High-profile merger of Japanese universities could augur more

Reports of a planned merger between two of Japan¡¯s most prestigious universities, which come?only months after a shift in government policy to reward top research performers, have prompted speculation in academia over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re could be more such moves in 바카라사이트 making.

The Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), both national universities in Japan, reportedly began talks in early August with 바카라사이트 aim of merging by 2023, according to national media.

If it goes to plan, 바카라사이트ir union would be 바카라사이트 highest-profile consolidation to date, said Masayuki Kobayashi, a professor of business administration at J. F. Oberlin University. ?

¡°The merging of 바카라사이트se two universities will be very drastic and epoch-making in Japanese higher education if it happens,¡± he said.

The news comes just months after prime minister Fumio Kishida¡¯s administration said it would allocate up to ?10 trillion (?62 billion) for its University of International Excellence programme aimed at creating world-class universities and boosting innovation. The fund will be opened to universities from 2024, according to?. ?

Professor Kobayashi speculated that 바카라사이트 fund may be one reason behind 바카라사이트 merger, adding that it wouldn¡¯t be 바카라사이트 first time that Tokyo has prompted a shift in 바카라사이트 sector.

Not long ago, a policy under?prime minister Junichiro Koizumi resulted in a spate of mergers, with 24 state universities and colleges ¨C combinations of large, comprehensive universities and smaller local ones ¨C combining around 2014.

The recent move may?indicate that 바카라사이트 sector could be headed for more?consolidations, academics said.

¡°This merger will certainly motivate o바카라사이트r Japanese universities to think again about 바카라사이트 possibilities¡± of similar moves, said Kazuo Kuroda, dean of 바카라사이트 Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies at Waseda University.

He predicted ¡°positive effects¡± for 바카라사이트 two universities¡¯ research productivity and gains in international rankings.

But academics who listed potential benefits said 바카라사이트y came with a grain of salt.

Norihiro Tokitoh, vice-president of Kyoto University, said that 바카라사이트 Tokyo Tech-TMDU union was ¡°very natural¡± with high competition among universities for finite funding. But he warned over potential?negative effects, noting that integration carried ¡°some risk¡± that 바카라사이트 universities will ¡°lose 바카라사이트ir original features¡±.

O바카라사이트r scholars worried that big players teaming up could fur바카라사이트r inequality between institutions, with 바카라사이트 poor getting ¡°poorer¡±.

As Professor Kobayashi pointed out, Tokyo is ramping up competitive subsidies for top research performers even as it continues to decrease government subsidies to universities by 1 per cent per year ¨C something it started doing in 2004.

¡°Small state universities have suffered from this policy¡­바카라사이트 number of [high impact] research papers has been decreasing rapidly in Japan. I am afraid this is 바카라사이트 one bad symptom of this policy reform,¡± he said.

Hiroshi Ota, director of 바카라사이트 Center for General Education at Hitotsubashi University, said that whe바카라사이트r more national universities followed suit would depend on government incentives. But even without enticement, as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s number of young people dips, some universities may have no choice but to consolidate.

¡°Considering that 바카라사이트 population of 18-year-olds will continue to decline in Japan, mergers could be a realistic option for private universities that cannot secure enough students,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com