Shifting Values in Higher Education

In both Japan and the UK, university graduates face intense difficulties finding high-quality employment. In Japan, increasing numbers of young people are classified as ‘freeters’ (people who move frequently between low-paid casual jobs), NEETs (“Not in Education, Employment, or Training”), or hikikomori (young people who have withdrawn from society altogether).  In the UK, the trebling of university tuition fees and the associated rise in student indebtedness has added to the pressure for higher education to provide clear routes to employment. But shouldn’t universities also have a broader mission to help students realise their full potential as human beings? Where does the new focus on employability leave the traditional ‘liberal arts’ education? In difficult economic times, the balance may be shifting. Our two speakers are well-placed to address these issues. Professor Naoyuki Agawa is a leading commentator on Japanese higher education, and a Vice President at Keio University, famous for its strong links with the business sector. Professor Andy Green is an expert in the comparative (historical and sociological) study of education and training systems, their origins and social and economic consequences. He has a long-standing interest in education and state formation and has researched both European and East Asian education systems. This talk is the first in our 2013 Series: “The Search for Contentment: Shifting Values in the UK and Japan.”

Contributors: Professor Naoyuki Agawa, Professor Andy Green

Free but booking is essential at www.dajf.org.uk/booking