Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 >Chapter6 Section1.2

Against the backdrop of recent economic globalization, technological innovation and diversification of the concept of work, there has been an increasing demand on the part of adults to acquire the most advanced and sophisticated techniques and abilities throughout their lives. Moreover, to respond to new employment trends and the increasing mobility of the labor force that are expected to accompany the coming industrial structural change, the re-education of adults to secure high quality human resources has become an agenda for the whole of society. Especially, there has been increasing expectations as to the roles played by higher educational institutions such as universities, graduate schools and specialized training colleges.

  MEXT has been implementing measures such as introducing a special selection of working adults, a special student system and evening or day/evening courses; installing satellite classrooms; and institutionalizing professional schools at the graduate level, one-year master's degree courses and prolonged study courses so as to facilitate adults' access to universities and graduate schools. In addition, we have been working on various programs to respond to the advanced educational needs of adults, including the development of the University of the Air to provide learning opportunities to all people, anytime and anywhere; employment and ability development mechanisms at specialized training colleges; the implementation of vocational training and educational programs for human resources development at the request of local governments; and the provision of open lectures.

  In addition, there is an expectation that the labor force will further mobilize and there will be an increase in the number of middle and higher age white-collar adults losing their jobs. Hence, from the viewpoint of providing motivated adults with opportunities for advanced job skills training and organizing opportunities for the unemployed to find pride and satisfaction in learning while looking for a new job, it is becoming more important than ever for adults to upgrade their careers through re-education at universities. For this reason, MEXT is promoting the development of new programs and provision of courses for adults wishing to upgrade their careers at universities, graduate schools and specialized training colleges, developing satellite campuses and e-university (university education at a remote area through the utilization of IT). Also, it is promoting the Career Upgrading Plan for One Million Adults, which aims to accept as many as one million adults in the coming five years at universities, graduate schools and specialized training colleges by improving the academic system with the creation of comfortable study environment mechanisms like the institutionalization of a one-year professional school at the graduate level.

  Further, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, in cooperation with MEXT, has revised operational standards to further enhance opportunities for adults to upgrade their careers through such measures as the provision of training and an expanded scope of courses designated to be part of the training and education benefits system within universities, graduate schools and other institutions.

Local governments issue certificates and diplomas to those who finish courses at lifelong learning centers and public halls to recognize their learning achievements and encourage their participation in community activities and further learning. Those who have received certificates or diplomas are registered and utilized as volunteer personnel to engage in local school and social education by making good use of their learning achievements. In these ways, we are developing a system for the evaluation and utilization of learning achievements that leads to the development of the local communities.

  Also, MEXT is carrying out surveys and research on the Lifelong Learning Passport (Lifelong Learning Registration), which records individual learning achievements. Based on the recommendation of the Lifelong Learning Council's Report "to broadly utilize learning achievements" (June 1999), this system enables a public institution to certify personal academic backgrounds so that such learning experience and knowledge can be applied to any local community and group.

  Further, we can see some examples of private organizations, such as local Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), carrying out volunteer activities to transfer learning achievements to the community planning process and to provide local residents with the opportunity for learning about local issues. The goal of this process is, thus, to create an attractive community that maximizes the abilities of local residents.

Figure 1-6-2 Outline of the System to Promote the Acceptance of Adults to Universities