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The number of Japanese universities reserving science course slots for women is increasing ‘rapidly’, according to research, but awareness of the system needs to be raised and more support for female students once enrolled It is said that
Currently, there are fewer women in STEM slots in Japan, according to a study by the Shintaro Yamada D&I Foundation, which was founded by the founder of the popular e-commerce marketplace to reduce the gender gap in Japan’s science. There are 40 universities that have set up slots for 700 students.
Researchers interviewed representatives from 24 universities and found that 16 universities are introducing quotas for women ahead of the next academic year in April, in addition to the seven universities that have already introduced the system.
Tokyo Institute of Technology is among the companies trialling the policy for the first time this year. Four of the schools have secured places at bachelor’s level, and two more are expected to do so in 2025. The new slots bring the number of slots reserved for women to 143, representing about 14% of the school’s undergraduate student body.
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The lack of women in science is a widespread problem in Japan. In 2019, the country had the lowest proportion of female graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The government is encouraging universities to enroll more women in this field, making it a priority as the population ages.
“Universities have been trying to increase the number of female students by offering classes at high schools and providing scholarships, but they have not achieved the results they expected, so they are taking more proactive measures.” Akiko says. She is a professor of higher education at the University of Tokyo.
Almost half of the institutions surveyed that have reserved space said they had received negative feedback about the move, including concerns about “reverse discrimination” and calls for greater policy transparency.
In qualitative interviews, Nagoya University representatives expressed concerns about discouraging male applicants or being seen as securing a place solely on the basis of gender. He said there is concern about female students.
Rie Kijima, director of education policy and innovation initiatives at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, says university leaders are simply justifying public quotas as a response to government. “That’s not enough,” he argued. rhetoric. To gain support, they instead need to “explain the rationale, intended outcomes, and long-term impacts on institutions and society” of the policy.
Of the universities surveyed, 12 received at least enough applications to fill their spots. Seven people were fewer, but the researchers believed this was largely due to the need to raise awareness of the system.
The study’s authors believe that educational institutions can increase the awareness of potential candidates and create a welcoming campus environment, such as increasing female-friendly facilities such as toilets and locker rooms, to encourage more women to become candidates. said that it is necessary to support.
“Once enrolled, it is important that female students feel welcome and are able to conduct their research and other activities in a comfortable environment,” said Saori Osu, the foundation’s policy representative.
Dr. Kijima added: “We need to tackle this problem from multiple angles, including introducing policy innovations, raising public awareness towards greater gender equality, and demonstrating strong cooperation from male leaders.” .
helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com
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