IR News｜News

 Benesse Corporation announced today that it will provide the University of Tokyo with endowments for fiscal 2005 for two courses and one research department in the field of education. The endowments are to promote joint research by business and academia in educational content, with the results to be used to benefit society.


Endowed Courses and Research Department

1. Benesse Department of Educational Advanced Technology, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo (Course continued from fiscal 2004)
2. Liberal Arts Development for Colleges and Schools Research Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo (Newly established)
3. Course in Educational Assessment and Curriculum Development, Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo (Newly established)

Please note that 3. marks the first ever course endowment for the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Education.


Background to Establishment of Courses

The education environment is on the verge of significant change, illustrated by the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which shows academic skills and knowledge required by society are changing. Meanwhile, children are showing less inclination to study and information and communication technologies (ICT) are undergoing dynamic development.

Aware of the need to promote research into new educational content in response to these changes, Benesse in fiscal 2004 established Benesse Department of Educational Advanced Technology at the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo. This course has promoted research with the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies in the area of educational environments, using new information technologies such as e-learning, mobile learning and ubiquitous study systems.

To supplement this course, Benesse will endow a new course and a new research department to be established in fiscal 2005 in Tokyo University’s Graduate School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences, respectively. Both the course and the research department will engage in the development of high-end, advanced educational programs and basic academic ability assessment systems.


Summary of Endowed Courses

(1)Continued endowment for course established in fiscal 2004

1. Benesse Department of Educational Advanced Technology, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo (Beat:http://www.beatiii.jp/)

Faculty: Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo

Period: April 1, 2004―March 31, 2007 (three years)

Course overview
This course was established through an endowment from Benesse to promote cooperation with the University of Tokyo in educational research and development. Creative research is carried out into new learning methods that take advantage of cutting-edge ICT such as mobile terminals.

(2)Endowments for new course and research department from fiscal 2005

1. Liberal Arts Development for Colleges and Schools (Benesse Corporation) Research Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo

Period: April 1, 2005―March 31, 2010 (five years)

Department overview
The department, to be established in the Komaba Educational Development Institute, will seek to drive forward the development of education and provide related information to contribute to improvements in the quality of education at junior and senior high schools and universities nationwide. In doing so, it will utilize the extensive educational innovations available in a wide range of fields in the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

2. Course in Educational Assessment and Curriculum Development (Benesse Corporation), Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo

Faculty: Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo

Period: April 1, 2005―March 31, 2008 (three years)

Course overview
Through research into integrated educational assessment, evaluation and curriculum development for elementary, junior, senior high schools and universities, the course will help to improve fundamental student understanding and use of required knowledge, and enhance student motivation and their ability to form relationships.