The Journal of Science Policy and Research Management

Forming a Science of Higher Education Policy

Shuichi TSUKAHARA

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 2-3
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_2

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A recent topic in Japanese higher education policy is the assessment of learning outcomes. There are some attempts in the world, such as the student survey in many countries, Tuning in Europe, the portfolio assessment in the UK, the rubric in the USA, the direct assessment by the standardized test in OECD/AHELO project and in several countries, and the alumni survey. We must accumulate much more empirical evidence and try to synthesize it to form a science of higher education policy. It will contribute to make better polices in the higher education and also in the science, technology and innovation.

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PREFACE FOR SPECIAL ISSUE ON 'UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT'

Takayuki HAYASHI, Yoshiko SAITOH

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 4-7
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_4

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The current government in Japan is prioritizing university reform as one of its policies for Japanese revitalization. In fact, university reform is not a new word. Universities have made several reforms since the 1990s. However, a recent government policy has necessitated multidimensional reforms in all functions of education, research, and social service. These requirements include an emphasis on learning outcomes, international 'tuning' of teaching contents, internationalization of universities, establishment of world-class research universities, professionalization of research administration, contribution towards innovation, and further development of innovative talents. This policy calls for connections between higher education policy and science and technology (S&T) policy, but this has not yet been fully achieved. Additionally, a disconnection can be observed between higher education research and S&T policy research. In this special issue, researchers in the higher education, S&T policy, and STS (science technology and society) fields, as well as the Vice-president for Research contribute to the discussion on current issues in Japanese universities.

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International Linkage and Collaboration in Higher Education under Changing Global Environment(<SPECIAL REPORT>UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT)

Akiyoshi YONEZAWA

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 8-17
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_8

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This article provides an overview on the trends of international competition by the universities and the state governments under the increased influence of world university rankings. The author also examines the trials to establish "world-class universities" mainly focusing on these in the emerging economies, and then, argues on the challenges that top universities in Japan and other matured countries are facing with. Finally, the author discusses on the current status and future direction of international linkage and collaboration in higher education in Asian region, where Japanese higher education no longer has a distinguished status.

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University Mission Differentiation and Challenges for Indicators(<SPECIAL REPORT>UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT)

Takayuki HAYASHI

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 18-30
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_18

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"Mission differentiation," "reinforcement of functions," and "mission redefinition" of universities are some recent keywords in Japanese higher education policy. These words all require universities to reconsider their mission in a changing society and prioritize some functions rather than conducting all-round functions. This policy issue was first raised in the 1990s as the "diversity of universities" and was clearly stated in the report of the Central Education Council in 2005. From then it has been the focus of higher education policy until now. This paper, written in the context of recent Japanese policy, reviews discussions on mission differentiation and diversity of the university in higher education studies and science policy studies in terms of the definition, contexts, and policy methods for enhancement. Finally, analyses of quantitative data and results of qualitative evaluation of national universities are shown to discuss the challenges for indicators and data infrastructure to enhance mission differentiation.

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Research and Development Strategy of National Universities in Japan and its Evaluation : The case of Okayama University(<SPECIAL REPORT>UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT)

Shin-ichi YAMAMOTO

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 31-43
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_31

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To make research strategy od universities, it is important to recognize the present research status and to evaluate it suitably. However, there are severel kinds of methods for analysis and evaluation of research status of universities. So, appropriate methods must be adopted for them. In this paper, I introduced the research and development strategy of Okayama University and its evaluation method, and discussed about the nethods for analysis and evaluation of research status of universities in general, especially bibliometric method (bibliometrix) using scientific papers.

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Some Issues on Social Contribution by Japanese National Universities(<SPECIAL REPORT>UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT)

Mitsuaki HOSONO

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 44-49
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_44

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In the 2000s, social contribution is set as the third role of universities after education and research with the amendment of relevant laws. However, social contributions by universities are quite difficult to define, and probably would be the ones through education and/or research. As a result of the analysis on websites of Japanese national universities, the targets of their social contribution differ according to size of universities, their location, and their main academic disciplines. The organizations which implement institutional social contributions also vary in Japanese national universities, and their organizational histories seem to show difficulties and low priority for universities to cope with social contributions. For the time being, the expectation on universities' social contribution would be increasingly raised. The universities should autonomously respond to such expectations.

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Postdoc Life as Labor Issues(<SPECIAL REPORT>UNIVERSITY IN A COMPLEXLY TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENT)

Hironori AYABE

Article type: Article
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 50-57
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_50

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Problems facing post doctoral fellows (hereafter postdocs) in recent years are often viewed as employment issues rather than labor ones. It is still important to find a way of creating jobs for postdocs. However, significant points to be discussed will be left behind unless we treated the problems as labor issues. This paper argue that why we need such kind of view by showing what are going on laboratory life and a brief history of the problems as compared with the decadesold Japanese labor policy.

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[title in Japanese]

Article type: Bibliography
2014 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 59-60
Published: April 30, 2014
Released on J-STAGE: October 21, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20801/jsrpim.29.1_59

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