Academic Profession's Challenge to the Construction of Educational Management in Japan. RIHE International Seminar Reports. No. 23

Research Institute for Higher Education, Hiroshima University. 1-2-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, 739-8512, Japan. Tel: +81-82-424-6240; Fax: +81-82-422-7104; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://rihe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/publications/en/

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22

Active Learning; Teaching Methods; Instructional Innovation; Field Studies; Foreign Countries; Educational Administration; Higher Education; Educational Change; Scoring Rubrics; Outcomes of Education; Academic Ability; Knowledge Economy; National Surveys; Teacher Student Relationship; College Students; College Faculty; Questionnaires; Student Attitudes; Statistical Analysis; Program Descriptions

Active learning is now gradually being adopted in many universities and colleges in Japan. This follows the release of the 2012 Central Council of Education (CCE) report that emphasized the need to introduce active learning and to reinforce educational management in academia. As a result, one of the most important problems in Japan's higher education reforms is to know how educational management can promote students' active study. The answer to this problem will assist students to gain the academic ability to study actively, thereby preparing them to respond to an unpredictable future in the prevailing knowledge-based society. The following options should be explored: (1) Enhancing teaching methods which support greater student initiative in their study, such as active study and HIP (High Impact Practice) including field studies outside classes; (2) Introducing innovative methods, such as rubrics and tests to visualize leaning outcomes; and (3) Setting up organized teaching to support educational management by reconsidering curriculum from the perspective of DP (Diploma Policy), CP (Curriculum Policy) and AP (Admission Policy), whilst realizing an effective nexus of R-T-S (Research, Teaching and Study) for academic staff. To support an academic investigation of the current situation of educational management in light of such problems and to prescribe future reform plans, this paper puts forward an analysis of data from a national survey conducted for this purpose. Based on the 2012 CCE report, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) launched the Education Promotion Program among universities and colleges in 2012, and supported a range of projects related to active learning. It is likely that this program has served to stimulate the promotion of active learning nationwide.

ERIC

2017

ED574206