How will it change after the Corona disaster?How to learn, specialize, work
In the 2000s, as social changes accelerated, an era that could not be foreseen for several years had arrived, and the time had come for the university to be reviewed.In the meantime, the spread of the new coronavirus infection that started in 2020 has further increased the interest in university education.In particular, the digitization of university lessons, which began without a sufficient preparation period, was often taken up by the media as well as dissatisfaction with the quality of the lessons and the quantity of assignments, as well as the inconvenience of not being able to use facilities and equipment. It became a problem.Under these circumstances, what kind of perspective should the university chooser have?With Professor Masayuki Murakami, who specializes in educational technology and is working on improving university education and classes using ICT at universities, we have adopted an approach from engineering such as natural language processing to language education and managed an English curriculum that responds to globalization. We talked to Professor Toshiyuki Kanamaru, who is doing this.

Diversification of learning methods has begun in the field of university education

Murakami sensei: The most notable change in Corona is the diversification of learning methods.It became difficult for university students to gather on campus to prevent the spread of infection, and the digitization of education progressed at once.There is still room for verification, but there are also survey results showing that college students' academic ability has improved over the past year.It is thought that the factors are an increase in learning time, a life that is not chased by part-time jobs, the construction of a learning method that suits oneself, and the ingenuity of the teaching side.However, with regard to part-time jobs, there are cases in which life becomes difficult due to the decrease and it is forced to drop out, so multifaceted verification is necessary.In any case, it can be said that it is a year in which the quality and style of education have diversified.

　There are two types of digitization of education.There is a real-time format that is carried out online on timetable, and an on-demand format that allows students to watch pre-recorded videos at their own convenience.Appropriate learning methods differ between students who have high basic academic ability and are suitable for self-study and students who have anxiety about understanding.For example, students with high basic academic ability can study on-demand by fast-forwarding, reviewing what they did not understand, and reading books and related materials on the website to proceed with learning efficiently. ..For students who are worried about their comprehension, it is important to have an environment that makes it easy for teachers and others to ask questions and ask for help.

　It is recommended that you consider what kind of learning method suits you best, and then check how much each university is adopting the on-demand format and whether it emphasizes face-to-face lessons.

　――By the way, Kyoto University has a policy of returning to face-to-face classes in 2021, and Osaka University has a slightly different nuance from the policy of incorporating face-to-face classes (as of March 2021).It also varies depending on the region and the size of the university.Universities in the Kanto region tend to continue online lessons, while Kansai and small universities tend to return to face-to-face lessons.
 

What it will be?Popular disciplines

Kanamaru sensei: In recent years, universities have attracted students with the keyword "global", but now we are at a major turning point.This is because the outbreak of the new coronavirus has made it impossible to travel and study abroad freely.Also, even if you aim to get a job in the popular travel industry or aviation industry, it is expected that you will have a hard time finding a job because you do not know when the recruitment situation will improve.
 
Murakami sensei: At universities where study abroad is essential for graduation, alternatives such as online study abroad have been prepared for students who cannot study abroad.However, it is difficult for students to be satisfied with this.When we think about the value of studying abroad again, there are factors that are difficult to quantify, such as improving survival ability, broadening our horizons, acquiring leadership, and being exposed to diverse values ​​by living abroad.In an era when students cannot study abroad, students need to have a sense of purpose, "What is the purpose of studying abroad?"If you just learn a language, it is possible to some extent in Japan.It is also necessary to keep in mind that the scarcity value of foreign language literacy itself will decline due to the development of automatic translation functions and AI (artificial intelligence).On the other hand, survival abilities and leadership gained from living abroad are abilities that will continue to be needed in the labor market.Europe and the United States are popular when it comes to studying abroad, but considering the future economic situation, Southeast Asia will become even more important.
 
Kanamaru sensei: Study abroad in Asia after Corona may be lifted earlier than in Europe and the United States.International students from Asian countries such as China have become more difficult to study in the United States, and study abroad in Japan is increasing.Therefore, it is possible to improve abilities by interacting with international students in Japan without studying abroad.It can be said that this is a good opportunity to think about the value of "studying abroad" without being bound by conventional wisdom.
 
Murakami sensei: In recent years, the field of information science including AI (artificial intelligence) has become popular among examinees.The development of these technologies has been remarkable in recent years, and the path to practical use and industrialization is visible.Therefore, human resources in this field are in high demand from companies, and it is a field where excellent students gather.Good news for anyone who is confident in math and programming and wants to move into this area.
 
Kanamaru sensei: In the future, even if you are not familiar with the field, you will be required to have management ability to understand these technologies and use them and human resources, and human resources who have leadership to promote the project.Global human resources who can bring together diverse human resources are still needed.
 
Murakami sensei: Foreign language learning is not always unnecessary.In recent years, there have been cases where specialized books in various fields have not been translated into Japanese, and the need for English as a tool is increasing.The key to thinking about your future career is to think broadly about how you can contribute to the industry that is currently developing, using language as a "tool."
 
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