Hello everyone!
Here is the presentation on higher ed in rural areas that I presented last Thursday.
Key Points:
Both the U.S. and Japan are experiencing rural-urban migration. In small college towns, this causes both the town and college to fail.
In Japan, this problem is exacerbated by its historical population aging and decline.
In the U.S., states are solely responsible for education at all levels (with the exception of federal funding mostly being funneled towards Pell Grants, veterans benefits (both are forms of financial aid to students) and research-specific grants). States, cities, and the colleges themselves must work together on policies to revitalize their dying towns and colleges.
In Japan, the national government has more power over its local/municipal/prefectural governments than in the U.S.. Japan has recognized its demographic dilemma and enacted a national plan to revitalize certain areas. This type of national-level policy would be very unlikely, if not unconstitutional, in the U.S..
Questions:
Can some of the policies enacted in Japan be implemented at the local level in the United States?
How much power does Japan have at the local level to create its own solutions? (This question I really don’t know! I’d love some insight).
Thank you!
Hey Kendall, I came across this OECD profile of Japan which may offer some insight/at least starting points for you: http://www.oecd.org/japan/Japan-country-profile.pdf. Direct quotes from the piece:
“Two key points:
• With the agreement of the local assembly, the local government head designates a superintendent to lead the board of education.
• The local government head organises education meetings with board of education members to discuss basic education policies to improve their local education system.”
Hope this helps!