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Changes for Japan's National Universities（6/19
Radio Japan）
（2000.6.28 [he-forum 1060] Radio Japan 06/19）
以下のNHK, Radio Japan放送の日本語版は、he-forum 1026 をご覧下さい。
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Monday 19 June 2000
News Commentary: Changes for Japan's National Universities
We now bring you News Commentary. Today's talk is about
changes to Japan's national universities. It was written by Radio
Japan commentator, Nobuo Hayakawa.
Consideration is underway to transform Japan's national university
into independent administrative corporations. It will be the first
time that national universities will be subjected to a change
of status since the first national university -Tokyo Imperial
University- was established in 1886.
Debate on altering the status of national universities begun
a few years ago when Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto was in office.
The proposal was one in a series of proposals to reorganize the
central government. The idea is to turn a number of government
bodies in the non-clerical or the service sectors to independent
corporations and run them like a business enterprise. The aim
is to make a leader and more efficient government.
What will happen if national universities are turned into
independent corporations?
The change will not involve privatization. The universities
will be obliged to be obliged to set five-year goals for education
and research. Five years later, an independent, outside body will
then evaluate whether these goals have been met.
This body will be different from the organizations that will
evaluate other independent public agencies. The body will be made
up of experts familiar with education and research. Its evaluation
will determine the amount of funding that each national university
will receive.
While nothing is definite yet, it is possible that under-performing
institutions will be asked to close their doors.
And what do the universities think of the proposed reforms?
The influential national universities are increasingly resigning
themselves to the changes. Their only condition is that the government
guarantee funding and teachers' jobs. Such universities demand
they should be free to allocate funds and human resources. They
welcome the proposed changes in that the Education Ministry will
no longer have full control over the way that funds are spent.
Universities will have a degree of freedom in the way they
use their money ? spending will not be restricted to single financial
years; the universities will be able to carry over balances into
successive financial years.
There is some deep-rooted opposition to the proposed reforms.
Some of the regional national universities are concerned that
the prestigious national universities in the big cities will receive
the lion's share of funding. They worry about the evaluation that
will be provided by the outside, independent body.
Some people argue that the emphasis on efficiency is wrong.
Some kinds of research cannot produce results in only five years.
The evaluation could reduce the amount of basic research being
pursued at universities.
Some people are using the outside pressure to alter the status
of national universities to pursue other reforms. Opinion is split
a number of ways.
Universities are beginning to implement reforms along with
moves to change them into independent corporations.
In Yamanashi Prefecture, negotiations officially begun last
month to merge two nationally-run institutions: the Yamanashi
Medical University and Yamanashi University. The aim is to combine
the two institutions in two years' time. The merger, if it comes
about, will be first since the current university system was established
in 1949.
There are thirteen nationally-run medical colleges around
the nation, and consideration is underway to merge some regional
medical colleges with their local nationally-run universities,
for example, in the case of Kagawa, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures.
Until now, the number of nationally-run universities has
been on the increase. In the future, we might see a decrease because
of mergers.
The Education Ministry is looking at turning national universities
into independent corporations in the face of fierce objections
from some people. The national universities are almost certain
to become independent corporations. The Ministry will set up a
panel by the end of this month to examine issues involved with
the change of status.
The Ministry and people in academia should take this opportunity
not only to examine the change of status, but to discuss how universities
should be and ways of improving the level of education and research
at Japanese universities.
News Commentary. Today's talk was written by Radio Japan
commentator, Nobuo Hayakawa.
This is Radio Japan.