Minutes from the First Management Council Meeting of Fiscal Year 2007
1.

Date and Time:

Wednesday, June 6, 2007
1:10 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.

2.

The Large Conference Room, 3rd floor of the Administrative Complex

Location:

3. Attendance:
Present:
2 non-members:
9 Members:

Prefectural Advisor Hashimoto, Auditor Kuriki(from the University)

Chairperson Tsunoyama of the Board of

Executives (Council Chairperson), Regent Kuroda, Regent Makita,
Regent Saito(external members) Council Member Muto, Council Member Kanke,
Council Member Sakai, Council Member Minami, Council Member
Sugihara
Administrative staff
4.

Signatories to the Minutes: Council Member Makita, Council Member Saito

5.

Proceedings(New Business)
A. FY 2006 Achievement Evaluation Report
The Director of the General Affairs Group of the Administrative Office gave an
explanation on mechanisms for evaluations, Council Member Saito gave an explanationon the evaluation of annual plans for the University, and Council Member Makita gave
an explanation on the evaluation of annual plans for the Junior College Division.

After

the following exchange of opinions, the proposal was accepted as proposed.
Regarding the project achievement report, the evaluations deliberated on at this meeting,in addition to the settlement of accounts report and use of surplus funds, will be
discussed at the next meeting of the Management Council, and after deliberation by the
Board of Executives, the final reports will be submitted to the Prefecture at the end of
June.
Opinions, etc.
○ Are there any particular benchmark figures set for attainment of goals regarding theevaluations?

・ Objectives regarding preferred ratios of items assessed as “A” and “B” will not be set.
As mid-term goals should be achieved within the six-year period of the mid-termplans, the Corporation must endeavor to increase the ratio of items assessed as “A”
and “B” with each passing fiscal year.
・ The current status regarding this issue is that the Corporation has given priority towork on implementation of projects towards achievement goals for important items.
(Opinions, etc.)○

I would like to ask a question regarding how research themes were decided upon.
Research themes should not be decided upon based solely on the interests ofindividual faculty members.

It would be worthwhile to have discussions on having

proposals made by groups regarding research themes and creation of a function forplanning of research themes by the University as a whole.
・ The University is in a good situation regarding this, taking into consideration its size,
as it is conducting cooperative research projects with four national research
institutions etc.
・ The Junior College Division has set up various projects through establishment of theCenter for Rejuvenation of Local Communities, which has facilitated collaboration
between universities, industry, residents, and government.
(Opinion, etc.)○

I would like to ask a question regarding items assessed with an evaluation of “D”.
There are several items which have been assessed with an evaluation of “D” which
are related to flexible structuring of research organizations and systems for
personnel evaluation. What is the background regarding these issues?

・ Discussions within the University have not yet started regarding flexible structuring ofresearch organizations.

Regarding personnel evaluation systems, progress isbeing made regarding details for creation of criteria for internal promotion, anddiscussions regarding personnel evaluation systems will be conducted in the near
future.
(Opinion, etc.)○

I would like to ask whether evaluations have been conducted regarding
achievement of quantitative goals established in the mid-term plans and mid-termgoals.

In particular, please explain the situation regarding achievement of

quantitative goals regarding the number of venture businesses related to the
University.

・ Regarding the number of venture businesses related to the University, goals were
determined based on the number of businesses established at the time the goals
were being determined, which was 17. The quantitative goal for the number ofbusinesses to be established by the end of the period for the mid-term plan was set
at 26 companies in total.

At the end of the first year included in the mid-term plan,

there were 19 companies in total. Several other quantitative goals determined asnecessary for the Corporation were also designated in the mid-term plans, such as
the number of students attaining doctoral degrees, and progress towards attainmentof these quantitative goals were also taken into consideration when internal
evaluations were made for the fiscal year.
(Opinion, etc.)○

I would like to ask if there is an evaluation item regarding student satisfaction.

