The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced on April 1 that Tohoku University has been selected as the first candidate for support in the 10 trillion yen university fund established by the government to create world-class research universities. The fund comprehensively evaluated the university's strategies for research and organizational reform.

The University Fund is a system under which assets are invested in stocks and bonds, and profits are distributed to several "International Universities of Research Excellence" to improve their research capabilities. The total amount of support will be capped at 300 billion yen per year, which can be received for up to 25 years.

This year, the first year of the program, 10 universities have applied for the program. The ministry's expert panel, which is in charge of reviewing the applications, selected Tohoku University with the caveat that it will be accredited if certain conditions are met, including the refinement of a plan to develop world-class research. Official recognition is expected to be granted by the end of FY2012.

Tohoku University President Hideo Ohno said, "I am deeply honored that Tohoku University's commitment to reform has been recognized. We will continue to work together as a university to achieve final accreditation with the aim of becoming a world-leading research university.

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Source : https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE17AY30X10C23A8000000/

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