Director: Daniel C. Levy

PROPHEts visit Japan 2006

(Reported by Makoto Nagasawa)

In December, 2006, PROPHE Director Daniel Levy visited Tokyo, Japan, to present the keynote speech at an international symposium on private higher education. PROPHE conference participants were Asha Gupta (India), Fengqiao Yan (China), Akiyoshi Yonezawa (Japan), along with Makoto Nagasawa (Japan). Additional presenters from Japan included Motohisa Kaneko, Toru Umakoshi, and Rie Mori.

The symposium was entitled "The Frontier of Private Higher Education Research in East Asia," and was sponsored by the Research Institute of Independent Higher Education (RIIHE, the think-tank of the Association of Private Universities of Japan), collaborating with PROPHE. The main interest of this workshop was to explore the possible framework for research in private higher education in East Asia, and to establish/enhance a network among researchers who are interested in this theme. The symposium included also non-PROPHE scholars who focus on East Asia: Ka Ho Mok (University of Bristol, UK), Motohisa Kanoko (the University of Tokyo, Japan), Terri Kim (Brunel University, UK), and Toru Umakoshi (Obirin University, Japan).

The rationale of the symposium can be further summarized as follows: Despite the reality that private higher education in East Asia is the largest of any region in the world, the comparative study of private higher education is not, and the regional research community on higher education itself is still scattered. On the other hand, privatization, marketization, and globalization trends are certainly changing the policy, institutional governance, and behavior of private higher education institutions in East Asia, and the necessity to develop the regional-level research network is increasing. The following subjects were discussed;

1. The social context that shapes private higher education in East Asia
2. The role of research and researchers for the development of private higher education in East Asia
3. International context of private higher education in East Asia

Levy presented the symposium keynote speech, "Global Tendencies in Private Higher Education: Comparative Perspectives on East Asia," examining evolving issues and patterns in higher education and the diverse roles of the private sector in those issues. Then Dr. Gupta discussed "Emerging Trends in Private Higher Education in India," with emphasis on jurisdictions to politics and implications. Dr. Yan presented "Institutional Research and Development in Chinese Private Higher Education," with sampled Chinese private universities. Prof. Yonezawa was the moderator and discussant throughout the symposium. After the day and a half program, A Special Session was provided, and there Makoto Nagasawa presented, "PROPHE and East Asian Private Higher Education Research," by giving an overview of PROPHE's pertinent works.

Finally, all the participants enjoyed a surprise birthday ceremony for Director Levy to celebrate his birthday on December 15th, amicably organized by the RIIHE staff. The ceremony was also attended by Ms. Yvette Levy, the Director's mother.

Back                                                                                                                  Top