JAPAN: Government penalises three universities

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has decided to reject applications for research funds from Yokohama City University and two other universities that were found to have engaged in inappropriate actions this year, reports The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The three universities asked for a total of 424 million yen in so-called competitive funds, which are granted by the ministry for outstanding projects and research at universities.

This will be the first time the ministry has turned down applications for the funds, which are intended to support higher eduction, due to inappropriate actions by the applying school. The ministry will ask the schools to strictly enforce discipline by imposing financial penalties, according to the sources.

In March, professors at Yokohama City University were found to have received cash gifts from students for granting doctorates in medicine. Ritsumeikan University was accused of urging newly enrolled students at a department where the number of accepted students exceeded its quota to move to other departments in a special scheme. Setouchi Junior College was revealed to have used its faculty's retirement allowance as operating funds for the school.
Full report on The Yomiuri Shimbun site