[Okayama University] Meeting Held with Yokohama City University on the Training and Operation of Research and Development Management Personnel, Viewing from the Enhancement of the URA System
Okayama University and Yokohama City University held a meeting to discuss the training and operation of Research and Development Management Personnel (URAs). As part of a MEXT initiative, the universities aim to strengthen URA career paths and foster inter-university collaboration to enhance national research capabilities.
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- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 12:12
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 03:30
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April 6, 2026
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
On March 24, 2026, National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) held a meeting regarding the training and operation of research and development management personnel at the Fukuura Campus of Public University Corporation Yokohama City University (Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City).
This meeting is part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) "Project for the Development of Systems Related to Research and Development Management Personnel." The project aims to promote the active role of research management personnel to strengthen the research capabilities of universities nationwide, resolve the quantitative shortage and improve the quality of such personnel in Japan, and promote the establishment of appropriate treatment and career paths. Okayama University acts as a training provision institution, and Yokohama City University as a trainee dispatching institution. The meeting was held from the perspective of better operation and strengthening collaboration for the implementation of the project from FY2026 onwards.
On the day of the event, participants from Yokohama City University included Tetsu Kinoshita, Special Vice President (Head of URA Division); Tetsuya Kurobe, Director of Research Promotion Department (Assistant to Head of URA Division); Hiromichi Suzuki, Deputy Head of URA Division; Shinji Sakamoto, Deputy Head of URA Division; Rie Yamazaki, Manager of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Division; and Tatsuki Muramatsu, Chief of Research Planning of the same division. Participants from Okayama University included Norihito Sato, Executive Vice President (in charge of General Management of Research and Industry-Academia Co-creation) / Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs) / Senior URA, who is responsible for project implementation; Makoto Shoho, General Chief Examiner of Research Cooperation Division, Research and Innovation Co-creation Management Management Department; and Kaori Fukuhara, Administrative Staff.
At the meeting, Executive Vice President/Vice President/Senior URA Sato gave greetings and explained the purpose. General Chief Examiner Shoho explained the details of the training provided by Okayama University. During the Q&A session, discussions covered not only the fine details of the training menu but also the strengthening and promotion of the URA system at Yokohama City University, the establishment of a core hub on campus, and the ideal state of research and development management personnel involved.
Regarding this meeting, Norihito Sato, Executive Vice President/Vice President/Senior URA, who is responsible for the project implementation, stated: "As both Yokohama City University and our university are selected for MEXT's 'Program for Forming Japan's Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)', we are also advancing collaboration from the perspective of forming a group of research universities. I would like to express my deep gratitude for the in-depth discussions on the current issues and future vision of the research and development management personnel system, especially the operation of URAs who play a core role in research management. The career path of URAs at Okayama University has been used as a reference by many universities and research institutions, but we will not be complacent with the current situation. We intend to learn from the opinions shared this time to build an even better system. We will also use this to build a better training menu for the Project for the Development of Systems Related to Research and Development Management Personnel."
Okayama University will continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders and promote the advancement of the training and operation of research and development management personnel. To make the most of this, we will rapidly proceed with flexible organizational and institutional reforms that are not bound by conventional frameworks.
Please continue to look forward to the challenges of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth and realizes social transformation, and Yokohama City University.
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
On March 24, 2026, National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) held a meeting regarding the training and operation of research and development management personnel at the Fukuura Campus of Public University Corporation Yokohama City University (Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City).
This meeting is part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) "Project for the Development of Systems Related to Research and Development Management Personnel." The project aims to promote the active role of research management personnel to strengthen the research capabilities of universities nationwide, resolve the quantitative shortage and improve the quality of such personnel in Japan, and promote the establishment of appropriate treatment and career paths. Okayama University acts as a training provision institution, and Yokohama City University as a trainee dispatching institution. The meeting was held from the perspective of better operation and strengthening collaboration for the implementation of the project from FY2026 onwards.
On the day of the event, participants from Yokohama City University included Tetsu Kinoshita, Special Vice President (Head of URA Division); Tetsuya Kurobe, Director of Research Promotion Department (Assistant to Head of URA Division); Hiromichi Suzuki, Deputy Head of URA Division; Shinji Sakamoto, Deputy Head of URA Division; Rie Yamazaki, Manager of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Division; and Tatsuki Muramatsu, Chief of Research Planning of the same division. Participants from Okayama University included Norihito Sato, Executive Vice President (in charge of General Management of Research and Industry-Academia Co-creation) / Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs) / Senior URA, who is responsible for project implementation; Makoto Shoho, General Chief Examiner of Research Cooperation Division, Research and Innovation Co-creation Management Management Department; and Kaori Fukuhara, Administrative Staff.
At the meeting, Executive Vice President/Vice President/Senior URA Sato gave greetings and explained the purpose. General Chief Examiner Shoho explained the details of the training provided by Okayama University. During the Q&A session, discussions covered not only the fine details of the training menu but also the strengthening and promotion of the URA system at Yokohama City University, the establishment of a core hub on campus, and the ideal state of research and development management personnel involved.
Regarding this meeting, Norihito Sato, Executive Vice President/Vice President/Senior URA, who is responsible for the project implementation, stated: "As both Yokohama City University and our university are selected for MEXT's 'Program for Forming Japan's Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)', we are also advancing collaboration from the perspective of forming a group of research universities. I would like to express my deep gratitude for the in-depth discussions on the current issues and future vision of the research and development management personnel system, especially the operation of URAs who play a core role in research management. The career path of URAs at Okayama University has been used as a reference by many universities and research institutions, but we will not be complacent with the current situation. We intend to learn from the opinions shared this time to build an even better system. We will also use this to build a better training menu for the Project for the Development of Systems Related to Research and Development Management Personnel."
Okayama University will continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders and promote the advancement of the training and operation of research and development management personnel. To make the most of this, we will rapidly proceed with flexible organizational and institutional reforms that are not bound by conventional frameworks.
Please continue to look forward to the challenges of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth and realizes social transformation, and Yokohama City University.