Mitigation provisions of the Standards for the Establishment of Universities that defines the class period.

Diversifying the college classes that "15 weeks once a week" upon Late the previous year has become mainstream, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, conducted intensive eight-week classes twice a week and is divided into four one year " was decided to admit to boost such as the "quarter system (one-quarter), the creation of classes that students can focus on learning.Alleviate the provisions of the Standards for the Establishment of a term university college classes near.It has been pointed out in Japanese universities, students take the degree course of 10 weekly general but, in order to take in a large number of concurrent subjects, students are not fit to digest.On the other hand, take courses at a university in the United States is around five subjects, each subject class is more than once a week. Woman studying in Columbia University America from Waseda University has been to take four subjects per week, and take at the same time the person who is required preparation in all subjects, "focused on the subjects less attached to the body. Many subjects, I said, "could not have ready every time.Referring to the US-style class of these, which began to spread at the University of the introduction of some quarter.(Beppu, Oita Prefecture) introduced a system of large-quarter fiscal 2002 from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific Ocean. Students take courses in an average of five a week. Preparation is required because some class to do a presentation and discussion, it has led to an increase in learning time. However, such as creating and graduation thesis seminar covered. Also (Kami Kochi) Kochi University of Technology has been adopted from the time the university opened in 1997 "class that you want to think carefully, there are some aspects that are not suitable for intensive control Quarter" and.Divided into four semesters and one year, the beginning of the class period will be four times a year, I also conveniently send and acceptance of foreign students from countries where enrollment period is different from Japan. Sequentially, to introduce in all departments from Waseda University in 2001 you gave an eye on this. It may be a good idea to alter the period, such as a flexible class of students from the viewpoint of education and research.



文部科学省は、前期・後期制で「週１回１５週」が主流となっている大学の授業を多様化し、１年を４分割して週２回の授業を８週間で集中実施する「クオーター（４分の１）制」を認めるなど、学生が学習に集中できる授業づくりを後押しする方針を固めた。
　近く大学の授業期間を定めた大学設置基準の規定を緩和する。
　日本の大学では、学生が毎週１０科目程度を履修するのが一般的だが、多数の科目を同時並行で履修するため、学生が消化しきれていないと指摘されてきた。
　一方、米国の大学では履修科目は５科目前後で、各科目の授業は週に複数回ある。早稲田大から米コロンビア大に留学中の女性は週４科目履修しているが、全ての科目で予習が必要で、「少ない科目に集中した方が身に着く。多くの科目を同時に履修したら、毎回準備できるはずがない」と話す。
　こうした米国式の授業を参考に、一部の大学でクオーター制の導入が広がり始めている。
　立命館アジア太平洋大（大分県別府市）は２００２年度からクオーター制を導入した。学生は１週間に平均５科目を履修。討論や発表を行う授業もあるため予習は必須で、学習時間の増加につながっているという。ただ、ゼミや卒業論文の作成などは対象外。１９９７年の開学時から採用している高知工科大（高知県香美市）も「じっくり考えさせたい授業は、短期集中のクオーター制には向いていない面もある」とする。
　１年を４学期に分けると、授業の開始時期が年４回になり、入学時期が日本と違う国からの留学生の受け入れや送り出しにも好都合。これに目を付けた早稲田大でも１３年度から全学部で順次、導入するという。学生の教育研究という視点でフレキシブルに授業期間等を変化させることはいいのかもしれませんね。