An article on Higher Education's Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2017 was published based on the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research report. According to this report, the strategic technologies are technological investments higher education institutions are planning and implementing in 2017. Also, as indicated in this report, "active learning classrooms" was ranked highest among the other items such as "technologies for improving analysis of student data" and "incorporation of mobile devices in teaching and learning." This type of classrooms makes use of not only ICT-rich environment, but also movable desks and chairs for group learning activities.

Recently, "active learning spaces"* have been implemented by a number of higher education institutions both in Japan as well as other countries. According to the research by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2017, various learning environments have been provided with facilities to promote different learning activities and systems to support students' learning in Japan. The number of such spaces introduced until 2017 had been 453. This number had increased about 2.5 times over five years.

Also in the Kyoto University Library Network, various facilities such as learning commons and student support services such as the Learning Support Desk are being upgraded.

For higher education, the improvement of learning environment and services for supporting student learning is becoming essential.

* Active learning spaces: According to MEXT, spaces where students can collaborate with each other to discuss and learn, utilizing various information resources from electronic to printed materials. In this kind of space, not only computer facilities and printed materials are offered, but also personal services are provided to support students' self-directed learning.

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