TOKYO - Japan's education ministry on Tuesday asked the University of Tokyo to review the selection process of its next president, who placed second in a vote by faculty and staff but was still chosen for the post last month.
The ministry said it was the first time it had requested a university to conduct such a review, citing questions raised both inside and outside the country's top academic institution about the selection.
Education minister Yoshihiro Seki told a press conference that it was regrettable that many people still felt the university had not clearly explained the selection process or the reasons for its decision. "I expect the university to provide a full explanation," he said.
Yuko Fujigaki, 64, a professor of science and technology studies at the university's graduate school, was selected on Sept. 28 to become the university's first female president. Her six-year term will begin in April.
In a vote by the university's professors, associate professors and staff, Fujigaki placed second with 553 votes, compared with 1,107 for Vice President Takao Someya.
A senior ministry official said the university has not adequately explained why it chose Fujigaki when Someya had received twice as many votes.
After a group of university faculty and staff submitted a petition last week seeking an explanation of the selection process, the university responded that while the vote was "one important factor" in the decision, the weight given to it relative to other considerations varied among selection committee members.
The minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology said at the press conference the university had described the selection procedures but had not provided enough detail on how the committee made its choice.
