Developing University Social Responsibility: A Business Ethics Approach to Information Disclosure in Japan

This book analyzes the growing importance of information disclosure in Japanese universities in the context of the country’s changing circumstances from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, with a focus on the concept of universities as organizations. This macroscopic analysis is based on available data concerning the various information disclosure practices of Japanese universities and includes a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses. As for the microscopic analysis, questionnaires and various other quantitative methods have been used to study overall satisfaction with the level of disclosure among students and teachers in public and private universities, including differences between Japanese and Chinese students. The results of these surveys have then been analyzed to identify the main factors informing students’ views on the subject. Finally, additional insight into the practice of information disclosure in Japanese universities has been provided in a series of representative case studies, which should help promote further study concerning the practical applications of such disclosure.

Finally, this book is helpful in identifying further areas of research, including but not necessarily limited to the ideas and legal principles underlying the construction of a university information disclosure system, the development of information disclosure systems based on social responsibility, and the development of various standards for the disclosure of information. The ideal approach would ensure that all stakeholders are provided with meaningful access to relevant information, and that transparency takes precedence over any competing considerations as part of an overriding effort to improve university administration and oversight.