Regarding the amendment bill to the National University Corporation Law currently under deliberation in the Diet that would require large-scale national university corporations to establish an "management policy council" to decide budgets and medium-term plans, the National Universities Association has announced that the National Universities Association will be required to establish an "Operational Policy Council" to determine budgets and medium-term plans. issued a statement expressing their concerns and fears.It is extremely unusual for the National Association to issue a statement of concern about a bill that is under consideration.
According to the National University Association, the proposed amendment to the National University Corporation Law would designate large-scale national universities as ``Specified National University Corporations'' and require them to establish a management policy committee consisting of a president and three or more members.The management policy meeting will be given the authority to decide on budgets, financial statements, and medium-term plans.
The establishment of the Management Policy Council at universities that have been selected as International Excellence Research Universities has been considered, but in addition to requiring specified national university corporations to establish one, the current revised bill would require that establishment be established at other universities. It states that it can be established as a ``semi-specified national university corporation.''
As a result, there is a concern that specified national university corporations, quasi-specified national university corporations, and other national university corporations will be treated differently, so the National Association of Universities will not make any difference in budget allocation depending on whether a conference is established or not. The establishment requires that the autonomy and autonomy of universities be respected.
In addition, regarding the revised bill, the approval of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is required for appointment of members of the Management Policy Council, and there is a possibility that people who are critical of the government from opposition parties and university officials will be refused appointment. It has been pointed out that this could lead to problems and undermine the autonomy of universities.
