On the Policy Purport and Reform Trends of University Setting Benchmark in Japan
As a guiding ordinance for higher education in Japan,the University Setting Benchmark was revised again in September 2022 by the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology(MEXT).Looking back on its development process,the revisions of this ordinance reflect the changes in higher education through different eras and have facilitated the development of the next phase of Japanese higher education.This revision draws on the successful reform experiences of Japanese universities in earlier periods,providing them with a legal foundation,and aligns with the current development characteristics of Japanese higher education to plan for future development.The newly revised Benchmark aims to refocus the higher education development on the learners themselves,push for the creation of an open and transparent higher education evaluation system,and advocate the construction of a flexible and diverse high-quality higher education system.