Changes in National University Finances in Japan

After Incorporation

Abstract

　 In this paper, I examine the changes in national university finances in Japan after incorporation. I begin by clarifying that the total income of all national universities increased by \214 billion from 2005-2011, while the government block grant decreased by \68 billion. 84% of the total increase in income could be attributed to income from university hospitals.

　 Focusing on the total income of individual universities, more than 30% suffered a decrease in their income. Most of these were colleges of education and universities without a university hospital. On the other hand, all universities with a university hospital experienced a rise in income. As a result, income differentials among universities have expanded and, in the process among academic disciplines as well.

　 Income from university hospitals is a crucial factor in the process of enabling each university to maintain its income level, but the income concerned is, in a very literal and specific sense, university hospital income. I therefore calculated the total of university income leaving aside income from university hospitals, and found that in these circumstances, more than 50% of universities showed a fall in income. On the other hand, in the case of universities which achieved an increase in their total income, excluding university hospital income, there was a tendency for the increase to come from an expansion of competitive research grants and dedicated research contracts. However, this increase in income belonged to specific researchers or groups. An increase of this kind did not mean that overall basic research and educational conditions for each faculty were supported by these funds. At the same time, the receipt of such grants and contracts resulted in additional administrative tasks.

　 I conclude that it is time to reconsider how to balance government block grants on the one hand and competitive research grants and assigned contracts on the other, while paying attention to the different abilities among academic disciplines to earn money. Each university also should reallocate their income among its departments from an academic perspective.