PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 4. Improvement and Enrichment of Higher Education
2 Promotion of the Reform of Higher Education
(2) Enhancement of Graduate School
The Ministry has so far taken a series of important measures
for the flexible management of the graduate school system, for the purpose of:
(1) decreasing the time to complete the course work for a doctor's degree, (2)
expanding opportunity for students to receive research guidance from other universities
and other institutions, and (3) making it possible to adopt unique and innovative
educational methods in master's degree courses. Regarding the organization of
graduate schools, measures were taken to allow the establishment of various flexible
systems corresponding to specific objectives. Further, in accordance with the
general views expressed in the recent reports of the University Council, the
Ministry has taken necessary measures for making graduate school systems more
flexible, such as revisions in the objectives of the doctor's course, the flexible
adaptation of admission requirements and terms of study, the establishment of
evening courses at the master's level in certain fields et., as well as the introduction
of systems for self-monitoring and self-evaluation in respective graduate schools.
As for the improvement and expansion of graduate schools, most
of them still depend on their undergraduate faculties for their teaching staff
and educational facilities and equipment. In terms of numbers, the importance
attached to graduate schools is extremely small as compared with advanced Western
countries, so there are not many graduate schools. Thus, it may be said that
Japanese graduate schools are lacking both qualitatively and quantitatively.
In light of this situation and considering the importance of the task of graduate
schools, the report of the University Council, submitted in May 1991, recommended
that the Ministry should take steps for strengthening graduate school systems
for educational and research activities, improving the treatment of students,
enriching systems for accepting foreign students, increasing the number of graduate
schools, enriching financial conditions, etc. Based on the recommendations, the
Ministry will make a great effort to promote the qualitative and quantitative
expansion of graduate schools in Japan.
Chapter4 2 (2)
Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture