Date of Graduation
1996
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Japanese higher education institutions obtain 90% of their enrollments from the traditional age student population, yet this population will decrease by 26% between the years 1992 and 2000. With approximately 75% of all Japanese students attending private higher education institutions, there exist the possibility for an adverse impact on the private sector. U.S. institutions have addressed decreasing traditional age student populations by diversifying enrollments to include substantial numbers of non-traditional and part-time participants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the types of strategies being considered or used by Japanese private higher education institutions to maintain enrollments, and to compare Japanese institutional responses to those strategies implemented at American private higher education institutions. To conduct this study, Japanese language survey instruments were sent to 383 private higher education institutions in Japan; a return rate of 65% was achieved. Data pertaining to the U.S. higher education system was the result of studies conducted by other researchers. Study results show that Japanese institutions use many of the same enrollment maintenance strategies as their American counterparts. Japanese private institutions are aggressively seeking traditional age applicants, although little effort is currently expended toward increasing non-traditional student enrollments. In addition, study results indicate concern that the declining population of traditional-age students will affect current or future enrollments, although the greater concern among Japanese administrators is that the number of current or future applicants will be affected, resulting in less entrance examination income. Recommendations for the Japanese sector include: a decreased emphasis on the "one-shot" entrance exam, considering a change to a semester system to increase opportunities for admission, and increased efforts to involve non-traditional students in the higher education enterprise.
Recommended Citation
Snoddy, Gregory Alan, "A comparative study of the strategies to maintain enrollments at Japanese and American private institutions of higher education as a response to decline in the population of traditional-age students." (1996). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 9799.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/9799