[Kure Kosen] Two National Colleges of Technology in Hiroshima Prefecture to Implement Collaborative Academic Entrance Exam

Kure National College of Technology (Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Principal: Yoshimichi Yui, hereafter 'Kure Kosen') and Hiroshima National College of Maritime Technology (Osakikamijima Town, Toyota District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Principal: Makoto Henmi, hereafter 'Hiroshima Kosen'), as the two National Colleges of Technology located in Hiroshima Prefecture, will jointly introduce a collaborative entrance examination system based on academic achievement tests. ◆ Overview of this system This system allows examinees applying for the 4 departments at Kure Kosen (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Information Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Architecture) and the General Science Department at Hiroshima Kosen (Electronic Information Systems, Distribution Information Management) to apply to both schools with a single academic achievement test. Based on the order of preference indicated at the time of application, a pass/fail judgment will be made for the first-choice school, and if unsuccessful, a judgment will be made for the second-choice school. The academic achievement test will use common questions for 5 subjects, and each school will make judgments using its own evaluation methods. This system is a collaboration in the entrance examination system aimed at expanding the possibilities for examinees' career choices while respecting the educational characteristics of each school. By having the two Kosen in Hiroshima Prefecture collaborate in selecting entrants, it becomes possible for examinees wishing to enter Kosen to make more flexible and understandable career choices. Going forward, both schools will continue to work on improving the appeal of Kosen education and enhancing convenience for examinees and their guardians through innovations in the entrant selection system. ◆ Characteristics of each Kosen and future developments Kure Kosen has 4 engineering departments: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Information Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Architecture. At the time of application for the academic selection of entrants, students select from their 1st to 4th choices, and study along the curriculum of each department in a 5-year integrated educational program in the department they enter. All students in all departments study the 'Literacy Level' of the Mathematics, Data Science, and AI Education Program, and can reach the 'Applied Basic Level' by taking elective courses. Until FY Reiwa 8, students were to select their 1st and 2nd choice departments, but from FY Reiwa 9, they will be able to select up to their 4th choice department. Furthermore, due to the collaborative entrance exam system for the 2 Kosen in Hiroshima Prefecture, it will be possible to select the General Science Department of Hiroshima Kosen as a 5th choice department. The General Science Department of Hiroshima Kosen is a department that nurtures engineers who deal with 'social system creation' in distribution, logistics, management, etc., which many Kosen have not handled, in addition to the field of 'manufacturing' based on engineering. It features a curriculum where first-year students learn the basics of IoT, AI, and Data Science subject groups with a view to developing information-related human resources, and in the second year, they can choose between the Electronic Information Systems course, which nurtures engineers capable of 'manufacturing' corresponding to the new digital society, and the Distribution Information Management course, which nurtures engineers capable of 'value creation' involved in building distribution and logistics systems supporting the DX society. Through participation in this system, we provide more diverse career choice opportunities to examinees inside and outside the prefecture. *The General Science Department of Hiroshima Kosen had a multiple-school preference exam system for industrial fields where students could apply to two schools including the Creative Engineering Department of Yuge Kosen until the FY Reiwa 8 entrant selection, but this will be abolished from FY Reiwa 9 and shifted to the collaborative entrance exam system for the 2 Kosen in Hiroshima Prefecture. *The Maritime Technology Department of Hiroshima Kosen has traditionally had a multiple-school preference exam system where students can apply to three schools including the Maritime Technology Departments of Yuge Kosen (Ehime Prefecture) and Oshima Kosen (Yamaguchi Prefecture), and plans to continue implementing this in the future. *1 Mathematics, Data Science, and AI Education Program A system where the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology certifies/selects excellent educational programs that meet certain requirements among regular educational programs at universities (including junior colleges) and Kosen regarding Mathematics, Data Science, and AI, which are the 'reading, writing, and abacus' of the digital age, thereby encouraging universities to engage in Mathematics, Data Science, and AI education. ◆ About Kure National College of Technology Kure National College of Technology, as a Kosen located in the former naval port of 'Kure', emphasizes nurturing human resources who can contribute to the welfare and peace of humanity and the sustainable development of international society. Its educational philosophy aims to nurture human resources who possess 'flexibility' and 'creativity' without fearing change, reliable 'technical capabilities' and 'execution skills', and who continue to learn on their own. Its educational purpose is to nurture human resources who possess rich education and internationality, acquire knowledge and techniques regarding engineering through education that emphasizes experiments, practical training, and exercises in their respective specialized fields, and can respond to issues in various fields.