An Analysis of Factors for the Growth of Graduate Education in the Context of the Massification of Higher Education

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This study aims for the analysis of factors necessary for the growth of the Japanese graduate school system, which is regarded as a central part of the university reform movement, in the context of the massification of higher education and the sophistication of academic research. In light of the recent situation, I analyze the direction of the growth of the graduate school system in Japan and the factors for such growth. Consideration is given to the following : 1) "Japanese" system, based on international aspects, 2) graduate schools as "academic research institutions" rather than educational ones, 3) the "current situation" based on historical perspectives, 4) "policy-oriented research" focused on understanding actual on-going matters, identifying policy problems and finding the relations among them, 5) a synthesis of these features in order to propose what is needed to improve graduate schools as academic research/training institutions "The policy conclusions on current Japanese graduate schools as an academic research/training system from the international perspective" is my final aim for this research.I conclude this research that there is a great difference in the growth of graduate students between science/engineering and humanities/social sciences. The demand for non-university jobs is the key factor (See the attached chart). In addition, I raise several points which I think are important for the growth of the graduate school system as the place for academic research. These include an increase in financial support for graduate students on a competitive basis, improvement of the physical conditions and program contents of graduate schools, a broadening of the role of graduate schools, and training of a new type of researchers who can work positively outside universities and other academic institutions.