Learning of Tomorrow [Announcement] “The Future of Higher Education: What Will Microcredentials—the ‘Black Ships’—Bring?” For our online symposium on Thursday, September 22, we are pleased to welcome Professor Toru Iiyoshi, Director of the Center for the Promotion of Research and Development in Higher Education at Kyoto University, who will speak about the future of higher education—a field currently undergoing significant transformation driven by micro-credentials as an educational innovation.
In today’s world, where technological innovation is accelerating and industrial structures as well as the nature of work and daily life are undergoing rapid and constant change, the “shelf life” of the knowledge and skills acquired through existing undergraduate and graduate degree programs is becoming a major societal challenge.
A micro-credential refers to a form of certification—such as a certificate of completion or an open badge—that verifies the acquisition of specific knowledge or skills. It is increasingly being used as proof of completion for educational programs designed on a smaller (micro) scale than traditional degree programs, such as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
As the need for lifelong learning and continuing education grows not only in Japan but around the world, will higher education in the future respond to society’s diverse learning needs by offering a combination of “traditional degrees” and “virtual degrees”—which are more flexible and responsive—alongside micro-credentials?
While providing an overview of recent trends in innovation in higher education, the speaker will discuss the future of higher education. We hope you will join us.
https://lot.or.jp/report/9577/
Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
Director, B Lab
Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
Chairperson, CANVAS
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”
