On Nov. 20, the full draft of the final report compiled by the expert panel on the promotion of regional universities (chaired by Masahiro Sakane, Komatsu Ltd. councilor) was announced. To rectify the current situation where there is an overly high concentration of students in Tokyo, the report calls on the government to revitalize regional universities by enacting a new law. The report states that “increases in student body numbers will in principle not be permitted” for universities in Tokyo’s 23 wards.

The panel will present the content of the report at its meeting on Nov. 21, and the report will be submitted to Minister of State for Regional Revitalization Hiroshi Kajiyama at the beginning of December after it has been finalized. The government plans to submit a new bill to the ordinary session of the Diet next year based on the panel’s proposals.

Key points in the draft final report

• Propose that a new law be enacted to revitalize regional universities
• Propose that a new subsidy framework be created to promote academia-industry-business collaboration at regional universities
• Emphasize that increases in the size of student bodies should not be allowed for universities in Tokyo’s 23 wards