University-wide education symposium "Data- and ideal-based education reform at Kyoto University: From entrance examination through postgraduate education" (9 September 2016)

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The University-wide education symposium entitled "Data- and ideal-based education reform at Kyoto University: From entrance examination through postgraduate education" was held at the Funai Tetsuo Auditorium on the Katsura Campus, with 240 faculty and staff in attendance.

Such symposiums have been held annually since 1996, marking the 20th anniversary this year. They aim to deepen mutual understanding among participants, and improve education quality through discussions and exchanges of views with a university-wide perspective. The series also aims at providing opportunities for faculty and staff to interact across the borders between disciplines.

The morning session started with the keynote lecture "Challenges facing Kyoto University and its course of action in education reform" by Professor Masao Kitano, executive vice-president for education, information infrastructure, and evaluation, followed by presentations on particularly pioneering and distinctive efforts, such as Leading Graduate School and double-degree programs.

In the afternoon, President Juichi Yamagiwa delivered a second keynote, "Looking at Kyoto University's education system based on data on universities across the globe". An introduction to the basics of institutional research (IR) on education followed, and some graduate schools and programs, which have worked on data-based improvement of education quality, delivered briefings on their current status and application results. Then, a panel discussion took place to discuss future potential and prospects, as well as various challenges that Kyoto University will face as it applies IR to education.

Insights and findings presented at the symposium are expected to result in various forms of educational reform, such as in improvements to ongoing efforts and the creation of new activities.

From left: President Yamagiwa, Assistant to the Executive Vice-President Iiyoshi, and Executive Vice-President Kitano

Panel discussion