Private universities have conducted their general selection exams and have announced the final number of applications. The number of applicants for the general selection exams is announced early by top universities, so rankings are often published in weekly magazines and on the Internet. Many people feel that universities are making great strides when they see this increase in the number of applicants.
The population of 2025-year-olds eligible to take the 18 entrance exam is 109, up 562% from last year, and the number of applicants for the Common University Entrance Examination is 2.5, up 49% from last year. This means that the general selection process will likely be at least on par with last year, but this will not be the case for all universities.
In recent years, the ratio of comprehensive selection and school recommendation selection has increased, so it is now difficult to measure the "progress of a university" based solely on the increase or decrease in the number of applicants for general selection. When analyzing, it is necessary to take into account the decrease in applicants due to the rise in deviation values and the decrease in applicants due to the phenomenon of every other year.
So, in what ways do high school and cram school teachers and other education professionals feel that a university is "making great strides"? As expected, the things that have the biggest impact on their image are conspicuous developments such as the establishment or reorganization of departments, campus relocations, major entrance exam reforms, and anniversary events. In this column, we would like to pick out and introduce universities that have been making such moves one after another.
Some say that it is inevitable that student recruitment is difficult due to factors such as the size of the university, whether it is classified as a women's university or a specialized university, and the location of the campus. However, the most important thing for a university is the content of its education and research, and the image of being "advancing" is one that accompanies a university that is making solid educational reforms, no matter what the environment.

Six universities in the Tokyo metropolitan area have established or restructured departments for three consecutive years: Jissen Women's University, Japan Women's University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Kitasato University, International Health and Welfare University, and Toyo University.
We have looked into the establishment and reorganization of departments, campus relocations, major entrance exam reforms, and anniversary events over the past five years since 2013, including their plans. Due to government support for growth fields, there have been many establishments and reorganizations, but not many universities have done so consecutively. There were several universities that established or reorganized for two consecutive years, but when we looked into universities that had done so for three consecutive years, there were six universities in the Tokyo metropolitan area: Jissen Women's University, Japan Women's University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Kitasato University, International University of Health and Welfare, and Toyo University.
The fact that new establishments and reorganizations have occurred three years in a row means that the presidents and related staff of all faculties must be struggling with the need to constantly think about developing strengths and recruiting measures over a long period of time. However, the population of 3-year-olds is expected to decline sharply around 18, so there are only 2035 years left. In the meantime, the government will also carry out necessary system reforms and support, but I think that reforms should be made quickly, not just from the perspective of student recruitment, but also so that students who will support the future society can learn independently and autonomously and acquire the skills to contribute to society and the world. Universities that are able to carry out these reforms continuously will be seen as "making great strides," and in the long run, this will be advantageous in attracting high school applicants.
Now, I would like to introduce six universities in the Tokyo metropolitan area that have seen change for three consecutive years (in order of the highest proportion of newly established or reorganized departments relative to the total number of departments).
① Jissen Women's University: A university with two campuses in Shibuya and Hino that has strengths in social collaboration and employment.
This women's university has two contrasting campuses: the Shibuya Campus, a 10-minute walk from Shibuya Station, and the lush Hino Campus. In 2, the "2014th Anniversary Memorial Hall" was opened at the Shibuya Campus. On the first floor, there is a reference room for Shimoda Utako, the founder and pioneer of women's education, and the handwritten manuscripts and belongings of graduate and writer/scriptwriter Mukoda Kuniko are on display. Both campuses have a rich social collaboration program, with over 120 collaborations with companies and organizations, and nearly 1 students participating annually. In April 200, the university will open a new Faculty of International Studies (Shibuya Campus), and in the same year, the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Social Design (Shibuya Campus) will be opened, increasing the capacity. In April 7000, the university plans to open a Faculty of Environmental Design (Hino Campus), and in April 2024, a Faculty of Gastronomy and Food Sciences (Hino Campus), making this the third consecutive year of major developments.
② Japan Women's University: New developments abound as the university plans to expand to 2027 faculties and 8 departments by 16
Starting in April 120, the 2021th anniversary of the university's founding, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences from the Nishiikuta Campus (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture) will be relocated to the Mejiro Campus (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo) and integrated into Mejiro, the university's founding site. The university is the only private women's university to have a Faculty of Science, and is characterized by its well-established educational environment that combines the arts and sciences. The library designed by Kazuyo Sejima, a graduate of Japan Women's University and a world-renowned architect, was completed in 4, and new classrooms and research buildings were completed in 2019, and the campus has undergone major changes. As for faculties and departments, the Faculty of International Studies will be established in April 2021, the Faculty of Architecture and Design in April 2023, and the Faculty of Gastronomy and Food Sciences in 4, marking three consecutive years of reorganization. There are also plans to establish a Faculty of Economics in April 2024. With the establishment of the Faculty of Economics, the university will have 4 faculties and 2025 departments.
③ Shibaura Institute of Technology: Introduces a course system for both the School of Engineering and the School of Systems Engineering and Science, aiming for a 2027% female student ratio by 30
It is the only private science and engineering university to be selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Super Global University Creation Support Program," and offers a world-class educational environment and a wide range of programs for studying abroad. It is also strong in employment, and is ranked high in various employment rate rankings. With the goal of increasing the female student ratio to 100% or more by 2027, the 30th anniversary of the university's founding, the university will implement special entrance exams for female science and engineering students in all departments and courses in all faculties. In April 2024, the Faculty of Engineering (Omiya Campus/Shibaura Campus) will transition from a department system to a course system, and in April 4, the Faculty of Systems Science and Engineering (Omiya Campus) will transition from a department system to a course system, and at the same time, the enrollment quota will be increased from 2026 to 4. The transition to the course system will aim to produce professionals who can combine a wide range of knowledge and skills instead of "professionals in one field." In April 485, the Faculty of Design Engineering (Shibaura Campus) will be reorganized into a three-course system, marking a major move for the third consecutive year.
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