TOKYO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The University of Tokyo and two other Japanese universities were chosen as candidates to be designated as world-class research institutes eligible for substantial grant from a government fund, local media reported Tuesday.
A panel of experts under the education ministry also selected Tohoku University and Kyoto University from 10 applicants seeking recognition as "Universities for International Research Excellence," Kyodo News said.
The decision will be finalized in the fall after on-site inspections, it added.
The universities, if chosen, would be eligible for grants paid out of profits generated from a 10 trillion yen (70 billion U.S. dollars) fund established by the government to bring Japanese institutions up to par with the world's top universities, said the report.
The Japanese government is planning to raise 300 billion yen (2.1 billion dollars) every year to provide tens of billions of yen in support of each of the designated universities annually from as early as fiscal 2024 for up to 25 years, as Japanese universities have fallen behind overseas educational institutions in recent years, according to Kyodo News. ■
