A Call to Support the People's Network toProtect the Autonomy of Japan's National Universities
Japan's national universities have a hundred year history, but at present theiracademic freedom is under siege due to the government's recent attempts toimplement the "Independent Administration Instutute" policy. This policy will
not only affect national, public and private universities, but will haverepercussions for all Japanese people. In order to stop this unjust government
policy we seek to build a coalition that crosses professional lines, politicalparties, and nationalities. In doing so, we call upon all those who value freedom
and care about free speech and academic autonomy.
What is this Independent Administration Instutute?
This primary purpose of the proposed administrative system is to remove andseparate the functions of establishing educational objectives, planning, andenforcement from the existing institutions and place these prerogatives in thehands of the Tokyo government. Consequently, the Minister of Education will
determine and define what ought to be the universities' "intermediaryobjectives." It will then be incumbent on the Independent Administration
Instutute to submit a plan to achieve these goals over a period of time. Theseplans will then be subject to the Minister's approval and the universities will beevaluated on their performance in achieving the prescribed plans. This policy
will furthermore give the Minister the power to control the funding of auniversity and the right to shut it down.
Past Opposition by the Ministry of Education
Initially, the Ministry of Education opposed the Independent Administration
Instutute policy; however, yielding to pressure, two years ago, the Ministry ofEducation changed its stance and decided to approve it. The Association ofNational Universities that is supposed to be responsible for protecting theautonomy and academic freedom of its universities is also taking a questionablestance. In response to these recent developments, the Association has apparently
participated in discussions about a survey that was designed by the Ministry of
Education's Department of Sciences to further the implementation of this policychange. In contrast to its publicly stated opposition to the policy, such activities
by the Association reveal a very ambiguous stance. Both of these bodies haveturned their backs on the people by ignoring requests to clarify their
responsibilities in this matter.
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The Consequences of this Independent Administration Instutute
Despite the misleading use of the term "independent," the implementation ofthis administrative system will bring about the exact opposite, by placing all
national universities under the direct management and control of thegovernment. This is a clear violation of the twenty-third clause of theConstitution which guarantees the autonomy of universities to protect theiracademic freedom. It is also a clear violation of the tenth clause of theFundamental Education Law that forbids the "improper control" of education.
This policy will significantly influence university research and education. The
content of education will be uniformly standardized and there is a risk that
research will be pursued only for the purpose of obtaining short term results.
Japan's national universities currently play an important role internationally, but
under the new system such a standard will be difficult to maintain.
But above all, by subjecting universities to the threat of being shut down, thevital function of the university to speak out on matters of concern for the society
will be lost. What will become of Japan if we cannot protect the freedom ofspeech and academic freedom? It was only a few decades ago that many people
in Japan and in countries nearby experienced terrible suffering as a result of thewar caused by our own government.
A Concern that Extends beyond National Universities
The tuition increase for national universities will threaten equal access toeducation. By increasing the numbers of incoming students at public
universities based on management considerations, the quality of education is at
risk. Increasing the number of students at public universities will, in turn,decrease the number of students who pay to attend private universities that,already, are not as financially stable as public universities.
The Independent Administration Instutute will not only impact nationaluniversities, but also will aim to regulate all public universities. If nationaluniversities lose their freedom this will surely have repercussions for privateuniversities.
Calling on the People to Voice their Will to2

Expand the Freedom of Universities
We must aim towards reforming the universities by abolishing the various
forms of bureaucratic regulation and expanding the freedoms and rights of theuniversities and those who work within them. It is also imperative to expand therights of university students. By doing so, we aim to fulfill the 1998 UNESCO
Declaration of Higher Education that calls for the independence of universities
to enable them to perform their vital role as critical forces in society*. In orderto do so, the people must voice their opinions to preserve the academic freedomof the national universities.
Nothing is determined yet
On several occasions the mass media have reported that this Independent
Administration Instutute is already an established fact. But this matter has noteven begun to be discussed in the Diet, and by stating that it is a "decidedactuality" ignores the fundamental legal procedures of our nation.
If the people raise their voices and take action, we can stop this destruction ofour national universities.
We ask all of you to join with us in this network to protect the people'suniversities.
May 1, 2001
* See Article 2(b) of the Declaration.
(June 20, 2001 ver.2.2)

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Petition of Support
for the People's Network to Protect the Autonomy
of Japan's National Universities

Name: __________________________
affiliation and/or title: _________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________
Post code: ______________
Tel/Fax no: ___________________________________
e-mail: ________________________________
I support the People's Network and consent for my name to appear on thewebsite or on printed materials.
(Please fill in the above form and send it to the executive secretary via Email,fax or conventional mail.)-------------------------------------------------------People's Network to Protect the Autonomy of Japan's National
Universities
chairperson : YAMAZUMI Masami, former president of the Tokyo
Metropolitan University
executive secretary : TOYOSHIMA Kouichi, Prof. of Physics, Univ. of Saga
Address: Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Saga
Honjo-machi, Saga, 840-8502 Japan
Email: toyo@cc.saga-u.ac.jp
phone/fax +81-952-28-8845
temporary website:
http://pegasus.phys.saga-u.ac.jp/UniversityIssues/callforntwk.html

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