Page 125 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 105

that the government must admit that in The diversification of options described
substance a wide variety of higher education above has led to a wider range of choices
opportunities already exists. 5 from the learner’s point of view. However,
from the converse perspective of education
The fact that the concept of higher education providers, it means that competition for
has been extended to post-secondary customers will intensify under a certain scale
education means that the opportunities of demand for education. Since the peak of
for adult learners to use higher education the population of 18-year-olds in 1992, the
for lifelong learning are increasing and market situation has been deteriorating, and
diversifying. Currently, there are more than the situation continues to exist where other
ten types of post-secondary educational markets must be developed separately from
institutions that can be used as lifelong the existing customer market in order to
learning opportunities in Japan. The survive the intensifying competition.
important ones are as follows.
1. University extension: approximately In that sense, adult learners are an attractive
27,000 courses per year, approximately market with large development potential.
1,200,000 attendees per year. The potential demand for education (i.e.,
2. Correspondence education at universities willingness to learn) for adults is not low, and
and junior colleges (including OUJ): 53 the size of the market that has already been
schools, about 200,000 students (of formed is not small.
which about 90,000 are OUJ students).
3. Specialized training colleges and
miscellaneous schools: Approximately
3,200 specialized training colleges
and approximately 660,000 students;
approximately 1,300 miscellaneous
schools and approximately 120,000
students.
4. Private education and cultural businesses:
A total of about 6,400,000 students per
year nationwide.
5. Social correspondence education: 110
courses per year, about 53,000 students
per year.
5. At the same time as the establishment of the
specialized training college system, the Higher Educa-
tion Council, which is a private advisory body to the
Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture said
that “... higher education is not limited to ordinary
universities, but has a wide scope that includes the
Open University of Japan, university correspondence
education, and vocational schools.” (University Bureau,
Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture,
“Planned Development of Higher Education” (1976))

The Open University of Japan (OUJ)