Japan Press Weekly

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2023 November 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

University personnel voice opposition to proposed establishment of gov’t-backed university boards

A wide range of university personnel in national and private universities urgently organized a rally in the Dietmembers’ office building on November 14, with about 90 people concerned participating, in opposition to a government-proposed bill to establish government-approved highest decision-making bodies in national universities.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Miyamoto Takeshi, JCP member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko, and six other opposition party lawmakers of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party spoke in solidarity at the rally. They expressed their determination to work to scrap the bill.

The bill to revise the National University Corporation Act, if enacted, will oblige large national universities to establish “management policy councils” and will authorize them to make final decisions on medium-term operational programs and budget compilation. The Minister of Education will approve the appointment of council members.
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Honda Yuki, professor at the University of Tokyo, warned of possible interference from political and business circles in university research, academic studies, human resources, and university assets. She expressed concern that new organizations may have authority even to abolish faculties or classes in large universities which have encompassed diverse academic fields. She said, “If this happens, it will shake the very foundation of the university system in the country.”

Past related article:
> Gov’t seeks to infiltrate decision-making bodies in national universities [October 25, 2023]