May 26, 2023
External Evaluation Report for the FY2022 Project Results
Name: Kumiko Bando
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 has dropped, and the gap between the reality and the target has
grown significantly. It is difficult to not feel that the university’s overall motivation for initiatives
to achieve the target has decreased. The issue of establishing rules for the dissemination ofinformation regarding the recruitment and promotion of women has been pointed out, but inaddition to this, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives is required as to why therecruitment rate has dropped and why there is no progress with the targets. In order to strengthen
the promotion of women’s participation under the new system, it is necessary to enhance
university-wide awareness of initiatives by strengthening the commitment of the President andthe Executive Assistant to the President in charge of gender equality, and increasing efforts inengaging each department. I understand that the university plans to consider more active measures,deliberate and report on such meausres at university-wide meetings, and strength internal andexternal public awareness for FY2023. I expect these efforts will be made with speed.
2) Improve the percentage of women holding higher ranking positions (the percentage ofpromotions)Remarks: The appointment rate of higher-ranking positions has decreased to 9.6%, which issignificantly below the target for FY2022. This needs to be acknowledged with a sense of urgency.
Similar to the recruitment rate addressed in 1), there is a necessity for analysis of the cause as
well as strengthening university-wide initiatives and increasing awareness.
Even though the PI Training Program for International Collaborative Research was held during
the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that it had just one new participant and a short dispatch period
from March 22 to April 3 for this year was a disappointing result for the project.
3) Increase the base of next-generation young researchers
Remarks: There was only one online participant in the International Collaborative Early-careerResearcher Training Program. Again, this cannot be regarded as sufficient for achieving theproject objective of expanding the base. My understanding is that 2) PI Training Program and 3)
Early-career Research Training Program will be integrated into one program from FY2023 as aresult of abolishing the age restriction, yet there needs to be active efforts for this initiative toresult in increasing applications and appointments, such as encouraging applications, improving
the program content, and visualizing the results.
4) Enhance the diversity environment and expand it beyond the university
Remarks: In terms of initiatives to promote gender equality from the perspective of human rights,
the formulation, announcement and creation of educational materials for the basic policy andguidelines is highly commendable. However, from the perspective of diversity promotion for anenvironment to create innovation in universities and companies, it is not sufficient that diversity
co-creation activities are limited to the Diversity Forum. I hope that there will be further
consideration and enhancement with regard to co-creation network activities and how theseresults will be disseminated.
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: I understand that there was a structural reform implemented to address issues in acollaborative manner, but the implementation status of the programs and the achievement statusof the targets give rise to concern that the university’s overall motivation for the initiatives isweakening. I hope to see the strengthening of university-wide awareness and systems for theinitiatives under the leadership of the President and Vice Presidents in charge, not just the GenderEquality Office. In addition, in the report on the responses to the recommendations from last year,
there are many items that are planned to be discussed or implemented in FY2023, so I would liketo see these actively implemented.
In my last evaluation report for project results , I requested for more detailed description and data,
and while the university is making efforts for improvements, it still cannot be said that the data
and analysis results are adequately demonstrated, making it difficult to evaluate in some parts. I
believe that it would be beneficial for both the committee and the university to have anopportunity to ask questions, exchange opinions and share information, such as an online meeting.