Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1995 > Remaking Universities Chapter 1 1

The National Council on Educational Reform, which was established in 1984, submitted reports on a wide range of issues, including the improvement and individualization of university education, the sweeping enhancement and reform of graduate schools, fiscal policies relating to higher education, the organization and management of universities, and the establishment of the University Council.

In May 1986 the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (MESSC) established the University Reform Council, a group of experts charged with undertaking this task, which initiated studies concerning the specific university reform measures advocated. In September 1987 this group submitted the results of its studies in the form of recommendations on such aspects of higher education as the enhancement and reform of graduate schools and the improvement of the Standards for the Establishment of Universities.

In response to the National Council on Educational Reform's recommendation, in September 1987 MESSC established the University Council as an organization to deliberate basic aspects of higher education in Japan. In October 1987 the Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture instructed the University Council to study specific measures for the advancement, individualization, and revitalization of education and research in universities and other institutions of higher education.

Since then the council has been considering concrete approaches to university reform. As of September 1995 it had submitted 15 reports ( Figure 1.1 ), and it continues to examine pending issues. Major systemic reforms have been implemented on the basis of these reports, and universities and other institutions of higher education are now carrying out various reforms in response to these changes.