・ An item for student satisfaction ratings for faculty members has been included aspart of the evaluation criteria for internal promotion of faculty members. In addition,
quantitative goals regarding students’ acquisition of qualifications and licenses, andemployment rates have been included, which as a result, are a reflection ofsatisfaction of student needs pertaining to acquisition of qualifications, licenses andemployment.
(Opinion, etc.)○

Other perspectives regarding designation of other quantitative goals in the mid-termplans may be necessary, for example, cutting operational costs, and diverting thesavings to research funds.

・ Though this type of quantitative goal has not been included in the current mid-termgoals, there is awareness that this type of perspective is necessary. Deliberations
regarding settlement of accounts and use of surplus funds are scheduled to be
carried out at the next meeting of the Management Council, and I would like torequest various opinions again at that time.
(Opinion, etc.)○

Progress should be made regarding student exchange programs with universities
overseas, and also regarding mutual recognition and acceptance of university
credits.

・ Regarding exchange of students with universities in China, progress has been maderegarding details of a program to send students with high academic performance tothe University of Aizu. In order to further promote student exchange programs on
an international level in the future, sending of individuals with decision-making
authority, such as Regent Saito, to universities overseas for observational visits isbeing considered.
(Opinion, etc.)○

I would like to ask about the University’s stance regarding the optimal situation
regarding the University’s roles pertaining to the local region and also educational
institutions.

How will the University be involved in supporting integrated juniorhigh-high school education?
・ Regarding support of integrated junior high-high school education, faculty members
and their families can play a role in support, etc. involving integrated education.
Regarding the ideal role of educational institutions to be assumed for contribution to
the local region, the University will express its opinions on this issue, whenopportunities for discussion arise.
(Opinion, etc.)○

Efforts to enrich education in the liberal arts should be made by the University.

・ The University understands that liberal arts education is very important.

However,

securing of proper faculty has been difficult, as the University has only one major.
Consideration of utilization, etc. of faculty members from Fukushima University isnecessary.
(Opinion, etc.)○

It is apparent that the University should provide students with experience in working
in teams, as many recent graduates cannot handle properly stress that comes fromworking in teams at companies.

・ A new graduate department will be established at the Graduate School, which
focuses on teamwork by graduate students. Regarding the Undergraduate School,
consideration of the issue, taking into reference other universities, etc., such as
Rose-Hulman University, which have produced favorable results regarding group
education, is necessary.
(Opinion, etc.)○

Evaluation grades are dependent on designation of goals. If the designated goals
are set too low, then grades will be “A” for all items, ,which is a situation that should
be avoided. Goals should be set for the future based on a solid understanding of
the current situation. What is the University’s thinking regarding this?

・ The goals have been set with this in mind.
the objectives which have been established.
(Opinion, etc.)

The University will endeavor to achieve○

I would like to ask how the University of Aizu has been affected by changes to the
School Education Law.

For instance, changes regarding decisions to appoint

faculty members holding the position of “assistant instructor” to the position of“lecturer”, or having them remain at the position of assistant instructor.
・ At the University of Aizu, the Japanese title for associate professors was changed
from “jokyouju” to “jokyu junkyoju”, the Japanese title for assistant professors waschanged from “koushi” to “junkyoju”, and regarding assistant instructors, those who
had appropriate academic degrees and who conducted research or education wereappointed as lecturers, and those who had not yet reached that point remained as
assistant instructors.
June 6, 2007

Signatory to the Minutes

Masahisa Makita

Seal

Signatory to the Minutes

Kazuyuki Saito

Seal

Minutes from the Second Management Council Meeting of Fiscal Year 2007
1.

Date and Time:

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
1:10 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

2.

The Large Conference Room, 3rd floor of the Administrative Complex

Location:

3. Attendance:
Present:
3 non-members:
10 Members:

Prefectural Advisor Hashimoto, Auditor Arima, Auditor Kuriki(from the University)

Chairperson Tsunoyama of the Board of

Executives (Council Chairperson), Vice-Chairperson Mirenkov, Regent
Kuroda, Regent Makita, Regent Saito(external members) Council Member Muto, Council Member Kanke,
Council Member Sakai, Council Member Minami, Council Member
Sugihara
Administrative staff
4.

