Paper short abstract:

The paper discusses how Japanese Universities have been responding towards the Covid-19 pandemic in view of their digitalisation efforts. It analyses the actors, ideas and institutional settings functioning as drivers and barriers to accelerate a digital transformation and its future implications.

Paper long abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the digital transformation in the higher education sector globally. In Japan, the higher education sector is under increased pressure to reform since 2004, in order to compete on the global education and innovation marketplace. Nevertheless, changes occurred only at a slow pace, also in respect of making use of online/ distance learning opportunities, and Japan has lost considerable ground in global competitiveness rankings. During the pandemic, distance learning became a new normal also in Japan`s higher education sector. According to MEXT surveys, 82,6% of Japan`s national universities had introduced distance learning until the end of April 2021 and many faculty members, administrative staff and students have been required to take training courses in how to deal with changing academic environments, how to master new technology and digital skills, how to protect data privacy, data security and avoid violating copyright.

The paper takes the digitalization efforts of Japan`s so called “designated national universities” – Tohoku University, The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, Osaka University, Hitotsubashi University, Tsukuba University, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University – as case studies, because these universities are expected to spearhead the reform of Japan`s national universities, to share best practices and outcomes with impact on the development of society and the economy. The paper explores which actors, ideas and institutional settings currently drive the digital transformation of these universities, and which factors are persistent barriers to progress. Moreover, possible future implications for the globalization strategies of Japan`s national universities are discussed, e.g. are university online programs functioning as trigger for international exchange etc.?