Engineering Tasks for the New Century Japanese and U.S. Perspectives (1999) / Chapter Skim
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3 University Entrance Issues
3 University Entrance Issues
Pages 24-36
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From page 24... ...
The focus on entrance examination scores in Japan encourages students to find the quickest and easiest way to answer examination questions, often to the detriment of deeper understanding, (2J This emphasis on finding the "right answer" tends to stay with Japanese students even after they enter university and embark on their engineering careers, and (3) Since Japanese students who enter prestigious universities are assured of being hired for a lifetime position at a top company, they tends to be less diligent as university students.
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From page 25... ...
Occupation aimed to lower the emphasis on entrance exams, but these did not take hold.2 Table 3-l provides an overview of the higher education systems of Japan and the United States. At the top of the hierarchy of prestige in Japan are the national universities, with several selective private universities also seen as highly desirable by students and employers.3 Farther down on the hierarchy are less selective private and public universities.
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From page 26... ...
Admission from affiliated high schools accounts for about 10 percent of the total admissions at Keio University and Waseda University, two of the most selective private universities.4 At some universities, admissions from affiliated high schools may be close to 20 percent. Graduating from high school qualifies a Japanese student to take the college-entrance examinations, although it is possible for non-graduates to apply to a college if they pass a special qualifying examination.
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From page 27... ...
Table 3-2 shows the basic outline of the National Center Test. At the present time, all 95 national universities and 61 public universities use the National Center Test to supplement their own entrance exams, and the number of private universities utilizing it has gradually increased to 217 in 1998.
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From page 28... ...
The recommendation system is not utilized by the most highly selective national universities such as the University of Tokyo. In general, the higher prestige universities rely most on their own entrance examinations in evaluating applicants, and less selective universities rely more on the NCT or other criteria.
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From page 29... ...
Hosei University4,890 60,02210,409 Keio University4,010 48,36210,697 Meiji University4,548 65,26211,889 Nihon University7,735 109,71922,065 Rikkyo University2,150 33,1875,986 Sophia University2,045 25,8204,145 Tokyo Denki University1,510 16,6264,070 Waseda University6,820 102,04914,405 Private (Kyoto/Osaka area) Doshinsha University3,083 34,46110,434 Kansai Gakuin University2,470 35,3559,497 Kansai University5,190 79,97415,652 Kinki University3,708 70,18413,973 Konan University2,050 14,2733,289 Kyoto Sangyo University2,760 25,2746,728 Ritsumeikan University5,430 92,62017,610 Ryukoku University2,015 40,9439,851 Total60,414 854,131170,682 NOTE: The discrepancy between quotas and acceptances for private universities results from the practice of accepting a larger number of students than are expected to actually enroll.
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From page 30... ...
At o o I be .
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From page 31... ...
Currently, students are more likely to attend yobiko for a year or two to enable them to be more adequately prepared for their first effort at taking the college entrance examinations. The sole purpose of yobiko is to prepare students for the college entrance examinations.
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From page 32... ...
200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 | 1B Kawaijuku Campuses · Other Preparatory Schools ~ High Schools | 1994 1 995 FIGURE 3-2 Number of schools that have introduced satellite Kawaijuku classes. SOURCE: Japan Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture.
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From page 33... ...
In Japan, the National Center for University Entrance Examinations provides information on universities and their examinations on-line through its HEART system, while universities, Juno and yobiko are rapidly increasing the amount of information provided on the internet and through CD-ROM. ISSUES Notwithstanding the positive reforms made in the Japanese university entrance examination system in recent years and the numerous positive impacts, the disadvantages of the system are becoming increasingly apparent.
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From page 34... ...
students spend time and resources on, in many cases it appears that the future development of Japanese students is sacrificed in the allconsuming focus on entrance examinations. To some extent, this problem can be addressed through further technical changes in the system, but for the most part progress will appear as the result of larger, more evolutionary systemic changes, including changes in the attitudes and behavior of employers, students and parents.
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From page 35... ...
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE Based on this discussion of the Japanese university entrance examination system, the Japanese working group has identified a number of tasks that might be tackled by Japan in order to improve the system by alleviating the negative impacts. These tasks include: · Alleviating the negative impact of the examination system on the high school curriculum and learning environment by developing testing methods and questions that allow scope for students to exercise creativity and enable universities to assess problem-solving capabilities of applicants.
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From page 36... ...
into other markets. Kawaijuku, which despite the name, has traditionally focused on operating yobiko, is one example.
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