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The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) publishes "Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" every year in order to present new developments to the public in this area.

As the theme for the FY2003 edition of this publication, we have adopted "Higher Education to Support a Knowledge-Based Society Full of Creative Vitality - New Developments in Higher Education Reform."

Nowadays, a "knowledge-based society" is said to have become the foundation for various social activities, with new technologies and information driving economic activity.

Information can now travel the globe in the blink of an eye, and with competition and coordination among countries becoming ever more important, an era has dawned in which "knowledge creation and its inheritance" is the key to social development.

In such an era, the importance of institutions of higher education, including universities, is increasing. These institutions are "centers of knowledge" that will support future development.

Given this reality, MEXT is expending all its efforts to reform higher education and has planned a significant structural revision from FY2004, under which national universities will become independent administrative institutions and all universities will become subject to third-party evaluation.

This White Paper outlines the trends in such a reform, for the purpose of advancing the public's understanding and cooperation.

As is the case in each year's White Paper, Part II describes MEXT's policies in all areas of education, science, technology, sports and culture, including the overall trends in educational reform.

The key to Japan's development as a country full of creative vitality and openness to the world is nothing other than "human" power. Under a basic concept that aims to shift "from uniformity and passivity to independence and creativity," with a view to cultivating students with rich and robust spirits who can open a new era, we are promoting structural reforms in education at all stages, from elementary and secondary education through to higher education at universities. Educational reforms are also being promoted with the aim of "improving human resources" by focusing on intellectual education, moral education, physical education and food education. All efforts are being expended towards the realization of an "education and culture-oriented nation" and a "nation based on creativity in science and technology."

It is my hope that this White Paper will be utilized widely by all people, and that it helps to promote understanding concerning the education, culture, sports, science and technology policies that Japan is implementing.

February 2004    Kawamura   Takeo   Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology