日本の高等教育研究

回顧と展望

抄録

　 In Japan, higher education research as an independent field of study had its “take-off” phase in the 1970’s. The massification of higher education, student revolt in the end of the 1960’s, and the rapid development of higher education research in the U. S. were the main forces that prompted the “take-off”. After a rather gradual growth in the 1980’s, the field experienced rapid expansion in the 1990’s. In the movement towards structural readjustment of Japanese economy, politics and society. Universities and colleges were forced to change drastically in their basic concept, organizational structure and functions. In response to the pressure, the Ministry of Education relaxed substantially the University Establishment Standard on undergraduate education in 1991. Stimulated by the initiative, many of the universities and colleges started to reorganize not only their curricula but also basic structures of teaching, research and administration. The rapid development of higher education reform prompted an expansion of higher education research.

　 Even though research and training units in the field of higher education is still limited in number, researchers interested in the field have been increasing rapidly. The research topics have become increasingly diversified, and many are related to policy or practice than genuinely academic. In 1997, the first academic and comprehensive research society on higher education was established with more than 300 members. Higher education research is expected to grow more rapidly in the coming decade.