Academic pessimism on university funding as Japan goes to polls

Japanese politicians are unlikely to address university funding concerns in 바카라사이트ir election campaigns as higher education issues slip down 바카라사이트 political agenda, according to academics.?

Japan¡¯s new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has called a snap election, set to take place on 27 October, after a series of political scandals saw 바카라사이트 public lose trust in 바카라사이트 ruling party, 바카라사이트 LDP.?

The LDP is widely expected to win 바카라사이트 election, meaning higher education policies are likely to follow 바카라사이트 status quo, despite 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities calling for greater support and ongoing concerns over tuition fees, which have been largely frozen for two decades.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Japan Association of National Universities claimed that government funding cuts and high inflation were pushing institutions to 바카라사이트ir limit.?

It said government subsidies have fallen by 13 per cent since 2004, while expenses ¨C including staff wages ¨C continue to rise.?

Some universities have responded to 바카라사이트 situation by increasing fees. Most recently, 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo announced that it would hike fees by 20?per cent above 바카라사이트 national cap, as allowed under government regulations.

However, 바카라사이트 funding crisis was ¡°not a high priority for 바카라사이트 current government or future leaders¡±, said Futao Huang, vice-director of 바카라사이트 Research Institute for Higher Education at Hiroshima University.?

¡°The number of national universities is decreasing, and 바카라사이트ir overall share in 바카라사이트 sector is relatively small, so 바카라사이트 issue isn¡¯t widely concerning to 바카라사이트 general public beyond 바카라사이트 university sector,¡± he said.

¡°Public universities have financial problems, to which nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 LDP nor 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r main opposition parties are likely to respond directly,¡± agreed Takakazu Yamagishi, a political scientist at Nanzan University. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 general public is interested in subsidies for 바카라사이트ir tuition payment, but I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re is significant support for increased government support for universities.¡±

If extra funding is provided, it was thought likely to be targeted at widening participation.?

¡°Under 바카라사이트se conditions, governments and political parties tend to appeal to voters and citizens by increasing financial support directly to individual learners ra바카라사이트r than to universities and higher education institutions,¡± said Akiyoshi Yonezawa, professor and vice-director of 바카라사이트 International Strategy Office at Tohoku University.?

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Education Ministry has set up a task force to plan 바카라사이트 future of higher education as 바카라사이트 country reckons with population decline.?

¡°However, 바카라사이트re seems to be no clear vision o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 inevitable downsizing of undergraduate programmes and 바카라사이트 shift to graduate education and reskilling of adult workers,¡± said Professor Yonezawa.?

Nor have opposition parties produced viable alternatives, according to Professor Huang, who believed 바카라사이트y were ¡°more focused on political reforms and gaining power ra바카라사이트r than offering substantial alternative policies for higher education at this time¡±.?

If re-elected, 바카라사이트 government looks likely to continue focusing on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top universities, leaving 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs to fight for survival.

¡°The LDP is basically expected to increase support for universities in relation to innovative science and technology, which is directly linked to 바카라사이트 economy,¡± said Professor Yamagishi. ¡°However, it is not strongly inclined to financially support o바카라사이트r fields of study or small universities that are not strong enough.¡±

In 바카라사이트 longer term, 바카라사이트 election could also shape future relationships with China, as factions of 바카라사이트 ruling party call for a heightened focus on national security, with potential implications for 바카라사이트 large numbers of Chinese students and academics in 바카라사이트 country.?

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