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Title:: A New Development of Higher Vocational Education in Japan: The Establishment of Vocational University System

Abstract:: In recent years, one of the main trends of economic changes in Japan and other parts of the world is the rise and development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This revolution has not only affected the changes of industrial structure and vocational structure, but also imposed new requirements on vocational education implemented by the society. In term of the quantity and level, the higher vocational education in Japan is still facing such problems as failing to adapt to the social changes triggered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which puts forward the practical necessity for the establishment of a vocational university system. As a matter of fact, the system reform needs the legislation to go first. Therefore, on the basis of the consulting reports submitted by the Central Education Review Committee and other advisory bodies, the Japanese Parliament passed the amendment to School Education Act in May 2017. In September 2017, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology issued Benchmark for Setting up Vocational University, making clear provisions on the running of vocational universities and having basically achieved the institutionalization of vocational universities. Vocational universities mainly differ from ordinary universities in that the curriculum gives prominence to vocational orientation and the composition of the faculty and the teaching implementation also give priority to practical orientation.