Tokyo Denki University, a private engineering university, is undertaking several initiatives aimed at adapting its educational offerings to the changing needs of students and the larger society. One example is a small-scale engineering college within the university that is now in the planning stages. The focus will be on providing a combination of “just in time education” and “just for you education” as discussed above.

One tool that the new college is introducing is designed to raise the consciousness of university students. Students will be required to take an introductory curriculum planning course to develop subjective goals and a learning plan for their four years of university study. This planning is based on a review of materials provided by the departments. The plan is discussed with peers and faculty members. Since students will naturally develop new interests and goals as they progress through their undergraduate years, the plan would be periodically revised. This exercise would encourage students to think more carefully about their education and take greater individual responsibility.

Freshmen and sophomores in the new engineering college will be able to choose classes from the basic curriculum according to their ability, and in addition take liberal arts and foreign language classes. Laboratory classes are included in the lecture series, with some lab experiments developed in cooperation with industry. This is fairly unusual for freshman and sophomore engineering students in Japan. New, interdisciplinary classes are also being developed for the new college. Grading will be done according to standardized criteria.

Shibaura Institute of Technology organized a distance education experiment between Japan and Malaysia in cooperation with Tokyo Denki University and Takushoku University. A test was conducted recently in which 40 Malaysian students located in a studio in Malaysia received classes originating in Japan (but also aimed at Malaysian students) over an ISDN network. Lectures concerned mathematics and Japanese language. The technology allows two-way communication between sites. The results of the experiment are now being evaluated.

The University of the Air was established in 1981 as a means of providing continuing education opportunities to adults. The University of the Air is located in Chiba Prefecture and its broadcasting area covers Tokyo and its suburbs. Six affiliated learning centers are spread through the area. Additional videotape learning centers are located in 36 of Japan's prefectures. Since January 1998, the university's class broadcasts are carried on a nationwide digital television channel by communication satellite.

Most of the 67,000 students (as of 1998) receive lectures by television and radio at home. Over 300 undergraduate liberal arts classes are provided. University of the Air does not conduct an entrance examination, and awards a bachelor of arts degree.

Front Matter (R1-R8)

Executive Summary (1-3)

1 Introduction (4-5)

2 K-12 Training of Future Engineers (6-23)

3 University Entrance Issues (24-36)

4 Undergraduate and Graduate Education (37-47)

5 Lifelong Learning for Engineers (48-62)

6 Meeting the Challenge of Global Engineering (63-78)

7 The Future University (79-84)

8 Conclusions and Recommendations (85-88)