PART II Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 4. Toward Diversified Development of Higher Education
Section 2. Improvement of University Entrant Selection
2. Toward Distinctive and Diversified Entrant Selection
(1) Efforts by Universities to Modify and Improve Entrant Selection
A key task confronting universities is the improvement of entrant selection methods, including the use of multiple and diversified assessment criteria in accordance with the objectives and characteristics of each university and faculty and the characteristics of each specialized field, and the development of methods that allow multifaceted appraisal of each applicant's abilities and aptitudes. In recent years this need has led some universities to select applicants not only by means of scholastic tests but also on the basis of interviews, theses, and proficiency tests. In addition, universities are increasingly accepting students through admission on recommendation and establishing special selection quotas for adult students, young people returning from overseas, and other groups.
(2) Provision of Multiple Opportunities to Take Entrance Examinations for National and Local Public Universities
Since fiscal 1989 a "separating and dividing pattern" has been used in addition to the traditional "consecutive pattern," which enables applicants to take examinations for two or more national and local public universities. Universities are being encouraged to make active efforts to adopt the separating and dividing pattern and to achieve appropriate ratios between the number of places for entrants during the first and second phases of the examination process. These changes aim to provide applicants with increased opportunities to take examinations and to promote diversified selection methods. In principle, all national universities will employ the separating and dividing pattern from fiscal 1997 onward ( Figure II.4.1 ).
Figure II.4.1 Multiple Oppoutunities to Take National University Examinations (Scheduled for Fiscal 1995)
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