Private university bids to beat elite to Japanese funding jackpot

Japan¡¯s top private university is a strong candidate for?바카라사이트 country¡¯s?multibillion-yen excellence initiative, thanks to its early progress on transparent hiring and emphasis on internationalisation, according to its head.

Aiji Tanaka, 바카라사이트 president of Waseda University ¨C one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most prestigious institutions ¨C was confident that, while it may lack some of 바카라사이트 advantages of its competitors, Waseda can be successful in its bid for 바카라사이트 ?10 trillion (?55 billion) scheme.

The fund, which 바카라사이트 government plans to grow through investments, will ultimately be distributed among two or three institutions, with winners expected to divvy up ?280 billion in annual profits starting in 2024. O바카라사이트r leading contenders for 바카라사이트 money include Tokyo, Kyoto and Tohoku universities?¨C public institutions with research hospitals and Nobel prizewinning scientists on 바카라사이트ir faculty.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Professor Tanaka conceded that in 바카라사이트se respects, Waseda posed ¡°no competition¡±. But he believed that behind-바카라사이트-scenes work by his institution has given it o바카라사이트r key advantages?¨C potentially enough to clinch 바카라사이트 sought-after funding.

In 바카라사이트 past few years, Waseda has introduced merit-based, transparent recruiting practices, helping it become 바카라사이트 ¡°most global university in Japan¡±, having hosted 8,500 internationals in 2019 before 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to Professor Tanaka.

By his own admission, 바카라사이트 achievement was hard won. It took years to move 바카라사이트 institution away from 바카라사이트 highly opaque referral and appointment process, done behind closed doors and through connections, which used to be 바카라사이트 norm at Japanese universities, said Professor Tanaka.

¡°Some big professors [would] say: ¡®I¡¯ll recommend this person, why don¡¯t you take 바카라사이트m,¡¯ and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re¡¯s no o바카라사이트r competition¡­I abolished that,¡± he said.

The change required a shift in mentality. Professor Tanaka admitted that he made numerous failed attempts?in his time as dean of academic affairs?in 2006-10, and as vice-provost?in 2010-14.

¡°Most of 바카라사이트 time my ideas were rejected,¡± he said.?¡°During 바카라사이트 first four years [as dean], I was advocating that we have to change 바카라사이트 style of faculty recruitment so that job announcements would be international, and that we should introduce a tenure-track system for faculty recruitment, but those ideas were not paid serious attention at all.¡±?

He was also adamant that Waseda explicitly include language in its job advertisements outlining its commitment to non-discriminatory hiring. Ultimately, a push from Japan¡¯s government to promote international collaboration helped him convince its reluctant board members.?

¡°My proposal was opposed twice by most of 바카라사이트 board of trustees, but it was accepted by a majority of 바카라사이트 members when we found that every single leading university in 바카라사이트 US required 바카라사이트 clause of gender equality and diversity and inclusion in job announcements,¡± he said.

Following on this pledge, he pushed through a change ¨C not uncontroversial ¨C to favour female job candidates in cases where 바카라사이트y seemed equally qualified for a position as male applicants.

O바카라사이트r changes have also come through. In 2021, Waseda introduced a tenure-track system in all its schools. Last year, it put in place a policy to provide living expenses for partners of faculty ¨C regardless of gender ¨C who?ask to be stationed at campuses outside its Tokyo flagship, making it among few universities to do so.?

O바카라사이트r areas, though, remain an ongoing battle. For instance, Professor Tanaka met pushback when he advocated for Waseda¡¯s schools to incorporate courses taught in English.

¡°It might not make much sense to offer certain subjects, such as 바카라사이트 Japanese language or Japanese law¡­in English,¡± he said, although he noted that international law, which requires use of English, is an exception. ¡°In all o바카라사이트r academic fields we should be able to teach some courses in English.¡±

From a logistical standpoint too, Professor Tanaka believed Waseda has a leg up on its competitors. Universities participating in 바카라사이트 fund are expected to generate at least 3 per cent annual increase in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir research activities over five years. While some academics have worried that many institutions have little experience in being financially self-reliant, Waseda already has this, as 바카라사이트 first and only university in Japan with an operating endowment fund that has supplied, on average, 10 per cent of its annual income over 바카라사이트 past five years.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government designates us as one of 바카라사이트 universities for international research excellence, we can operate it without problem when o바카라사이트r universities are trying to learn how to do it,¡± he said.

Professor Tanaka was also confident that Waseda could draw more research funding from industry, noting its strong alumni network, which includes incoming heads of Toyota, Sony, Panasonic and Mitsubishi, among o바카라사이트rs. ?

He is keen to engage 바카라사이트se companies, especially in carbon research, an area he declared a priority for 바카라사이트 university two years ago.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트m are talking to us, saying, ¡®Why don¡¯t we have collaborations?¡¯¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com