1991 Volume 5 Issue 3_4 Pages 246-261
Talk Session B which was aimed to discuss the role of university as research institute, its problems and its solutions, was held on April 14, 1990, at Restaurant Castle in Hibiya in Tokyo. Kei Takeuchi, Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), the University of Tokyo took the Chair and the following members participated: Shun'ichi Amari, Professor, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. Daiichiro Sugimoto, Professor, College of Arts and Science, the University of Tokyo. Yoichiro Murakami, Professor, RCAST, the University of Tokyo. Kenji Mori, Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Tokyo. Hiroki Yanagida, Chief of RCAST (at that time), the University of Tokyo.1. Some Features of Research Activity and Circumstances in Japan In evaluating the level of university research in Japan, although some researchers are internationally renowned, on the whole researchers in universities in Japan can not be perceived as first-class. The strata of upper-level research is thinner in Japan than in the United States. Japanese researchers do not often refer to the papers written by the other Japanese researchers although they are very careful to cite those by Western researchers. Thus the importance of research in Japan is often underestimated. Further more, the international scientific society tends to misunderstand that original work is not just that done by the one who started the work but could not realize its structure, but also by the one who had reconstructed the idea and could complete its structure. It is sometimes perceived that researchers in Japan are on a 吝roup tourled by the foreign researcher that is, as soon as someone finds good research seeds, the others set about its development. In Japan, the society is rather egalitarian as a whole. This, however, prevents the universities from being flexible and fixes the system. A professor who carries out important research as an international leader, for instance, cannot gather the number of graduates, post-doctoral and foreign researchers who are necessary because the department decides how many students each professor may lead.2. On Research Expenditure and Research Supporting System With regard to research expenditure, an increase in its flexibility is needed more than an increase in its amount. In this sense, the donation from the private sector has a suitable degree of flexibility. The kakenhi and koza research budgets from the government, on the other hand, are too rigid. In engineering research, universities cannot conduct research which requires a large amount of money; companies, however, can. So, universities conduct research which is aimed at confirming ideas. However, experimental research laboratories are extremely short of research funds, with the expendable supplies chronically insufficient and the equipment significantly out-of-date. There is also a need to consider how to preserve fields which have difficulty collecting research funds. It is desirable that a flexible system be developed so that the university can pool funds which researchers can use as the occasion demands. In universities in Japan, systems research supporting, especially human resources, are insufficient. For instance, it is difficult to acquire residences for foreign researchers. In addition, the secretarial system in the university is very inefficient, and it creates the impression with the researchers that the university has decided to be an institute for teaching, with its role of research like an appendix. Research support is also insufficient, with a system of research assistants desired.3. System of University The origin of the problems with universities, lies in the fact that the university is one of our national institutions. Even private universities are based on regulations by the government. This prevents universities from being flexible. Thus the deregulation of universities should be examined. It is believed that the ex
