Rapid social progress and remarkable technological developments in Japan during the early 1960's made necessary an increase in trained technical experts. This led to the establishment of a new type of higher educational institution, the college of technology. At present, Japan's higher educational institutions are universities, junior colleges, and colleges of technology. Students enter universities or two year colleges after graduating from senior high school, whereas a college of technology admits students when they finish junior high school. At a college of technology, students study for five years under a consistent curriculum which is composed of subjects from the liberal arts as well as those from their majors. Numazu National College of Technology highly values the teaching of practical technology and aims at training students to be technical engineers with the ability to utilize advanced theories in practical fields. The college also aims at the cultivation of character through various extracurricular activities and through dormitory life.