# Management improvement support for private universities and junior colleges

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In Japan, approximately 80% of all students attending universities and junior colleges are enrolled in private schools. Private universities and junior colleges provide attractive programs for students of all backgrounds, and play an important role in promoting Japan’s education research.

On the other hand, the management environment of private universities and junior colleges are currently undergoing a difficult situation as a whole, with the recent impact of the declining birthrate. In order for these institutions to keep providing high-quality education research in the future, it is necessary for school juridical persons to build up a stable management base. For this reason, school juridical persons are working towards management improvements through various efforts, and MEXT is providing private universities and junior colleges with management instruction and counseling, while giving respect towards their autonomy.

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In March 2007, MEXT put together the “Case studies for strengthening university management: A guide towards successful university management” by delegating the task to the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan. This report was formed by putting together various management improvement reinforcement cases that were successful among national, public, private universities and junior colleges, and contains many cases related to private universities and junior colleges.

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Along with the establishment of the “Management training office for school juridical persons” in 2003 to improve the training/consulting framework, “Measures for school juridical persons with management difficulties” has also been put together based on the pillars of “Respect of independence of private schools” and “Securing learning opportunities for students,” and was published in May 2005.

Moreover, starting in 2007 a new budget has been created for the “Special support budget for the promotion of improving under-enrollment” (budget of approx. 400 million yen for FY2007) as a subsidy to support current expenditures for schools such as private universities. Since 2007, this subsidy has been applied to schools, including private universities, which have shown efforts in improving and increasing the efficiency of their management on a school-wide scale to deal with under-enrollment. Ongoing support will be given to school juridical persons for their independent efforts towards management improvement.

Efforts of school juridical persons for management improvement

$ ^{*} $ taken from the “Case studies for strengthening university management”

Management improvement with president's leadership

Proactive efforts for management improvement with the cooperation of school personnel made possible through the president’s active participation in meetings and by listening to the opinions of school personnel.

Improving and strengthening quality of education

Provide education in the interest and concerns of students through the teacher assessment system, carrying out small class education and career education, and reorganizing faculties and departments.

Strengthening student recruitment activities

Secure more students by improving the school prospectus, entrance exam reforms and strengthening job-hunting support.

Securing other sources of income

Secure sources of income other than student payment by strengthening the call for donations and developing profitable businesses.