In Japan, private universities and colleges play an extremely important role in higher education today. Out of all the universities and colleges in the country, 76.7% are private, and they are attended by 73.4% of Japan’s university and college student population. Literally, we can say that private universities and colleges form the core of Japanese higher education.
Each private university or college, with its unique founding philosophy, has created its own, characteristic history and traditions. This has established a rich diversity within Japanese higher education, and provided society with a fertile cultural source. As part of this, private universities and colleges have produced a great number of human resources who make many contributions to local communities, Japanese society, and international society. It is no exaggeration to say that without this kind of contribution from private universities and
colleges the diversity-rich prosperity of today’s Japanese society could not have been achieved.
To promote the development and enhancement of these private institutions of higher education, The Japan Association of Private Universities and Colleges was established in 1951, with “the purpose of contributing to the mission of higher learning, through the mutual cooperation of all members in protecting the freedom and authority of private institutions of higher education, promoting and improving the seats of higher learning, and serving the progress of science and culture”. Since then, this association has developed substantially, thanks to the mutual cooperation of its members and the support of many people who have shown a deep understanding of the association’s activities.
Today’s global society faces a time of major change, with growing uncertainty over the future. In such a period of transition, a society that can only resolve problems through uniform ways of thinking is extremely vulnerable. A flexible social structure that can handle any kind of change is required, and for this to exist it is essential that diversity in places of learning and education is secured as far as possible. For securing and further enhancing this diverse, intellectual platform, the importance of private universities and colleges with their characteristic founding philosophies has markedly increased.
At a time when solving problems by considering things simply as extensions of past events has become unprecedentedly difficult, human resources who can understand new problems for themselves and solve them based on this understanding -who can think independently -are more important than ever. The role of private universities and colleges, which nurture independent individuals who can think and act for themselves while drawing on their learning, has become increasingly significant.
Needless to say, private universities and colleges which bear this role are required to further improve the quality of their education. The quality of this education is best measured by looking at the extent to which each private university or college has achieved its own education aims, which reflect its founding philosophy. What is at question is how private universities and colleges as a whole can contribute to the progress of society through the fulfillment of their respective aims.
For enhancing and strengthening Japanese higher education, the further development of private universities and colleges is essential. To fulfill the role in society described above, Japan’s private universities and colleges need to seek more public support. At the same time, it is vital that this association conducts itself more scrupulously through such measures as complete transparency; demonstrates how it responsibly contributes to local communities, Japanese society, and international society; and regulates its structure. This association will strive to further accomplish these aims through the cooperation of its members. Your continued support, needed now more than ever, would be sincerely appreciated.
