Major Projects

The Association shall effectively handle the promotion of its major projects toward the achievement of its stated top priority objectives through liaisons with the executive committees, general assemblies, and expert committees of Zenshigaku Rengo and the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association; the external house organ Research Institute for Independent Higher Education; and related ministries.

I. Establishment of a New Infrastructure for the Promotion of Private Schools

	1. Research Committee for Fundamental Issues in Private Universities
		(1) Carry out research into central government's university policy and vision for expenditure on higher education and work hard to reflect the opinions of private universities with the aim of promoting and achieving a paradigm shift in higher education policy. (2) Promote research into systems for incorporated educational institutions and basic approaches to private universities, specifically research into the purpose and roles of private education institutions responsible for higher education policy in Japan, the promotion of diversity and a multi-layered approach, promotion of the recommendations of the Private University 21st Century Committee and the social responsibilities of universities in areas such as information disclosure and legal compliance. Respond in an appropriate way to the various challenges facing educational policy, including trying to reflect the opinions of private universities at the various advisory bodies, such as the Education Rebuilding Council and the Central Council for Education. (3) Offer an appropriate response alongside comprehensive research and policy adjustments to challenges such as improvements to the government budget and the tax system for private universities, a vision for quality assurance and assessment in university education, clarification of the roles of public and private universities, regional revitalization and strategic regional partnerships, a vision for teaching staff welfare and benefits (including the question of private school pensions), development of an audit function system, the question of the timing of entry to university, and employment issues (including the correction of shortening/lengthening job-hunting process). (4) Cooperate with the establishment of the University Portrait Project (provisional name) being developed by The Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, and publicize the project among member universities. (5)Work in partnership and collaboration with The Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, in addition to examining ways of providing information to member universities by using and applying the Corporation's data (including research into the Construction of a University Information Database (provisional name)). (6)Set up a subcommittee to carry out research into the immediate challenges and medium to long-term challenges facing private universities in partnership with private higher education research institutes, and host conferences and seminars as necessary to cover the following topics: i. a vision to develop policies for incorporated educational institutions, ii. development of the financial platform (including research into and promotion of a medium to long-term plan), iii. social contributions policies, and iv. the basic challenges facing private universities.
	2. Administrative Advisory Committee
		(1) The committee shall work in liaison with institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan to evaluate and respond to the issues of efficient information provision strategy between associated universities and response to management consultation. (2) The committee shall investigate research and response related to student safety net management. (3) The committee is responsible for managing the private school administrative advisory room.

II. Revitalization and Enhancement of Education and Research

	1.Academic Education Development and Research Committee
		(1) In order to promote developments in the quality of baccalaureate degree program education and postgraduate education, carry out studies and research and provide information in relation to the formation of education programs that respond to the demands of universal provision and globalization of higher education, the construction of quality assurance systems for education, a vision for education and learning management, development of teaching staff functions (UD:BD, FD and SD), a vision for the teacher training system, a vision for links between high schools and universities including the selection of university entrants, and various challenges related to the transfer to the lifelong learning system. (2) In order to promote the enhancement of academic research at private universities, the committee shall to conduct investigation and research on policies for expanding academic research funds such as scientific research subsidies, promotion of industry/university partnerships, and improvement/revitalization of academic research in the sciences. (3) The committee shall hold education and academic enhancement conferences and other council meetings and study groups as needed.
	2. Academic Administration Research Committee
		(1) The committee shall, in liaison with the Academic Education Development and Research Committee, investigate, research, and provide information on methods to improve education work and enhance education and research at private universities, such as issues regarding the enhancement of undergraduate and graduate program quality, including faculty development, evaluation of admission standards, improvement of faculty training systems, guidance regarding social and business independence in students, and issues regarding liaisons between universities and high schools. (2) The committee shall conduct training sessions for directors of academic administration departments.
	3. Research Committee for University Data Libraries
		(1) The committee shall collect, analyze, and provide information on issues regarding improvements of university libraries and respond to issues involving academic information. (2) The committee shall conduct council meetings as needed.
	4. Student Guidance Research Committee
		(1) Recognize the diversity of students' attitudes as a result of development in the universal provision of higher education, greater individuality, internationalization and the increasing trend towards lifelong learning and identify the current situation. Also carry out studies and research into the educational guidance needed by students to develop personal skills such as a sense of independence, social awareness, and life skills (including SPS and UD research), and implement information provision projects and training projects. (2) The committee shall conduct training sessions for directors in charge of student guidance.
	5. Career Development Committee
		(1) The committee shall, in addition to investigating, researching, and providing information on issues regarding student and career opportunity support, such as means of guidance that facilitate social and business independence and career hunting activities in a time when economic conditions are stagnant, research and respond to issues such as the increased earliness and length of career hunting activities in order to secure an appropriate student learning environment. (2) The committee shall conduct training sessions for directors in charge of career development. (3) The committee shall work in liaison with the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association’s Career Development Committee.

