rise in educational attainment; popularization of higher education
Refers to the societal trend of more people attaining higher levels of education, often used in discussions of social change, labor markets, or credential inflation.
As the rise in educational attainment continues, the relative value of a university degree is declining.
In this country, the popularization of higher education is remarkable, and many young people go on to university.
高学歴 is an adjective-like noun meaning 'highly educated' or 'having a high level of education', while 高学歴化 refers to the process or trend of becoming more highly educated as a society.
Compound of 高 (high), 学歴 (academic background), and 化 (-ization). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for describing social trends.