JAHER as Academic Organization

Results of JAHER Membership Survey

Abstract

　 15 years have passed since the establishment of the Japan Association of Higher Education Research (JAHER), which was established in July 1997, we have grown to more than 700 the number of members. Compared with the time of the establishment, variety of the member’s occupational positions has been increased, and their research interests are more expanded. These circumstances have led to recognition that the expected role in JAHER as academic organization might be changed.

　 Therefore, JAHER conducted a survey to all members in March 2011, as part of its 15th anniversary projects, to measure their opinions and requests for JAHER, as well as their activities in the organization. This paper reports the analysis of the membership survey. The main findings are below.

　 In recent years, not only traditional researchers such as university professors and graduate students but also administrative staff of universities become new members, moreover the proportion of the latter has been increased. Also the percentage of members with academic background in education-related discipline has declined, though they were the majority.

　 The analysis of members’ motivation to join JAHER shows that considerable number of members expect that JAHER functions as a forum for useful information gathering, as well as an opportunity to publish the research outcomes. This fact also affects the research area of our members.

　 Finally, this paper introduces that a lot of members have such opinions that JAHER should become an organization that can disseminate valuable information and recommendation to our society while maintain the quality of academic research.