Reorganization of the Faculty of Letters and the future of women's universities

　In 2024, Kobe University will establish a Faculty of International Studies and a Faculty of Psychology.Two-thirds of the existing capacity of the Department of English Literature in the Faculty of Letters will be allocated to the Department of English, Faculty of International Studies, and one-third to the Department of Global Studies.Additionally, the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences in the Faculty of Human Sciences will become the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Psychology.Why is the Department of English Literature in the Faculty of Letters, which has continued for more than 3 years since its opening in 3, undergoing major changes?

　The number of students admitted to Kobe Jogakuin University's Faculty of Letters in 2023 is 220 (capacity: 350), with a capacity rate of 62.9%.The breakdown by department is as follows: Faculty of International Studies, Department of English (100 students), Department of Global Studies (50 students), and Department of Integrated Culture Studies, 163 students (200 students).The total number of students in the first through fourth years of the Faculty of Letters is 1148 (compared to 1400 students).The number of students in the English Literature Department by year is 57 in the first year, 90 in the second year, 91 in the third year, and 151 in the fourth year.

　In 2020, when the current fourth-year students enrolled, more students than capacity passed through the doors of Kobe Jogakuin University, but just four years later, that number had decreased to one-third.

　Until the 1990s, the English literature department at many universities had the highest number of applicants among the literature departments and was also the most difficult.The program was supported by high school students who love English and literature and want to get a job that utilizes their language skills in the future.

　However, from around the mid-2000s, the wind of opposition began to blow. ①This is just a generalization, but in order to master English, it is better to go to an international or foreign language department that has a better study abroad system. ②The number of applicants to the Department of English Literature in the Faculty of Letters has been decreasing, with women who have traditionally supported the Faculty of Letters aiming to enter the Faculty of Management, Economics, and Law in hopes of playing an active role in business, government, and the legal profession.

　Kobe Jogakuin University used to be one of the most difficult women's universities in the Kansai region, and had a strong brand.The employment situation was also excellent.However, recently, as mentioned above, there has been a significant drop in capacity.This is because the curriculum reform of the Faculty of Letters was delayed and the school was unable to promote its appeal.So I had to undergo major surgery.This is what the English Department's website says:

``The Department of English will become independent from the Faculty of Letters and become the ``Faculty of International Studies,'' enabling collaboration with people from diverse backgrounds and becoming human resources who have a good balance of English proficiency and sensibilities and can play an active role in society. We will evolve into a ``Department of Global Studies.''

　However, there are challenges.Is it possible for teachers who specialize in literature to teach ``English language skills and sensibilities'' rather than literature, and to develop ``the ability to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds''?Even if the signboard changes, if the content remains the same, high school students will be able to see through it and will not think to take the entrance exam.This is a critical moment for universities.

　Some women's universities have decided that their literature departments have no future prospects and have stopped recruiting students, creating new departments.The University of the Sacred Heart was reborn as the Faculty of Modern Liberal Arts, and Sugiyama Jogakuen University was reborn as the Faculty of Culture and Information Studies and the Faculty of International Communication.Women's universities that currently have literature departments include Fuji Women's University, Japan Women's University, Jissen Women's University, Seisen Women's University, Shirayuri Women's University, Ferris University, Kinjo Gakuin University, Kyoto Women's University, Konan Women's University, Kobe Women's University, and Yasuda Women's University. .If you count the Faculty of Humanities, it will increase a little more.There are surprisingly many.

　Unfortunately, many of these universities are having a hard time recruiting students.There are places where the occupancy rate is less than half, and it is not surprising that recruitment will stop at any time.

　However, there are some schools that have sufficient capacity and are improving their education.

　The number of students admitted to Jissen Women's University Faculty of Letters in 2023 was 364 (capacity: 310).The capacity rate is 117.1%.By department, there were 123 students in the English Literature Department (110 students), 128 students in the Japanese Literature Department (110 students in the same year), and 113 students in the Department of Aesthetics and Art History (90 students in the same year).In all departments, there has been no shortage of students in the four years from 2020 to 2023.It seems that the school was praised for not only taking literature courses but also providing language classes.

　The Department of English Literature, Faculty of Letters, Jissen Women's University will begin a new curriculum in 2024.Regarding the content and goals of the education, they say, ``We will think about gender and diversity through the culture and language of the English-speaking world. I hope that we will be able to build a society where diverse people can live together and respect each other,'' (University website).

　The general theory is that women's universities are moving away from universities because they are only accepting women as the birthrate continues to decline, and that the literature departments are the main focus, which is not very practical.Have a point.But this doesn't explain everything.Some schools, like Jissen Women's University, stubbornly protect their literature departments by devising educational content.It is not the correct way to look at women's universities as a whole from the perspective of one women's university's crisis. Don't be fooled by the statement that ``women's universities are moving away''.

　Let's take a closer look at universities that have not experienced a shortage of students.What secret is hidden?On the other hand, let's closely follow universities that give up on the Faculty of Letters and try new departments.What should I start doing now and how much can I expect from it?This is also part of choosing a university.