Kyoto University is expected to become the third recipient of state aid designed to support universities with potential to produce world-class research results, a government panel report released by the education ministry showed Friday.
The education minister is seen certifying the institution as a University for International Research Excellence by the end of this summer, which would make it eligible for aid from a Japanese government-financed ?10 trillion ($62.2 billion) fund, joining Tohoku University and the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Support worth some ?20 billion would be provided to Kyoto University in the initial year after its certification and approval of an improvement plan to be submitted by the university.
The ministry and the panel are slated to monitor progress with the plan to ensure it is implemented.
¡°We strongly expect Kyoto University to establish a model for dramatic growth and become a research university that leads even top-tier universities in other countries,¡± education minister Yohei Matsumoto told a news conference.
Kyoto University and the Institute of Science Tokyo were selected as candidates for the recognition in the second round of screenings under the grant program, which allows certified universities to receive annual subsidies worth some ?10 billion for up to 25 years.
The main pillar of Kyoto University¡¯s improvement plan is to strengthen its research capabilities by replacing its traditional system of small, independent research units with a more open department-based system.
As of December last year, the panel said that the plan was still being developed and needed further refinement, but it concluded that the certification criteria had been met as the implementation schedule was fixed.
Meanwhile, the panel plans to reach a conclusion by the end of this year on the University of Tokyo, another candidate selected in the second round of screening, which has been rocked by bribery and other scandals.
The decision on whether to invite applications for a third round of screenings will be made based on factors including the final screening results for the University of Tokyo.
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