New academic calendar for some universities? Wow.

Hi!

It's been a long time since I've had a chance to sit down and add something to my blog.  I am finally finishing up the grades for this semester and now very busy getting ready for the March service-learning trip to Nicaragua.

This morning I was discussing the University of Tokyo's proposed plan to change their academic year to one that begins in September with some graduate students. When I first heard about the plan, I thought it would never be possible because it would take away very uniquely Japanese tradition of ending and beginning the academic year during cherry blossom season. And beyond that, there is the problem of the once a year university entrance exam in January and the very lucrative business that revolves around it (cram schools, gap-year prep schools).

Today, I read a newspaper article that claims the biggest stumbling block to the new academic year is the national medical licensing exam which takes place in mid-February each year.  Now the U of T and 8 other institutions that support the change to a new academic year are proposing a second medical licensing exam to fit their new schedule. Wow! And who will be producing the 500 new test questions that will have to be created for that second exam? The multitude of professors who are already overworked, overstretched, and overstressed as they write questions for the once yearly exam?  Wow. It seems like a lot to ask, considering there is only a small percentage of all medical school graduates in Japan who come from those institutions that are planning to take on the new academic calendar. In fact, the newspaper reported that a total of only 898 examinees out of a total of 7,866 last year would be in need of a newly scheduled exam. And how will they be able to match those newly licensed doctors to hospitals in a timely manner when currently all hospitals are taking their new interns in April each year.

Wow. If the change does take place, many many things will have to change. Change can be a good thing, but I'm sure it will be very difficult.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

I think I will miss the cherry blossoms if our academic year changes. But change happens anyway, in spite of our emotional ties to things. Change happens. Let's hope the change that happens will be for the greater good of everyone.

FT