Page 121 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 101

“

As a lifelong learning institution, OUJ aims to provide a
wide range of people with opportunities for obtaining
higher education.

education system. Nonetheless, as seen strong. With the exception of secondary
by the high percentage of adult students school, the percentage of adult students
enrolled, universities in Europe and the enrolled in higher education is exceptionally
United States continue to open their low. The percentage of students in Japan’s
systems to adult students. According to the higher education institutions, including
OECD (2010), Sweden had 28 percent of graduate schools, who are 25 years or
students aged 25 and up in higher education older is estimated to be around 5%, which
institutions (bachelor’s programs), Finland is exceedingly low when compared to the
had 26 percent, and the United States had 24 figures in Europe and the United States. 2
percent. 1
2. This is an estimate from the Ministry of Education,
When comparing Japan’s university education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “School Basic
to that of Europe and the United States, Survey Report”. Accurate figures for students enrolled
in higher education institutions by age have not been
however, it is argued that the country’s calculated in Japan’s school statistics. As a reference,
closed tendency toward adult learners is the number of “working students” is published by the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
1. OECD, Stat Extracts (2010). See Chapter 2, Section 2 Technology, but each year the number is only about
for details including other countries. 2%.

The Open University of Japan (OUJ)