Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 >EDUCATIONAL REFORM Q&A Q13

There are special methods of selecting adult students that place a greater emphasis on essays and interviews in entrance examinations.

There are universities and graduate schools that have evening courses or day/evening courses. Some graduate schools have "satellite classrooms" in downtown areas for easy attendance. These programs and courses are designed for the conveniences of adult students who are often bound by time constraints.

Even if you are not officially enrolled in universities, you can still attend classes in academic fields of your interest.

In order to respond to the needs of adult students who wish to study at graduate schools but are unable to due to geographical, time and other constraints, graduate schools were allowed from FY1998 to offer correspondence education for a master's degree. As of FY2001, a total of 23 universities and 7 graduate schools offer correspondence courses.

Beginning in FY2000, universities were allowed to establish professional graduate schools to offer practical courses intended to educate highly-skilled professionals, as well as a one-year master's degree course and a prolonged study course at graduate schools, in order to respond to the varied needs and situations of adult students.

The training and education benefits system was created in February 1998, under which the cost of education and training lessons designated by the then-Minister of Labour is partially covered by public payments. Qualified graduate schools and other institutions became eligible for the benefits system from 1999. In order to provide adults with expanded opportunities to develop their sophisticated and specialized professional capabilities, the scope of designated lessons and courses under the training and education benefits system was expanded in September 2001, with more flexibility in designation. As of October 2001, a total of 104 courses and lessons offered by 49 institutions were designated under the system.

  Backed by their real life experiences, many adult students have a clear sense of purpose in studying. Their presence can be expected to motivate regular students with no work experience and help revitalize educational and research activities at universities. It is hoped that many more universities actively offer courses and programs for adult students.