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Part Promotion of Scientific Research

For activating or upgrading research systems, management flexibility and researcher mobility must be guaranteed.

Measures for improving the flexibility of research systems should include: (1)the expansion of Joint-research systems, (2) the establishment of expanded research units and visiting professorship,(3)the participation of researchers from different research systems in research projects for fixed periods, and (4) the establishment of fixed term research organizations hosting visiting researchers and joint use of facilities by several universities.

Measures to be taken for the promotion of the mobility of researchers will include : the strengthening of visiting professorships, the increase of endowed chairs and divisions, the expansion of fellowships for young researchers administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the activation of personnel changes by fixing the term of office of university assistants (as is practiced in many universities) and by limiting the promotion of assistant professors as well as assistants within the same research system.

In order to actively promote the advancement of scientific research, and especially, to maintain a high research level along the cutting edge of world science, priority enrichment of research systems in specific research fields is important. In order to grasp the trends of research in a given field and then comprehensively and systematically implement research activities, a network of related research systems should be formed.

lfill its social responsibilities, it should improve its research systems by conducting ceaseless self-inspection and self-evaluation. For this purpose, it should set up a system for the adequate implementation of self-evaluation. It is also important that the university should accept the comments of outside experts in order to make the most effective and objective use of its self-assessment.