JIKEI GROUP

Chairman of the Board of the Jikei Group
Mr.Kunihiko Ukifune
Profile

Chairman of the Board of the Jikei Group (incorporated school)
West Florida University, Honorary Doctor
National Congress of Medical Secretary Education Association, Chairman of the Board
Foundation for Medical Health Affairs Association, Member of the Board

On a mission to train specialists who can survive in the globalization era

Ｑ：	As we enter the 21st Century, how do you view the position of Japanese technical colleges, including those of the Jikei Group?
Ａ：	Japanese technical colleges are regulated by the School Education Law and administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Technical colleges are vocational institutions whose purpose is to provide skills and techniques useful to people. Besides, technical colleges have the same character of higher educational institutions as universities and junior colleges. Traditionally, the Japanese education system has given too much importance to only one value, which is test results. Japan, however, now faces a variety of new problems, such as truancy, so it is time to review the conventional way of education. We expect to see more attention focused on vocational education and more importance placed on recognizing and fostering individual talents and abilities. That is why technical colleges will surely take on more significance. Meanwhile, due to the declining birthrate, the number of 18-year-olds, who are key targets of higher education, has fallen in the past years to one-quarter of what it used to be in the peak periods. This reduction of the market has opened all the higher educational institutions in Japan to severe competition, resulting in the widening gap among them. On the other hand, the Jikei Group has not been affected by this reduction, doubling its number of students. Moreover, we are proud to say that the employment rate of our schools has remained high regardless of the economic trend.
Ｑ：	Do you think that it is proven that teaching at the Jikei Group is of high quality through practical training in cooperation with businesses and industries?
Ａ：	Yes. Our group has three education policies. The first is practical education aimed at acquiring the knowledge and techniques necessary to be competitive and successful in the business world. The second is humanistic education aimed at developing our students" character so that they can have interpersonal communication skills and team spirit, both of which are indispensable for the workplace. The third is value education aimed at raising our students" understanding and acceptance of various values. This naturally extends to globalizing education with the aim of acquiring a cosmopolitan outlook, as well as building identity as Japanese. We put these policies into action in our schools. For example, with regard to globalizing education, we have for years had a positive partnership with foreign educational institutions. We have also promoted exchanges between students at our schools and foreign schools. I believe that it is these achievements that make our group superior.
Ｑ：	It is said that the J.G. has established a reputation for its unique educational system. What do you think of that?
Ａ：	First of all, we have a cooperative system with business and industry. Students tackle tasks from real companies, and the practical results of their work are evaluated. In this way, they learn about what business and industry are really like. We also have another system called the "double major education system", which allows students to choose two areas of study so that they can find out for themselves which one is more suitable. We are committed to structuring curriculums for each individual, rather than having exactly the same curriculum for everyone. Each college makes an effort to let students know about the real conditions and practices in each field of specialization, while at the same time nurturing studentsﾕ hopes and dreams, and helping them become professionals in their chosen fields.
Ｑ：	What type of education do you think is required to survive in the 21st Century?
Ａ：	English education and information technology education, I think. With globalization, not only technical English but also the ability to use English as a communication tool is becoming indispensable. In information technology, it is also necessary at the very least to be able to use computers to perform standard work and give presentations. As for these two important areas, we are going to incorporate both of them into our curriculums in 2001, and do our best to teach them to our students.
Ｑ：	The Jikei Group has just passed a quarter of a century since its establishment. What is the current situation of the Jikei Group as a corporate entity?
Ａ：	Now we are in the second phase as a group. The role of management, especially, is becoming more and more important. The time is coming when each director in each college can play a stronger role in leadership. Through the Jikei Educational and Science Institute, our group will be even more active in seeking better ways to achieve our educational goals, focusing on the interaction and cooperation among our various colleges, and striving always to improve the quality of our teaching. As for management, we have had the foresight to plan for the year ahead, reviewing and revising if necessary to keep up with the changing times. I feel proud that those efforts have clearly borne fruit.
Ｑ：	Do you have any plans for venturing into new fields or businesses in the future?
Ａ：	I expect that as government deregulation proceeds, qualifying examinations will increase in number, especially in medical and welfare-related fields. Since information technology-related businesses lack qualified personnel, technical education will continue to grow in importance. Besides, lifetime education of those members of society who want opportunities to resume their learning or acquire new skills should become a huge market. Lastly, with changes in the structures of society and industry, new fields are constantly being created. Business chances, I think, will expand not only in Japan but also worldwide through business ventures with our overseas partners.