Signatories to the Minutes: Council Member Kuroda, Council Member Saito

5.

Proceedings(New Business)
A. FY 2006 Settlement of Accounts
Regent Saito gave an explanation on the content of the settlement of accounts,changes to the project achievement reports, and content of the audit report.

Regardingthe audit report, both of the auditors gave supplementary explanations.

After thefollowing exchange of opinions, etc. the proposal was accepted as proposed.

The

settlement of accounts, the project achievement reports, and the audit report would bedeliberated upon at the meeting of the Board of Executives held on the same day as thismeeting, and would then be submitted to the Prefecture by the end of June.
Opinions, etc. from Both of the Auditors○

Our opinions are as stated in the content of the audit reports, but we would like toexpress our appreciation to the persons in charge of accounting matters for theirefforts, as the involved accounting was very complicated.

Opinions, etc.
○

The local chapter of the Chamber of Commerce has considered the system foracceptance of international students, especially as it relates to students’ lodging.

The Chamber would like to ask the University’s Administrative Office for its
cooperation regarding consultations on how international students’ lifestyleenvironments can be arranged.
・A dormitory for international students of the University has been provided by alocal company (which owns the building), and for the time being, this seems to be themost reasonable approach to this issue.

The University would like to consult with

the Chamber regarding methods for realization of arrangement of accommodations
for international students.
(Opinions, etc.)○

If the financial statements are disclosed in their current state, I believe that theywould be difficult to understand for the members of the general public.

I would liketo know if the financial statements will be disclosed in their current form, or whether
they will be revised to make them easier to understand.
・

The calculation standards for public universities and normal corporations differ,and are difficult to understand.

However, the Corporation is not consideringrevising the financial statements for disclosure at this time.

As settlements ofaccounts will continue to be conducted, evaluations of categories will be conductedin the future by comparing figures from the most current financial statements to thosein the financial statements of the previous year.
(Opinions, etc.)○

I would like to know if something besides the actual evaluations could bepresented to this Council to help describe the situation of the Corporation at afundamental level, which addresses the issue of what should be done by the
Corporation for its business operation in the future.

It’s difficult to deliberate on thebusiness operation of the Corporation based only on very specific figures andevaluation of details.
・

There is a possibility that the Corporation’s operational expenses from
Fukushima Prefecture will be decreased, depending upon the Prefecture’s financial
situation. Due to this, adequate acquisition of external funds, etc. will be a standard
to measure the financial standing of the Corporation.

Surplus funds for the

Corporation totaled over 100 million yen last fiscal year. In contrast to evaluation ofcompany performance in the private sector, where companies are evaluated basedon ending a fiscal year with as much profit as possible, it is more important for the
Corporation to consider the proper appropriation of these funds for necessary
educational and research projects.

(Opinions, etc.)○

What do “actual operational costs which should be returned to residents, etc.” refer
to?

・“Residents” is a general reference to the residents of Fukushima Prefecture.
The costs mentioned in the question refer to an estimated calculated value of funds
from residents.

(Opinions, etc.)○

Regarding educational and research funding, is there some type of specificbarometer for comparison with other universities to determine if sufficient funds arebeing provided?

For example, if there is another university for which the University

has targeted as a benchmark, the Corporation should set a designated period ofyears to approach the quantitative benchmark values of the targeted university.
・Although the Corporation has not designated specific values for objectives in thecurrent mid-term plans, and since this was also mentioned at the last meeting of theManagement Council, comparisons were made regarding quantitative values ofinterest between the Corporation and other universities such as national universities
and other universities that had transformed into public university corporations at an
early juncture.

However, because of a large discrepancy of quantitative values at

the universities surveyed for undergraduate programs due to variation ofundergraduate school types, it would be difficult to do a simple comparison ofquantitative values between the universities. But if a comparison is to be made, I
would be proud to say that the situation at our Corporation compares favorably toother universities in that it has a high percentage of funds used for education andresearch and a low percentage for personnel expenses.
(Opinions, etc.)○

It appears that the Corporation has concluded several exchange agreements with
universities overseas.

Rather than mere conclusion of agreements, has actual

progress been made regarding specific programs for exchange such as exchange ofstudents?
・

Regarding student exchanges with Harbin Institute of Technology and Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, concrete plans are being made to have someoutstanding students from these universities dispatched to the University of Aizu.
Budget estimates have also been made for this project, and the University is now inthe process of determination of the budgets. The procedures regarding preparation
for these exchanges have advanced at a pace that would have been
incomprehensible before the University’s incorporation. Dispatch of Regent Saito,
the person who will make decisions on issues regarding financial affairs forexchange programs, for observational visits to overseas universities is also being
considered, which should be useful for setting the benchmarks (for comparison withother universities) mentioned previously.
(Opinions, etc.)○

How much is allotted to individual faculty members as funds for education andresearch?

・

We would like to prepare benchmarks for objectives regarding those funds forfaculty in the future. On a side note, the funds for education and research perstudent is very high at the universities of the Corporation, although this may bepartially due to the low number of students at the universities.

(Opinions, etc.)○

Is it possible for the University to consider establishment of mechanisms to keep
students, who have been trained as outstanding IT technicians, in the region after
graduation as a part of contribution to local communities, such as programs forscholarships and employment priority for graduates by local municipalities, etc?

・Fukushima Prefecture and Aizu-Wakamatsu City do not have employment exams
specially geared for applicants in IT fields.

If graduates take examinations for

employment as general civil servants, the current employment system gives
applicants with a background in law and economics an advantage.

Scholarshipprograms may be an effective measure, but some creativity in programs would benecessary.
(Opinions, etc.)○

From the perspective that the University makes an effort to cultivate students,
what are some issues regarding admission by recommendation? Also, though it
appears that it is difficult to produce results regarding admission of high school
students after their second year of high school, what is the outlook for securing
students from that category?

・An extremely high percentage of the students recommended by high schools in
the Prefecture who are admitted to the University through the admission byrecommendation category are students who would be on the threshold for admission
if they applied through the general selection category.

The University must makean effort to encourage high schools to recommend students with high class rankings
for admission to the University. Regarding admission of students finishing theirsecond year of high school to the University, these students have had high levelclass rankings.

With further creative adjustment to this system, increasing theadmission of students through this system is considered necessary.

・Many of the students applying for admission by recommendation to the College,in contrast to the University, have committed themselves to attending a junior college,
and these students are of high levels.

The College would like to raise the issue of

accepting students finishing their second year of high school in the future.
(Opinions, etc.)○

Is it possible to set up some more informal meetings for discussion of issues forthis Council?

・

Although discussions may not be fruitful because of proposal of too many ideas if
meetings for this Council were to be held in a brainstorming type of format, it may beinteresting to hold informal meetings, as long as agenda items are received
beforehand, and basic documents are prepared for the meetings, and the discussion
follows the framework of the prepared items for discussion.

XXXXX, 2007

Signatory to the Minutes

Kenichi Kuroda

Seal

Signatory to the Minutes

Takashi Saito

Seal

Minutes from the Third Management Council Meeting of Fiscal Year 2007
1.

Date and Time:

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
1:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

2.

The Large Conference Room, 3rd floor of the Administrative Complex

Location:

3. Attendance:
Present:
2 non-members:
8 Members:

Prefectural Advisor Hashimoto, Auditor Kuriki(from the University)

Chairperson Tsunoyama of the Board of

Executives (Council Chairperson), Vice-chairperson Mirenkov of theBoard of Executives, Regent Kuroda, Regent Makita, Regent Saito(external members) Council Member Muto, Council Member Kanke,
Council Member Sakai
Administrative staff
4.

Signatories to the Minutes: Council Member Kuroda, Council Member Makita

5.