III. Promotion of International Exchange and Cooperation

	1. International Exchange Committee
		(1) Provide the necessary information regarding exchange and cooperation with overseas countries, particularly with universities in Southeast Asia, and provide information on Japanese higher education to overseas universities. (2) The committee shall conduct research regarding Japan's policies for international students and the support thereof, and take necessary measures to effectively propagate the opinions of private universities. (3) The committee shall work in liaison with the Research Institute for Independent Higher Education, cooperate as necessary to dispatch research team overseas, and cooperate with the Foundation for in service training and welfare of the private school for its overseas training business. (4) The committee shall work in liaison with the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association’s International Exchange Committee to cooperate and promote exchange with international associations and educational research organizations such as the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), International Association of Universities (IAU), and University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP). Issues regarding the management of UMAP Japan Committee and Japan Committee of Universities for international exchange (JACUIE) will also be responded to with the cooperation of the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association. (5) The committee shall promote research on the improvement of Japanese language education for special courses for foreign students in private universities with the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association’s International Exchange Committee and Japanese Language Education Liaison Committee. (6) The committee shall conduct council meetings for directors in charge of international students.
	2. Committee for academic exchange with Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Weiwu Provinces
		The committee shall continue to cooperate with associated universities to support the researchers dispatched from the government of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Weiwu Provinces. Conferences will be held periodically to discuss and evaluate the committee's role to flexibly respond at times of change in the state of affairs between Japan and China.

IV. Enhancement of Private University Fiscal fundamentals

	1. University Financial Affairs Research Committee
		(1)Carry out studies and research and implement information provision projects and training projects related to a vision/improvement measures for the accounting systems at incorporated educational institutions and day-to-day bookkeeping at incorporated educational institutions, with a particular focus on challenges such as "revisions to the accounting standards at incorporated educational institutions", and "disclosure of financial information", as well as "a vision for medium to long-term planning". (2) Carry out studies and research and work hard to provide information in relation to financial stabilization and financial development measures at private universities, specifically approaches to developing public finance, allocation criteria, improvements to the tax system (including development of the tax system for endowments and the issue of consumption tax), measures to increase income including specific matters related to and methods (including asset management systems and profit-making business) for introducing external funding such as securing endowments, and streamlining of expenditures including cost-cutting measures such as limiting personnel costs. (3) The committee shall conduct training sessions for directors in charge of university accounting.

V. Enhancement of Academic Administration and Management

	1. Administration Research Committee
		(1) In order to achieve fairness and rationality in the operation of incorporated educational institutions and private universities, work in partnership with the Association's Committee on Research into Basic Questions Facing Private Universities to carry out studies and research and implement information provision projects and training projects on policies to improve and promote organizational management and operations (including information disclosure measures and the handling of information disclosure), the construction of a crisis management system and a vision for university administration (including research into universities' social responsibilities). (2) Carry out studies and research into the development of policies to promote business and revitalize administrative organizations and the development of the management and operation of private universities (including the handling of the revised Labor Contract Act) through self-inspection, self-assessment and third-party assessment of education and research. (3) The committee shall research and promote the enhancement of audit systems. (4) The committee shall conduct training sessions for administration members and directors.

