- National universities had been converted into independent corporate bodies.
- The number of students who proceed to university had decreased due to the depopulation of children.
- Majority of universities failed to gather students of quota in 2003. (universities 33%, junior colleges 59%)
- The competition of the education industry intensified more than ever.
- Diversifying matriculation screening (Regular exam, Special exam,specific limit for vocational school graduates, cut down on achievement test and examination subjects, entrance examination by ones own character and ability, AO type entrance exam, etc)
- Diversification of departments and courses of study (transition to practical study)
- Campus life: Drop of education and practical skill standards （What students had actually gained at school is considered more important these days than the fame of school which graduated)
- Increment in the number of girls going along to university had caused declination of junior colleges.
- Practical studies are considered more important than ever. (courses to obtain qualifications are more popular than before: child-care, nursing, senior care, dietitian, etc)
- Preparation for student transferring to four-year university (10,000).
- Preparation for students willing to study abroad.
Ratio of students by field of study
- The vocational schools had earned popularity next to universities. (23.1%)
- Fields such as Beauty, Medical engineering, Nursing welfare, Animal care, Entertainment business are quite popular now.
- Societal evaluation of vocational school graduates are still not high enough among education-conscious society.
- Competition between schools due to the depopulation of children is getting worse day by day.
