Just as higher education (HE) in Europe had its beginnings in religious training for the priesthood, HE in feudal Japan, too, provided instruction for a religious life. But while the evolution to secular instruction was gradual in Europe, in Japan it came with a big bang: the opening of the country and consequent Westernization and all that that involved in the mid-19th century.,This first volume in the new Japan Documents Handbook series tells the story in 25 chapters of how Japan's HE system has become what it is now, ending with a very tentative glimpse into the rest of the 21st century. A variety of themes are covered by scholars: chapters that concentrate on governance look at the distinction between national, public, and private institutions; others consider important topics such as internationalization, student recruitment, and faculty mobility. More innovative topics include Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education. All provide copious references to other authorities, but rather than just toe the conventional line they include opinions and proposals that may be contentious or even revolutionary. The editor provides an overview of the subject and its treatment in an Introduction.
By:
Paul Snowden
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 246mm,
Width: 174mm,
ISBN: 9781041180647
ISBN 10: 1041180640
Series: Handbooks on Japanese Studies
Pages: 436
Publication Date: 01 December 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
1. Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline, 2. From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan's Contemporary Higher Education System, 3. The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change?, 4. National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice, 5. Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education, 6. Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable, 7. Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed, 8. The Financing of Higher Education in Japan, 9. Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends, 10. The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings, 11. Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes, 12. Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era, 13. Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Realities, 14. International Students: Inbound Mobility at Elite and Mass Universities, 15. Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues, 16. Women's Universities in Japan: Life Choices, 17. Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges, 18. Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education, 19. International Faculty: Increasing Mobility, 20. Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, 21. Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way, 22. The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809-2020, 23. Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse, 24. Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective, 25. The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an AI Society
Paul Snowden studied Modern and Medieval Languages at King’s College, Cambridge. Apart from the first five years of his career, he has lived and worked in Japan as a university teacher and administrator, and author or editor of numerous dictionaries, textbooks, and other Japan- related works. He worked longest (30 years) at Waseda University, where he served two terms as Dean of the School of International Liberal Studies—the first foreign national to hold such a post at that university—and has been Emeritus Professor since 2014. His most recent post was Vice-President of Kyorin University. Having retired in 2020, he now acts as a director for the Japan campus of Lakeland University, Wisconsin.
