Friday, May 26, 2023
External Evaluation Report for the FY2022 Project Results
Name: Yoshihide Ozawa
This document reports the results of an external evaluation of the FY2022 project results basedon the attached Report on the Results of the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research
Environment (Advanced Type) Project for FY2022.
1) Achieve a recruitment rate of over 30% women researchers
Remarks: The recruitment rate of women researchers for FY2022 did not meet the target; rather,
it is highly regrettable that the gap between the target and the reality seems to be expanding.
Everyone involved in the hiring of researchers needs to recognize the achievement of this target
as a personal matter, clarify and become aware of the various barriers, and put measures into realaction. For this reason, I hope that the disclosure and sharing of information are carried out indetail based on the new rules, and that this will facilitate the recognition of this issue as a personalmatter. In terms of the positive action hiring activities in FY2020–2021, in which priority towomen was listed within recruitment guidelines, it is necessary to confirm the reality of priority
given to women in actual hiring decisions. In addition, I hope that the distribution of incentives
to departments that have achieved results is carried out with effectiveness.
2) Improve the percentage of women holding higher ranking positions (the percentage ofpromotions)Remarks: It is unfortunate that the appointment rate of higher-ranking positions (promotion rate)
in FY2022 did not reach the target, and that the downward trend since FY2020–2021 is continuing.
New implementation of the PI Training Program for International Collaborative Research
Overseas for FY2021 had three participants, but this dropped to only one in FY2022. I had
understood this program as the core of the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research
Environment, so this track record gives rise to uncertainty about the future of the project. I was
hoping for an expansion of results by utilizing the benefits of online implementation to the fullest
extent, but perhaps the disadvantages outweighed this. As the COVID-19 pandemic is brought
under control and the environment for overseas dispatch will recover in FY2023, I would like tosee the program return to its previous level of liveliness.
3) Increase the base of next-generation young researchers

Remarks: It is unfortunate that there was only one participant in the International Collaborative
Early-career Researcher Training Program for FY2022, and the same for the PI Training Program.
Being the main initiatives of the project, these results are highly disappointing. I hope that theprograms will be revived as the pandemic is brought under control. From the number ofparticipants in the role model exchange meeting, it appears to have been conducted effectively. I
would like to see these events held continuously and creatively in the future, such as inviting rolemodels from outside the university.
4) Enhance the diversity environment and expand it beyond the university
Remarks: The creation, publication and content of the Basic Policy and Guidelines on Diverse
Sexualities and Genders at Kobe University is highly commendable. Moving forward,
dissemination to all related parties and implementation of the guidelines is essential, and I lookforward to the results of awareness campaigns and training activities using the educational
materials created by the Gender Equality Office. In addition, I highly commend the successful
holding of the Diversity Forum in FY2022. It was very meaningful to have proposals from various
perspectives shared by the LGBTQ community, and candid appeals from students had also a senseof realism.
5) Overall remarks (Please add comments regarding the “Report on the Actions Taken in
Response to the Findings of the FY2020 and FY2021 External Evaluations” here.)
Remarks:
This project includes initiatives that will likely bring concrete results with time. To measure theeffect of such initiatives, how about publishing the results of awareness surveys?
I am interested in the unconscious bias survey that is planned for the university. I would like tohave the results shared with us.
Regarding the operation of the PI Training Program and the Early-career Researcher Training
Program, although there are concerns of the dispatch objective becoming unclear, I hope to see
the program return to its previous vibrancy through the expansion of participants.