Proceedings(New Business)
A. FY 2008 Budget Planning Policy (Draft)
Council Member Saito gave an explanation on FY 2008 budget planning policy(draft), and the subject was approved by the Council as proposed, after the exchange of
opinions described below.
Opinions, etc.
○ What percent of the operational subsidies and personnel costs will be reduced?
・ In FY 2007, operational subsidies for all categories were cut by 5%, excluding
personnel costs.

Necessary amount for personnel costs were provided.

However,

there is a mechanism where in the case that salaries for the Prefectural Government
personnel (standard) are reduced, personnel costs (standard) for the Corporation
will also be reduced.
Opinions, etc.
○ In order to obtain more external funds, have any new measures been planned froman organizational perspective, according to concrete goals and objectives?
・ Changes in the measures for acquisition of external funds have not been
considered as necessary so far. An explanation on this matter will be given later,
but the total amount of external funds and Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research hasbeen on the increase.
B. Surplus Funds After the Settlement of Accounts for FY 2006
Council Member Saito gave an explanation on surplus funds after the settlement ofaccounts for FY 2006, and the subject was approved by the Council as proposed, after
the exchange of opinions described below.
Opinions, etc.
○ How did the University manage to settle the accounts with a surplus?
・ Since efforts were made to conserve energy and water, etc. estimated expenditures
were significantly higher than actual expenditures, which ended the University tosettle its accounts with a surplus.
Opinions, etc.
○ I am concerned that the Prefectural Government may come to a conclusion that the
University of Aizu has been affected very little by the reduction of operational
subsidies, as the University has obtained Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Researchsteadily and has surplus funds.
・ The University has appealed to the Prefectural Government that rules pertaining tooperational subsidies were determined so that they will be effective during the period
for mid-term goals, and that such rules should not be changed according to financial
situation of the University every fiscal year.
・ The number of applications accepted for the Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research isan index for university evaluations, and the University must continue to make efforts
to increase the number of applications accepted for the program. However, thesubsidy is granted for research projects conducted by faculty, and appropriation ofthese funds for expenses for educational use at universities is not allowed.

Even ifmany applications for the Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research are accepted, it does
not mean that funds from the program can cover all necessary operational expenses
for universities.
・ The University is short of facilities, including dormitories for international students,
etc., which are strategically necessary for sustainable management of the University.
With regard to appropriation of accumulated surplus funds, such a purpose should betaken into consideration.
(Opinions, etc.)○ In case that an unforeseen urgent expenditure arises, how will that be dealt with?
・ A category for allotment of funds for expenses at the discretion of the President wasestablished in the amount of 7,800,000 yen, and the funds from this budget can beused for urgent matters.

In case of urgent expenses exceeding the amount of thefunds from the budget at the discretion of the President, fund allocation will takesome time since due procedures regarding handling of relevant projects has to betaken, including deliberation by councils, etc. within the University Corporation.
<Reports>
A

Results of Evaluation of FY 2006 Project Achievements by the Public University
Corporation,
the University of Aizu
The Director of the General Affairs Group gave an explanation regarding resultsof evaluation of FY 2006 project achievements by the Public University Corporation,
the University of Aizu, and opinions were exchanged as described below.

(Opinion, etc.)○ The Junior College Division has outstanding achievements regarding off-campus
lectures.

Do these events make any contribution in terms of income for the

Corporation?
・ These lectures have been offered virtually free of charge.

Although the lectures

greatly contribute to the local communities, they do little regarding income for the
Corporation.
(Opinion, etc.)○ What is the Corporation’s stance regarding collaboration with (contribution to) the
Aizu-Wakamatsu area?
・ The University has carried out collaboration and contribution support to the region
where it can through activities by invitations to the “Trans Cosmos” project, etc, forexample.
・ It has been considered that technologies produced by venture business companies
established which are related to the University (the number of those companies isranked first among public university corporations,) should be taken advantage of in
local industry.
(Opinion, etc.)○ Rejuvenation of local communities in Aizu-Wakamatsu can be done by having
students active in the local community.

