Archival education in Japanese universities

With reference to the programme at Beppu University

Abstract

This paper first reports the overall situation on archival education programmes in Japanese universities both at undergraduate and graduate levels. Next, general issues regarding such programmes are discussed on the basis of experience at Beppu University. The course at Beppu is designed to combine undergraduate and graduate programmes as a continuing educational process. As for the undergraduate programme, the aim is twofold: the first is to make students aware of basic archival issues so that they will be prepared for future graduate-level study, and the second is to teach students about record management issues so that those who do not proceed to graduate studies can make use of such knowledge in their employment immediately after graduation. Placement work at archival institutions is also included in the course but the university still needs to demonstrate the effectiveness of this area of education after one yearʼs experience.