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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1995 > Remaking Universities Chapter 1 3 (2)
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Remaking Universities: Continuing Reform of Higher Education
Chapter 1 Why University Reform Is Needed
3. Recommendations of the Universitu Council and Systemic Reforms
(2) Provision of Greater Flexibility in the Craduate School System

The University Council recommended that the graduate school system be made more flexible, as outlined below, and pointed out the need for substantial qualitative and quantitative improvements. A number of measures are being implemented in response to these recommendations.


1. Amendment of the aims of doctorate courses (September 1989 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools and of the Degree Regulations):

The definition of the aims of doctorate courses was expanded to include the creation not only of researchers but also of human resources with advanced abilities who are capable of contributing to various sectors of society (professionals with advanced specialized skills). In addition, provision was made for the conferment of doctorates on people who possess such skills.


2. Establishment of day/evening programs and evening graduate schools (September 1989 and October 1993 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools):

Day/evening programs have been offered at the master's degree level for several years. As a result of this change, evening graduate schools (institutions that conduct educational and research activities exclusively in the evening) can be established at the master's degree level and day/evening or evening graduate schools can be established at the doctorate level.


3. Relaxation of limits on the duration of master's degree courses (September 1989 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools):

It was decided to make two years the standard period for a master's degree program but to allow exceptional students to complete programs in a minimum of one year.


4. Amendment of qualifications for graduate school faculty (September 1989 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools):

It was decided that nonacademic members of society who possess exceptional knowledge and experience in specialized fields and superior instructional skills in education and research should be eligible to teach in graduate schools.


5. Outside research instruction for master's degree programs (September 1989 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools):

It was decided that master's degree course students should be able to undergo research instruction at other graduate schools or equivalent institutions of higher education for periods not exceeding one year, when this is deemed educationally valuable.


6. Standards concerning organizational structures, facilities, and equipment of independent graduate schools (September 1989 amendment of the Standards for the Establishment of Graduate Schools):

To facilitate the establishment of independent graduate schools (universities that have only graduate schools) comprehensive standards were established concerning organizational structures, facilities, and equipment.


7. Provision of greater flexibility in graduate school entrance qualifications (September 1989 amendment of the Enforcement Regulations for the School Education Law):

As a result of this measure, a person who is not a university graduate but has spent at least three years at university and has acquired the credits required for entrance to the graduate school in question may be qualified to enter that graduate school. In addition, a person who has not completed a master's degree program but has achieved a certain level of research achievement may be qualified to enter a doctorate program.


8. Improvement of the degree system (June 1991 amendment of the Degree Regulations):

To facilitate the conferment of advanced degrees and ensure an appropriate response to progress in scientific research, it was decided to abolish the categorization of advanced degrees by specialized field (doctor of literature, doctor of medicine, and so on) and to allow specialized fields to be listed parenthetically following the name of the degree at the discretion of individual graduate schools.


9. Establishment of the National Institution for Academic Degrees (April 1991 amendment of the National School Establishment Law and the School Education Law, June 1991 amendment of the Degree Regulations):

The establishment of the National Institution for Academic Degrees in July 1991 has enabled degrees to be conferred on

(1) graduates of junior colleges or colleges of technology who have completed a required level of study in the advanced courses of junior colleges or colleges of technology approved by universities or the National Institution for Academic Degrees and
(2) students who have completed programs in educational institutions other than universities that are deemed by the National Institution for Academic Degrees to be equivalent to universities or graduate schools.
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