CONSIDERATION ON CRITERIA AND EDUCATIONAL THEORY REGARDING THE INFORMATICS SOFTWARE ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE IN JAPAN

Abstract

The advent of technology provides modern society with the capability of rapid information transfer. Japan has recognized the need to foster the development of engineers and deepen research on information science. To respond to such societal demands, universities have established independent “faculty of information” programs since the 1980s. Therefore, the study of “informatics” is recognized as a combined discipline using literature, science, and engineering. Several educational subjects that belong to the software engineering field are implemented via systematic education based on level of knowledge. Organizations such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information Processing, Information Processing Society, and the IEEE provide reference standard, curricula, and knowledge systems. However, no studies regarding their positions and mutual roles have been considered previously although various educational theories are born. In this thesis, reference standards, curriculum, and knowledge systems concerning informatics (particularly those related to the software engineering discipline) are organized, which will confirm that educational theory applied to information education leads to positive results. Additionally, the positions of each aforementioned concept from the viewpoint of education, with consideration towards proper education by way of the bachelor’s degree process of the four-year university are clarified.