(1) Expansion of the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education
In the latter half of the 1980s the recognition that strong government control had reduced the vitality of institutions of higher education led to the granting of greater autonomy to these institutions. In 1986 universities and colleges were given authority over such matters as the organization of educational programs, the disposition of budgets, the appointment of teachers, the conduct of research and development, and the training of human resources for enterprises. In the 1990s their autonomy has been further expanded to include decisions about teachers' salaries and the development of profit-making ventures, such as the management of businesses. Ultimately the government intends to turn universities and colleges into independent corporations. Income from cooperation with industry and the management of businesses has become an important source of funding for universities and colleges.
While expanding the autonomy of institutions of higher education, the government has also emphasized overall control. In the late 1980s it introduced a system of evaluation of universities by state agencies.
