December 4, 2009
The Constitution of Japan upholds the dignity of individuals and equality under the law. Based on this principle, the Basic Act for Gender Equal Society positions the realization of a gender-equal society as the most important issue of the 21st century. A ""gender-equal society"" is one where individuals, regardless of gender, participate as equal members of society in all fields of activity according to their own will, equally enjoy political, economic, social, and cultural benefits, where each person's individuality is respected, and diverse choices are guaranteed.
The realization of a gender-equal society is a responsibility shared by the nation, local governments, and all citizens, and it goes without saying that universities, as institutions of higher education, should play a part in this. Universities have a very significant role to play in promoting gender equality in educational and research activities and in academic and research fields.
According to a survey conducted as part of the recommendation ""For the Promotion of Gender Equality in Academic Fields"" issued by the Science Council of Japan in July 2008, the implementation status of activities to promote gender equality was generally low. Among the 451 institutions that responded ""not particularly doing anything,"" national universities accounted for 35.1%, while private universities reached as high as 78.4%. Unfortunately, even these figures alone clearly show that activities towards gender equality are extremely sluggish in private universities.
However, it became clear that for institutions adopted under the Science and Technology Promotion Adjustment Fund's ""Support for Women Researchers Model Development"" program, organizations and committees for promoting gender equality were established, public relations and awareness activities became more active, and statistical data and problem analysis progressed. Furthermore, it has become clear that these institutions have achieved excellent results in initiatives to increase the number of female faculty members, active participation of women in university decision-making, and childcare support systems.
Currently, 45 institutions have been adopted for the ""Support for Women Researchers Model Development"" program, and each is diligently working towards realizing unique concepts and system reforms while leveraging their respective educational philosophies and characteristics. However, among these, only 10 private universities have been adopted: Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan Women's University, Waseda University, Keio University, Tsuda University, Tokai University, Nihon University, Sophia University, Tokyo City University, and Toho University. Out of 773 universities nationwide, private universities account for nearly 77% of them, yet the number of adopted private universities is less than a quarter of the total.
National universities have already had a ""Recommendation for Promoting Gender Equality in National Universities"" issued by the Japan Association of National Universities (JANU) in 2000. This recommendation included ""establishment of organizations responsible for promoting gender equality,"" ""adoption of positive action,"" and ""promotion of women's participation in science, technology, and other fields where women are particularly underrepresented,"" thus establishing a system for promoting gender equality early on.
As a result, Hokkaido University and Nagoya University have implemented ""Positive Action Hokkaido Style"" and ""Advanced Positive Action Project,"" respectively, effectively utilizing university-wide budgets to take very proactive measures to increase the number of female faculty members while respecting the personnel authority of individual departments. At the National Seven Universities Symposium in October 2008, the ""U7 Joint Declaration on Gender Equality"" by the presidents of the seven universities declared: ""We recognize the significant responsibility that universities bear for the realization of a gender-equal society, and we will focus our wisdom on policies including 'proactive appointment of female researchers based on fair evaluation' and make earnest efforts towards its realization."" Furthermore, ""gender equality"" has been positioned as a university strategy in many universities.
We earnestly hope that private universities will also raise their awareness and implement proactive support measures, encouraging more universities to follow suit. Therefore, as an initiative by the presidents and chancellors of the 10 private universities, directed both internally and externally, we hereby loudly declare our commitment to promoting and realizing gender equality.
To achieve gender equality in education, research, and employment, we will work university-wide to rectify gender disparities in the human composition of faculty, staff, and students, and aim for the realization of gender equality in university governance decision-making.
We will take effective and concrete measures to enable faculty, staff, and students of each university to balance childbirth, childcare, and nursing care with education, research, and employment.
We recognize that scholarship and research in a gender-equal society will significantly contribute to leading the world and solving various global problems, and that the realization of gender equality also contributes to the coexistence of diverse lives. With this awareness, we will continue to aim for the convergence of knowledge and the development of excellent, internationally-minded human resources for the creation of a new society.
To strongly promote gender equality in academic fields, we recognize our significant responsibility to society as private universities regarding the proactive recruitment of female researchers, career development support, and support for balancing research and education with childcare and nursing care, and we will make earnest efforts towards their realization.
President, Tokyo Women's Medical University
President, Japan Women's University
President, Waseda University
President, Keio University
President, Tsuda University
President, Tokai University
President, Nihon University
President, Sophia University
President, Tokyo City University
President, Toho University
(In order of adoption year, then Japanese syllabary order)