Student Council - gakuseijichikai

A self-governing organization of students who are members of a university. It has existed in Japan since before the Second World War and is responsible for various activities to protect and enrich student life at university, but as universities became more popular after the war, it has been organized at many universities. It mainly strives to improve the learning environment and welfare, and also carries out club and circle activities in a wide range of areas such as culture, liberal arts, and physical education.

In the past, student councils were closely involved in student movements linked to student rights assertions and political and social issues, and after the Second World War, against the backdrop of the campus democratization struggle (1945-1946), the All-Japan Federation of Student Self-Governments (Zengakuren) was organized as a popular student council movement by 145 universities across the country in 1948 (Showa 23). Due to the contradiction between the idea of ​​pure social justice and the reality of the social system, some student councils sometimes took violent action, calling for university autonomy and the realization of socialist or nationalistic ideals.

However, by 1965, the number of students enrolled in higher education institutions had exceeded one million, and universities had become increasingly popular. In 1969, the temporary legislation to settle campus disputes, the Law on Temporary Measures Concerning University Management (University Temporary Measures Law), was enacted, and student activism gradually subsided. As a result, student councils also weakened and became less political. Since then, cultural festivals and school festivals organized by student councils have become annual university events, attracting many participants from outside the university. One of the reasons for the formation of this trend is thought to be the following: The increase in the number of students has brought about changes in the student population's social class origins, motivations and goals for entering university, academic ability, attitudes, and awareness, and as a result, the number of academically-oriented students with political and social consciousness has decreased, and the number of leisure-oriented and career-oriented students has increased.

A subsequent survey of students conducted by the Japan Association of Private Universities (Tokyo) in 2007 showed that an increasing number of students were trying to acquire specialized knowledge and skills during their time at university that would be useful for their future. This is thought to be a reflection of the current situation, known as the "era of universal university admission," and the increase in career-oriented students who believe they cannot find employment without expertise.

[Tezuka Takehiko and Nishine Kazuo]

"Private University Student Life White Paper 2007" (2007), supervised and published by the Japan Association of Private Universities

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大学の構成員としての学生の自治組織。大学における学生生活を守り、豊かにするための種々の活動を行うものとして、日本でも第二次世界大戦前からあったが、戦後の大学の大衆化に伴い多くの大学で組織されるようになった。おもに学習上の環境条件や厚生福祉の改善に努めるとともに、文化、教養、体育などの多方面のクラブ・サークル活動を実施する。

　かつての学生自治会は、学生側の権利主張や政治・社会問題に結び付く学生運動とかかわりが深く、第二次世界大戦後は学園民主化闘争（1945～1946）を背景に、1948年（昭和23）には大衆的な自治会運動として全国の145大学による全日本学生自治会総連合（全学連）が組織された。純粋な社会正義の理念と現実の社会体制のあり方との矛盾から、大学の自治、社会主義的あるいは国家主義的理想の実現を掲げて、ときに激しい実力行動を展開するものもあった。

　しかし、1965年には高等教育機関の在学者数が100万人を超え、大学の大衆化が進み、1969年に学園紛争収拾のための時限立法である「大学の運営に関する臨時措置法」（大学臨時措置法）が成立すると、学生運動もしだいに沈静化していった。それに伴い、学生自治会も弱体化し、政治色のないものになっていった。以降、学生自治会主催の文化祭、学園祭などが大学の年中行事になり、学外から多くの参加者を集めるようになった。こうした流れが形成された原因の一つに、以下のような経緯が考えられる。学生数の増加が、学生集団の出身階層、進学の動機や目的、学力、態度、意識などの変化をもたらし、その結果、政治的・社会的な意識をもった学問志向型の学生が減少し、遊び志向型、職業志向型の学生が増加したことがあげられる。

　その後、2007年（平成19）に社団法人日本私立大学連盟（東京）が実施した学生の実態調査では、将来につながる専門的な知識や技能を大学時代に身につけようとする学生が増加していた。これは、「大学全入時代」といわれる現代の状況などから、専門性をもたなければ就職ができないという職業志向型の学生が増えたことの現われと考えられる。

［手塚武彦・西根和雄］

『社団法人日本私立大学連盟監修・刊『私立大学学生生活白書2007』（2007）』

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