Structural changes in Japan's higher education system-from a planning to a market model

The Japanese pattern of development in post-war higher education hasbeen created by changes in the balance between two forces, that of expansion(exemplified particularly in the private sector) and that of control(manifested most frequently by government planners). The article identifiescycles of expansion and consolidation corresponding to changes in socialcircumstances. The most important of these social factors has been theimpact of demographic variations on demand and supply. The author shows howgovernment control was significantly eroded by the double impact of the"second baby boom generation" and the resulting prompt responseby the private sector to the relatively sudden increase in demand. In effectJapanese higher education could be said to be moving towards the marketmodel of provision as institutions, mindful of the prospect of decliningcohorts in the future, seek to maintain their levels of recruitment. Thearticle considers some of the changes in the system which are likely to beintroduced in response to the changed circumstances of the year 2000 andbeyond, including those which focus upon the maintenance of educationalquality.