Abstract
In order to obtain basic data that would be useful in planning postgraduate courses at colleges specializing in health and welfare, surveys were conducted on 1) the intentions of undergraduate students to proceed to graduate school, 2) the intentions of working people to enrol in postgraduate courses related to health and welfare, and 3) the intentions of directors of hospitals and other medical-related institutions to hire students completing postgraduate studies at colleges specializing in health and welfare. The subjects selected for the survey were 380 undergraduate students of colleges specializing in health and welfare, 936 working people, and 288 directors of hospitals and other medicalrelated institutions. Questionnaires were sent and returned by post. The subjects did not write their names on the questionnaires. The results showed that there is not so much interest in enrolling in postgraduate courses if admission is restricted to only undergraduate students of the same college, but interest in enrolment in postgraduate courses increases if admission to the graduate school is also open to working people. Moreover, most directors of hospitals and other medical-related institutions do not currently consider giving preference to the hiring of students completing postgraduate studies at colleges specializing in health and welfare. The results indicate the need to establish an educational environment that promotes the acceptance (into postgraduate courses) of not only undergraduate students but also working people.