Is it possible to explore activities for local

contribution as a goal, which would be done through close cooperation between the
University and the Aizu-Wakamatsu municipal government, including activities withinvolvement of University students for this purpose?
・ In the current situation, it may be difficult to realize projects in which knowledge andabilities possessed by the University are utilized for local secondary education, forexample, construction of dormitories commonly used by students from integrated
lower and upper secondary school and the University.

・ Study meetings with the theme of “embedded systems and functional security” havebeen conducted by the University together with local venture business companies on
a consistent basis, so that contribution to local communities will be promoted interms of advancement of technology in local industry.
・ The University has proposed prospective methods for use of the large scale software
program, the Earth Simulator, for weather forecasts for agricultural use in the Aizu
area, as well as methods for utilization of information technology which affectresidents’ lives in local communities.
・ At the Junior College Division, the Center for Rejuvenation of Local Communities wasestablished in FY 2007, where activities for rejuvenation of the Aizu area were launched,through awareness of the needs of the Aizu area by the Management Promotion
Meeting, which includes members from local government and leaders from non-profit
organizations in the area, etc.

(Opinion, etc.)○ How will items which have been evaluated as issues requiring improvement be
addressed?
・ Goals regarding those items will be achieved during the period for the mid-termplans.
・ The University has assigned different priority weights for individual items, which havebeen evaluated as requiring improvement, and has focused on selected items as
those to be carried out initially.

Progress should be made regarding University

reform first, and then relevant detailed items will be carried out in order of theirpriority ranking.
<Other>Recent Situation at the University of Aizu
The Chairperson of the Board of Executives gave an explanation regarding therecent situation at the University of Aizu, and opinions, etc. were exchanged as
described below.
(Opinion, etc.)○ How many students from the University of Aizu have been sent to universities withwhich international exchange agreements have been concluded?

Also, canstudents earn academic credits at those overseas institutes yet?
・ In FY 2006, nine students were sent overseas as part of short-term exchange
programs of three-month or less. They did not earn academic credits for courses
taken during the international exchange program.
(Opinion, etc.)○ Where do international students admitted by the University currently reside?
・ They live in privately-owned apartments and/or dormitories run by the organizations
such as Student Life Support.

However, since the rooms are small and theapartments are located far from the University, the University is in need ofdormitories for students in the vicinity of the campus.

(Opinion, etc.)○ The necessity of dormitories has been an issue since the foundation of the University.
This issue should be addressed in a more aggressive manner, otherwise this willremain as a permanent issue.
・ This is one of the issues which are under consideration for inclusion in the mid-termplans for the revision of the mid-term plans scheduled for FY 2008.
(Opinion, etc.)
・ Upon drawing a plan for dormitory construction, construction of buildings in a central
part of the city should be discussed, taking into consideration the development of
Aizu-Wakamatsu.
(Opinion, etc.)○ Based on some previous observational visits I made to universities in the U.S.A.,
management of dormitories should be conducted in the future, taking into
consideration expectations for support for junior students by prior tenants of thedormitories.
・ Regent Saito will be sent to visit universities in the U.S.A. towards realization of
construction of dormitories.
(Opinion, etc.)○ The Aizu-Wakamatsu municipal government has not yet recognized construction ofdormitories for University students as an urgent issue.

The University should

aggressively invite cooperation from the municipal government and the Chamber ofCommerce, etc.
・ Prior to revision to the mid-term plans scheduled for FY 2008, the University will seek
the cooperation from the municipal government and commercial industry
associations, etc.
(Opinion, etc.)○ In order to share awareness regarding issues and the potential of the University of
Aizu, organization of observational study programs for individuals from the municipal
office, organizations related to commercial industry associations, as well as membersof this Council, paid for at the expense of the participants for example could be
useful.
・ It will be considered hereafter.
XXXXX, 2007
Signatory to the Minutes

Kenichi Kuroda

Seal

Signatory to the Minutes

Masahisa Makita

Seal