This research examines the conversion of small-scale regional private universities into public institutions in Japan, clarifying conditions, challenges, and structural factors amidst demographic decline and regional disparities.
Using 'regional resources' as social capital, the study analyses all 12 public incorporation cases since AY2009 by synthesizing official statistics and performance indicators to build institutional typologies.
Outcomes and long-term sustainability depend on specific structural conditions and environmental interactions, yielding a typology explaining post-conversion trajectories.
It provides a multi-faceted empirical analysis of Japanese university publicization, establishing a typology to guide regional higher education policies while contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Local governments' policy objectives and fiscal conditions have not been exhaustively examined. The study advances beyond binary "success or failure" views by showing how contextual conditions shape higher education restructuring.
Policymakers must evaluate publicization beyond short-term application ratios, focusing on financial sustainability, local human resource demands, and regional talent circulation.
