Meiji University and Nihon Gakuen, Kitasato University and Juntian University… Reason why famous private universities are “win-win” by affiliating lower and mid-tier schools one after another.

Setagaya Junior and Senior High School attached to Meiji University.

The name of the school may be unfamiliar. It is an affiliated school of Meiji University, which will start in April 2014. Its parent school is Nihon Gakuen (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo), which was founded in 1885. In March 2010, the school signed an agreement with Meiji University and will be reborn as a new school.

Collaborations between famous universities and private high schools are becoming increasingly active. The following are some recent examples.

Aoyama Gakuin University and Yokohama Eiwa Jogakuin (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; new school name is Aoyama Gakuin Yokohama Eiwa)

Aoyama Gakuin University and Urawa Lutheran College (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture; new name will be Urawa Lutheran College, affiliated with Aoyama Gakuin University)

Nihon University and Nichide (Meguro-ku, Tokyo. (Meguro-ku, Tokyo; new school name will be Meguro Nihon University)

Kitasato University and Juntian (Kita-ku, Tokyo; scheduled to start in April 2014) (Scheduled to start in April 2014)

Why are high schools strengthening their ties with universities? Mr. Reiji Ishiwata, a journalist with extensive knowledge of education, asks, “Why are high schools increasing their cooperation with universities?

Mr. Mineji Ishiwata, a journalist with expertise in education, says, “The main reason is that they can use the name value of a famous university. If the name of the school bears the name of Meiji or Aogaku, it will gain recognition and status, and its popularity will increase. Becoming an affiliated school of a famous university is an effective way to survive in the highly competitive junior high school entrance examinations.

With all due respect, none of the aforementioned high schools can be considered difficult. They are lower-middle-class schools. What are the advantages from the viewpoint of the famous universities? Mr. Ishiwata continues.

Even at lower-ranked and mid-ranked schools, the top students are academically competent and excellent. It is a great advantage for universities to be able to secure excellent students before the entrance examinations begin in earnest through the recommendation quotas of affiliated schools. Even for famous universities, attracting students is an important issue considering the accelerating decline in the birthrate.

Universities with a certain degree of name value and recognition are the ones that are proactive in collaborating with high schools. Nevertheless, from the perspective of difficult and top-ranked junior and senior high schools aiming for Tokyo University, Kyoto University, Hitotsubashi University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, there is no great attraction to Meiji or Aogaku as a place to go on to higher education. Affiliation would be difficult. The natural partner for an affiliation would be a lower-ranked or mid-ranked school.”

High school-university partnerships are not limited to affiliation as a school of higher education. University students intern at high schools and teach there as teachers. Conversely, there are cases where high school students attend university lectures and participate in research. This is a win-win arrangement that benefits both sides in terms of education and management.

It is likely that the barriers between high schools and famous universities will become lower and lower in the future.