A Study Of The Closedown, Transition And Merger Of Private Universities In Japan

Due to the low birth rate,the population of 18-year-old generation in Japan has been decreasing rapidly.There are many Japanese universities having operational difficulties.At the same time,the number of private universities in Japan is growing.There are over 70%of universities in Japan are private universities.Since 21st century,every Japanese student can attend a university as long as they do not choose school or major.In this study,we assume that the appearance,development,flourishing and recessions of private universities are limited by the government policies,economics,society etc.Initially,this study classifies the history of Japanese private higher education into three stages:the appearance,the upgrading of private universities and private universities after World War II.For the causes of the closedown of private universities in Japan,this study classifies these causes into external factors and internal factors.The external factors include the low birth rate,the fierce competition due to the increasing of private universities,national university cooperation and interference from the government.The internal factors include underfunding,the imbalance of subjects due to gender imbalance on campus,the increasing of the costs of higher education,lack of full-time teachers and strategies of universities.The universities facing those problems have many ways to go,such as transforming to local public universities or co-ed universities,consolidating with other universities,closing down or going bankrupt.This study lists some typical cased to analyze.To solve problems,we can solve problems outside and inside the universities.From outside,the government should strict the rules of building universities,and evaluate the work rigidly.From inside,the universities could enroll more foreign students,adjust the balance of subjects and set up different kind of classes to appeal students...