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However, researchers of history, economics, sociology, and others have also partici-
pated in the research projects and events at RIHE.
Other Japanese universities have also established various types of centers and
institutes for higher education research. For example, the University of Tsukuba
established the Research Center for University Studies in 1986, focusing mainly on
policy studies in universities and science. Centers related to higher education research
and services were then established at major national universities, such as at Kyoto
University in 1994, the University of Tokyo in 1996, and Nagoya University in 1998.
These more recently established centers tend to be focused more on the research and
service provision for their own universities, such as institutional research to provide
information to the offices of the presidents, faculty and staff development, or the cur-
riculum management of general education. At the national level, the National
Institute for Educational Policy Research under the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) established the Department for Higher
Education Research in 2001, and it has engaged in surveys and comparative studies
related to the concrete policy demands of the national government, such as the
assessment of educational outcomes. These institutes have also published institu-
tional bulletins and reports, some of which have been published in English.
In addition, graduate education programs on higher education research are
offered at Hiroshima University, Nagoya University, J. F. Oberlin University, and
the University of Tokyo. The research and development divisions of national insti-
tutes that provide public services also employ researchers and experts of higher
education, and they conduct surveys and research on university finance and man-
agement, quality assurance, entrance examinations, and so on.
Japan also has academic associations related to higher education. The represen-
tative association for policy-oriented research on higher education is the Japanese
Association for Higher Education Research (JAHER). In addition, the Liberal and
General Education Society of Japan, the Japan Association of Japanese University
Administrative Management, and other groups of researchers, professionals, and
experts have served as platforms for dialogues among higher education researchers,
policy makers, and practitioners. Adding to the associations and networks of higher
education research, many higher education researchers also belong to academic
associations with various disciplines and neighboring fields, such as educational
research, comparative education, sociology of education, and the public administra-
tion of education. These associations have occasionally invited international
researchers for key note speeches, presentations, and article contributions and have
also engaged in academic exchange with international academic associations and
associations in other countries.
In addition, various types of publications that could be identified as higher edu-
cation research have been published through the academic journals of neighboring
research fields, such as comparative education, the sociology of education, the pub-
lic administration of education, science policies, and so forth (Kaneko 2010 ; Amano
1990a). Japanese researchers have also published their articles and research notes in
higher education research through the bulletins issued by the schools and depart-
ments to which they belong.
A. Yonezawa