education and special needs education that meet the needs of society.

Ishida: Until now, Utsunomiya University was able to cover only three areas (intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and sick people) as a teacher's license for special schools, but with Gunma University, which covers four areas including hearing disabilities. By collaborating, we will be able to strategically hire faculty members and deal with XNUMX areas including XNUMX areas and visually impaired people.

Hiratsuka: You can expect various other synergistic effects.

Ishida: Utsunomiya University is focusing on training elementary school teachers, and has set up "advanced courses" aimed at becoming leaders and proposers of teaching methods at elementary schools, and has fallen into a vertical division consciousness depending on the field. There is a feature such as spending XNUMX years in a "lump-sum class" so as not to be.
Hiratsuka: At Gunma University, which is focusing on training junior high school teachers, classes that touch the school site have been held since the first year, and the two universities can share their strengths together.

Ishida: Teacher training with an eye on the next course of study, especially English education, global education and ICT / programming education, Forefront advanced courses for advanced development education corresponding to Society 5.0, and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable Development Goals) You can also strengthen ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) that corresponds to the development goal.

Hiratsuka: It is easy to demonstrate the strengths of an integrated university.

Ishida: Utsunomiya University has an international faculty, and has a strong multicultural coexistence program and practical English education.In addition, there is a faculty of agriculture, and you can experience agriculture and forestry at the attached farm and agroforestry, so you can support food, life, and environmental education.

Hiratsuka: Gunma University has a Center for Mathematical Data Science Education and Research, which can support not only ICT utilization in subjects but also programming education.In addition, there is a medical school, so we will be able to support education that supports mental and physical health.

Ishida: I'm looking forward to mutual student exchanges. We would like to develop human power and collaborative power more than ever through "lump-sum class" comrades, media exchanges, and group accommodation training (special exercises for teaching profession).

Hiratsuka: I hope that we will be able to cultivate the motivation to pursue a teaching profession, and as a result, the rate of taking and passing the teacher employment exam will increase.I think that it is possible to strengthen the teacher training function required of the Faculty of Education __ and steadily improve the quality of teacher training education.

Ishida: Speaking of greed, it would be nice if both sides had student dormitories that could accommodate about 100 people.I think the educational effect will be higher.

Hiratsuka: I agree.

Ishida: Eventually, we would like to be able to provide lessons (contents) to teacher training courses at private universities in both prefectures as well as in other regions. I want to play a role in improving the quality of the school.

――Why are these two universities in the first place?
Hiratsuka: In addition to the integration plan with Saitama University, we have some achievements in concrete collaboration.For example, from the perspective of industry-academia collaboration, at "Kita Kanto XNUMX Universities (XNUMXU)" including Saitama and Ibaraki. URA * XNUMX is adopted and utilized at three universities including Ibaraki.

Ishida: Under these circumstances, Utsunomiya University and Gunma University are quite close in terms of the number of departments and the number of students, except for the existence of a medical school, and I have been with Professor Hiratsuka since I was a director in charge of academic affairs 10 years ago. I knew my heart.

Hiratsuka: The essence of worries was almost the same at both universities.And four years ago, when we became presidents of each other, we came to the common understanding that the Faculty of Education would be in a difficult situation as it is.Therefore, we started discussions to embark on reforms not from management issues but from a sense of responsibility to support local education.

What is the first attempt at the Faculty of Joint Education in Japan?

Ishida: Since then, with the cooperation of both executives and the Faculty of Education, we have finally been able to reach this point this spring.There are still some unknowns, but I would like to continue reforming without turning back.

Hiratsuka: I'm looking forward to not only what I expected in advance, but also what I can understand when I try it.For example, when creating a "common subject," mutual faculty members are at the same table, and it was impressive that everyone was happy to come up with ideas.

Ishida: From the current situation, we haven't waited for the reform of the Faculty of Education, but I don't think other faculties can stay as they are. It's been a long time since I was told "guaranteeing the quality of education", but how far has it progressed?Because the Faculty of Education has a clear purpose, it was easy to shed light on the negative side.With Professor Hiratsuka, we worked hard together with the introduction of the JABEE certification program * XNUMX during the reform of engineering education.As a result, it did not spread as expected because the company did not pick it up, but we had a far more in-depth discussion about quality assurance of education and clarification of XNUMXP * XNUMX.For that reason, I hope that this reform will lead to the acceleration of university education reform once again.

Hiratsuka: It's a reform that uses the assets of the entire university, so I'd be grateful if the faculties that had been indifferent until now showed interest.

Ishida: It's natural to do it on campus because we even collaborate with other universities.

Hiratsuka: I don't think there is anything more important in undergraduate education than the Faculty of Education.This is because it depends on the development of human resources who will lead the next generation.In a sense, it would be very symbolic if the Faculty of Education could play a key role in accelerating university education reform.

Ishida: I think that higher education in Japan will only deteriorate if left unchecked.It will soon be necessary to bring together the resources of the entire university, not just the Faculty of Education, to stop it.The only way to do this should be to operate the system of one corporation and multiple universities or the system of a corporation that promotes cooperation with universities.I hope this challenge will lead to one more option for that.

Two people who have built a personal relationship of trust for 10 years. "The relationship of trust between the top executives, who wish for the development of each university together rather than kicking each other down, was also the driving force for promoting reform."Mr. Ishida is from Gunma and Mr. Hiratsuka is from Tochigi.

Gunma University President Hiroshi Hiratsuka (left photo)
Profile
Born January 20, 1945.Graduated from Gunma University Faculty of Engineering in 1.Completed the master's program at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 13, and completed the doctoral program in 42 (Doctor of Science).June 44 Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Faculty of Science) 47 Professor, Gunma University (Faculty of Engineering).Dean of the Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering (-March 47), Dean of the Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering (-March 6) Professor at Gunma University (Graduate School of Engineering), Director of Gunma University (in charge of planning and education)・ Vice President Gunma University Director (in charge of research and planning) ・ Vice President, National University Corporation Gunma University Director (in charge of research and planning) ・ Vice President, incumbent since April 1992.His specialties are functional substance chemistry and physical chemistry (photochemistry).Born in Tochigi Prefectural Ashikaga High School.

Professor Tomoyasu Ishida, President of Utsunomiya University (right photo)
Profile
Born February 30, 2. Graduated from the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo in 6. Completed the doctoral course at the Graduate School of Agriculture, the University of Tokyo in 1978. August 1984 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University. April 1983 Associate Professor. April 8 Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University. September 1991 Professor. December 4 Councilor of Utsunomiya University (concurrent post) (until March 1992) April 4 Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University (concurrent post) (until March 2000) April 9 National University Director of Utsunomiya University (until March 2005) He has been in his current position since April 12.Born in Takasaki High School, Gunma Prefecture.