Japan's universities resist 'agency' plan

Article Abstract:

The proposals by the Japanese government to change Tokyo University and Kyoto University into independent agencies are being opposed by the universities and the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (Monbusho). Monbusho is currently in charge of the universities but its management has frequently been criticised for being inefficient and rigid. There is an argument that the changes would mean the universities could be run more flexibly, but Monbusho and the universities claim that the quality of research and academic standards would be jeopardized.

---

Japan faces problem of science recruits

Article Abstract:

Japan's universities continue to be inflexible as well as retaining their conservative attitudes. The ministry of education acknowledges that the country's universities face severe probelms, with a fall in the student population, ageing faculty members and and expected shortage of young researchers. The government has put forward plans to increased the number of postdoctoral fellows to 10,000 by the end of the decade, but plans to convert universities into agencies, have been opposed by the universities themselves.

---

Japanese labs balk at bid to boost external evaluation

Article Abstract:

Japanese research laboratories are resisting government-led efforts to promote the external evaluation of research in government institutes and national universities. The Science and Technology Agency (STA) believes that assessments are required to determine whether research meets social and economic needs. Nearly all Japan's universities undertake some form of research evaluation, although only a few use external reviewers.

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Italian universities move to peer review for grants. EU research plan fails to charm critics. Ethics board members quit over 'imbalance.'
• Abstracts: Japan maintains research funding boost.... Japan seeks targeted science funding.... Japan to merge science with education
• Abstracts: Virus-induced autoantibody response to a transgenic viral antigen. A non-retroviral RNA virus persists in DNA form
• Abstracts: Statistical associations between restriction fragment length polymorphisms and quantitative traits in beef cattle

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.