VI. Promotion of public relations activities

	1.	Management of the Weekly External House Organ, "Kyouiku-Gakujyutsu Shinbun" (Education and Science Newspaper) Word hard to develop the content of newspaper Kyoiku Gakujutsu Shimbun and make effective use and application of the newspaper by putting together extra editions and special editions to cover the content of conferences hosted by the Federation of All Japan Private Schools or the Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Associations where strong demands are made of the government or ruling party. Carry out publicity projects, such as information provision via the website and the provision of information on the entrance requirements for private universities throughout Japan.
	2.	Education and Science newspaper management committee The committee shall conduct evaluations on management of the external house organ "Kyouiku-Gakujyutsu Shinbun" as appropriate.
	3.	Other Public Relations Activities (1) The Association shall host a nationwide public relations coordinator conference and shall discuss issues related to university management. (2) With regard to public research conferences and symposiums held in the Tokyo area, the Association shall attempt to hold simultaneous conferences in outlying conference halls by making use of teleconferencing systems. (3) In cooperation with the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations, jointly host the Study Group on Students' Attitudes and Behavior (themes selected as appropriate), a study group for members of the education correspondents at various newspapers.
	4.	Research Institute for Independent Higher Education Established by the Association The Association shall conduct investigation and research and provide information regarding the investigation and research activities of Research Institute for Independent Higher Education, while striving to cooperate with the committee of experts in the association, to conduct open study groups and publish and report the research results thereof.
	5.	Publication of Results of Research and Training Sessions Make ongoing publications of the results of the various workshops held in cooperation with the General Incorporated Foundation for In Service Training and Welfare of the Private School on themes such as working in education, student guidance, job-hunting, book-keeping and university events, and ongoing publications of the results of various conferences by theme and study results, and distribute such publications to member schools. Also publish an English language version of the list of universities affiliated to the Association of Private Universities of Japan that was compiled in 2012.
	6.	Enhancement and Application of the Association’s Website The Association shall strive to enhance the websites for Kyouiku-Gakujyutsu Shinbun and the Japan Private University Association and the Research Institute for Independent Higher Education. Additionally, the Association shall, in terms of taking a long term view, consider the possibility of establishing an information network on the website accessible by association members only.

VII.Planning, Proposal and Coordination of Projects

	1. Project Planning and Finance Committee
		(1) Planning the association projects (2) Budget proposal (3) Coordination of meetings such as joint study groups The committee shall conduct investigation, research, training sessions, and informational committees for projects handling new issues while coordinating and making adjustments to various study groups and council meetings held by the Association. (4) Review the systemization and efficacy of projects and organizational structure, and continue to evaluate the current state of the Association and on-going projects.
	2. Steering Committee for the Research Institute for Independent Higher Education
		The committee shall evaluate the necessary matters regarding the management of the Research Institute for Independent Higher Education.
	3. Consultative Committee for Statutes
		The committee shall conduct investigation as needed regarding the statutes of the Association.

VIII. External Communications Activities

	1. Association Board of Directors Meetings
		(1) Chairman and vice-chairman meetings (2) Executive council meetings (generally held every month on the second Friday) (3) General council meetings (generally held every month on the fourth Friday) <External business of the Board of Directors> - Take responsive action regarding continued support for recovery and restoration after the Great East Japan earthquake - Conduct negotiations with the government and National Diet of Japan regarding systems, administration and institutions. - Take responsive action to changes in subsidies and public finance issues. - Cooperate with associations and organizations in alliance with private universities. - Hold committees regarding guidelines for management and ethics.
	2. Federation of Japanese Private Colleges and Universities Association
		(1) Board of Directors meetings (2) General assembly of the Board of Representatives (3) Director General consultant meetings (generally held every month on the first and third Monday) (4) Committees - Higher Educational Reform Committee (includes sub-committees regarding quality assurance for education and educator training issues) - Public Finance Reform Committee - Career Development Committee - International Exchange Committee (including the Japanese Language Educational Conference) - Private University Disaster Measures Special Committee - University Management Committee - Private University Administrative Ethics Committee - Private University 21st Century Committee - Private University 21st Century Committee Report Follow-up Investigation Committee (provisional name)
	3. General Union of Private Schools
		(1) Council meeting of representatives (2) Director General meetings (generally held every month on the first and third Monday) (3) Committees - Private University Budget Committee
	4. Associated Organizations
		(1) The Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan (2) The Foundation for In-Service Training and Welfare of Private Schools (3) The Foundation for Private University Severance Packages (4) The Japan Institution for Higher Education Evaluation (JIHEE)

IX. Miscellaneous Activities