University Lives at Stanford and Japanese Universities (<Special Reports>"Research Crisis at Japanese Universities")

Abstract

This is a discussion on the system prevailing at Japanese universities based on the experiences of six people studying at the University of Stanford. The comparison between American and Japanese universities brings out that Japanese students study harder than it is commonly believed, that the scholarship system in Japan is underdeveloped, that Japanese teaching staff seem reluctant to perform their tasks and fail to make classes attractive to the students, that Japanese students have few chances to communicate with their teachers but, on the other hand, have more time available to pursue their own interests, and that there is no close co-operation between universities and corporations unlike in the U.S.A.. other matters discussed in relation to Japanese universities concern the lack of campus space, the high number of students per teacher, the feasibility of introducing teaching assistants, and the need for improving facilities and equipment.