ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the Japanese higher education policy, namely learning outcome-oriented policy. In the demonstration of learning outcomes as an ultimate goal of university education has been strongly emphasized in higher education policies, as well as demanded by society in general. Higher education institutions are facing this new reality. In the move toward quality assurance in education, awareness about ensuring learning outcomes has been shared not only by higher education institutions but also by a large number of academic disciplines. Japanese higher education institutions have held countless discussions and taken several initiatives on measures to help students achieve the necessary learning outcomes and thus improve education. The objectives and achievements of research were indicated mainly by demonstrating the effectiveness of research on college impact in Japan. Direct assessment gauges students’ direct learning outcomes through tests, essays, portfolios, graduation examinations and research papers, and standardized tests in both general and discipline-based education.