16 2.4 A Decade of Dynamism: From the 30th to the 40th Anniversary 2.4.1 Strategic University Management 2.4.1.1 Medium-Term Goals and Medium-Term Plans This ten-year period largely overlaps with the University’s history as a national university corporation following incorporation in 2004. FY2016, which marked the University’s 40th anniversary, was also the first year of the third medium-term goals and plans period, and the preceding ten years correspond to the first and second medium-term goals and plans periods. In July 2003, as part of the administrative reform agenda, six related laws including the National University Corporation Act were enacted, and in April 2004 national universities were reorganized into 89 national university corporations. The first medium-term goals and plans period (FY2004 to FY2009) began, and key topics in university reform included globalization, innovation creation, functional enhancement, and governance. This first period was also the initial phase of the national university corporation system, and it can be said to have been a period during which both the government and universities explored how to operate the new system smoothly, while focusing on fostering autonomy and developing each university’s distinctive character. In July 2010, when the second period (FY2010 to FY2015) began, the Current Status and Issues After Incorporation of National University Corporations (Interim Summary) was published. It identified three issues arising from the social and economic conditions after incorporation: the internationalization of higher education and assurance of educational quality, the declining population of 18-year-olds, university entrance rates, and the severe fiscal situation. It also outlined improvement measures from the three perspectives of strengthening educational and research capability, strengthening governance, and strengthening the financial base. In this way, university reform accelerated as the second medium-term goals and plans period began. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, the University Reform Implementation Plan was announced by MEXT in June 2012. The outlines of the University’s first through third medium-term goals and plans, as well as its educational strategies during those periods, are described in detail in the 40th-anniversary history (Section 3.1.4.1 Medium-Term Goals and Medium-Term Plans). 2.4.1.2 Organizational Reform Organizational reforms were also carried out. In FY2010, the educational and research organization was reorganized from eight programs and eight majors to five programs and five majors. To create a structure capable of actively promoting international exchange projects, the Organization for International Infrastructure was established in FY2010, consisting of the International Exchange Center (formed through the integration of the International Student Center and the Language Center) and the Research Center for International Cooperation in Engineering Education. In FY2012, this was reorganized into the Global Engineering Education Promotion Organization. In the same fiscal year, an overseas education base was established in Penang, Malaysia. Also, in FY2005, the Technology Development Center, Analysis and Instrumentation Center, and Machine Shop Center were integrated into the Research Infrastructure Center, which in FY2016 was renamed the Center for Education and Research Infrastructure. In FY2014, the Physical Education and Health Center was reorganized into the Health Support Center by adding health management and health support to its existing functions. Social collaboration was also strengthened. In FY2012, the Headquarters for Regional Collaboration Promotion was established to enhance cooperation with local governments and communities and to enrich public lectures and programs for citizens and elementary, junior high, and high school students. In addition, programs for the development of working professionals were promoted, and in October 2014 the Council for Career Development Collaboration for Working Professionals was established with the aim of contributing to the revitalization of the entire region. Furthermore, based on the Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality, a women’s dormitory was newly established in 2008, and in April 2011 the Office for the Promotion of Gender Equality was created. The
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