• The RU11 University Association
  • Hokkaido University
  • Tohoku University
  • Tsukuba University
  • University of Tokyo
  • Waseda University
  • Keio University
  • Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Nagoya University
  • Kyoto University
  • Osaka University
  • Kyushu University

The purpose of analyzing academic research data, particularly publication and citation trends is to provide diverse objective information on universities and other academic institutions that can be used by researchers and institutions for various evaluations and the setting of objectives. The 2010 Thomson Reuters / THE World University Rankings, however, do not give sufficient consideration to the unique characteristics of universities in different countries or the differing research needs and demands from society based on country, culture and academic field. As a result, those rankings are likely to lead to an unbalanced misleading and misuse of the citation index.

RU11 strongly requests, therefore, that Thomson Reuters / THE endeavors to contribute to academic society by providing objective and impartial data, rather than imposing a simplistic and trivialized form of university assessment.

Specifically, we request that Thomson Reuters addresses the following three issues:

1. The ranking of citations based on either citations per author (or faculty) or citations per paper represent two fundamentally different ways of thinking with regards to academic institutions: are the institutions to be viewed as an aggregation of their researchers, or as an aggregation of the papers they have produced? We believe that the correct approach is to base the citations ranking on citations per faculty, as has been the practice in the past.
2. We request a revision of the method used for regional modification.
3. We request the disclosure of the raw numerical data used to calculate the citation impact score for the various research fields at each university.

Attached Reference Materials

In support of the above statement, we have provided an analysis of discrepancies in rankings based on the following publicly available data:

1. The rankings based solely on citations per paper for the 27 universities in the Top Asian Universities 2010, published in the Time HE World University Rankings 2010-2011 (published in September 2010, covering a 5-year period, with regional modification).
   http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/asia.html#score_CI%7Csort_ind%7Creverse_false
2. The total figures for the 11-year period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010, as included in Thomson Reuters’ Essential Science Indicators (published in April 2011, covering an 11-year period, no regional modification).
   http://isiknowledge.com/esi
3. Quacquarelli Symonds The 2010 QS Asian University Rankings (citations per paper, covering a 5-year period, no regional modification)
   http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/asian-university-rankings/2010/indicator-rankings/citations-per-faculty
4. The 2010 QS World University Rankings (citations per faculty, covering a 5-year period, no regional modification)

Explanation of Reference Materials

1. Reference 1: Comparison with the citations ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds (no regional modification).
   This chart compares the citations per paper rankings produced by Thomson Reuters with those produced by Quacquarelli Symonds. The former shows the results after regional modification, and the latter shows the results with no regional modification. The huge impact that the regional modification method used by Thomson Reuters has on the ranking of Japanese universities is very apparent. While there may be differences in the academic databases which are being used as the raw data, it seems likely that the regional modification is the cause of such large discrepancies.
2. Reference 2: Comparison with the citations ranking for an 11-year period (no regional modification).
   This chart compares the 5-year period citations per paper rankings (with regional modification) with the 10-year period citations per paper rankings (no regional modification). Both rankings are based on Thomson Reuters’ data. This comparison shows that when the period of assessment is increased, the positions of historically respected institutions, including those in Japan, consistently improve. This is due to the fact that basic research requires a relatively long time for its value to be understood. This would seem to indicate that the 2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings are excessively weighted in favor of research which delivers quickly attainable benefits.
3. Reference 3: Comparison of the rankings of the RU11 universities when ranked by citations per paper and by citations per faculty.
   This chart compares Thomson Reuters’ citations per paper ranking with Quacquarelli Symonds’ citations per faculty ranking. The two rankings cover the same 5-year period; however, the Thomson Reuters ranking includes regional modification. The rank of many institutions, including the RU11 universities is higher in the citations per faculty ranking. The 2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings give great recognition to so-called “home run papers,” while the smaller, accumulative contributions to academia made by scholars producing “multi hit” papers are undervalued. It is questionable whether this is an appropriate way to evaluate academic research.

• Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Great East Japan Earthquake
• Disaster Management Office, Nagoya University: Earthquake Information
• National Institute of Radiological Sciences

Nagoya University, in response to this unprecedented disaster, has established the Nagoya University Disaster Response Headquarters for the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and has been providing various kinds of support, such as dispatching teams of doctors and radiation measurers as well as providing medical supplies. In addition, we have begun raising donations and are ensuring that the affected students have good access to the libraries. We will continue to take every possible measure to support the recovery, such as assisting the affected students as well as responding promptly to requests made by the sections concerned.

"Joint Statement between Japan and the Republic of Uzbekistan"
"V. Promotion of exchange of people
4. Both sides welcomed the development of exchange between universities in the two countries in recent years, and expressed their intention of providing the necessary support for further promoting exchange in the fields of education and academia in the two countries. In this regard, both sides welcomed the establishment of the Nagoya University Uzbekistan Office in March 2010 in Tashkent as an overseas university office for shared use with the aim of promoting study abroad activities between the two countries within the framework of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Global 30 Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization. Both sides also expressed expectations for the further invigoration of international student exchange and youth exchange activities between the two countries through this office in the future."
(Excerpt from the official website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. The entire statement can be viewed on the official website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet)

Nagoya University started conducting research exchange in the fields of law and politics with Uzbekistan in the 1990s, and since then has consistently promoted academic and student exchanges with this country through various agreements and activities. In 2000, Nagoya University concluded Inter-School Agreements for Academic Exchange and Cooperation with Tashkent State Institute of Law, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, and Samarkand State University. In 2005, a Research and Education Center for Japanese Law was established at Tashkent State Institute of Law, and an Inter-University Agreement for Academic Exchange and Cooperation was also concluded with this institution. The above exchanges culminated in the establishment of the Nagoya University Uzbekistan Office in March 2010 with the aim of introducing Japanese universities and promoting study abroad activities within the framework of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization (Global 30), a project for which Nagoya University was selected in 2009. In October 2010, the Uzbek-Japan Academic Forum 2010 was held at Nagoya University thanks to joint organization by the Embassy of Uzbekistan, the Center for Asian Legal Exchange (CALE) Nagoya University, and the Uzbek Students’ Association of Nagoya University. Also in 2010, Nagoya University concluded an Inter-University Agreement for Academic Exchange and Cooperation with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. Further opportunities for promoting exchange between Japan and Uzbekistan are expected in the future.

1. Avoid crowds unless it is absolutely necessary, and wash your hands and gargle at home and in university.
   Keep regular lifestyle to maintain your body strength, and cover your nose and mouth with tissue when coughing (sneezing).
2. When you get the flu like symptoms such as fever and coughing, refrain from attending a class / office so as not to pass the flu to others. Seek a local public health center by phone for some instructions beforehand on when and how you get an examination. Make sure to wear a mask when going to a local public health center.
3. In case the infected case of Influenza H1N1 is confirmed, contact the Student Affairs Section (students) / Personnel Division (faculty and staff) you belong to. Even if you are well into recovery, make sure to stay at home and do not attend any classes / come to the office during the period directed by the doctor (at least 48 hours after the fever is gone, unless you get any instructions from the doctor).
4. If you miss a class because of the symptoms of the flu, contact the Student Affairs Section you belong to since some special measures could be taken to make consideration to you.
5. When you go camping or trip as the extracurricular activities, make sure you report it by document to Student Affairs & Planning Division beforehand. Bring thermometers, masks, and health insurance card, and take your temperature every day. If someone is found to have fever or a sickness, seclude him / her from others and find the nearest medical institution.
   In the case you have a person with the symptoms, the responsible person should report it to Student Affairs & Planning Division and consider the termination of the activity.
6. If you are pregnant or have some underlying diseases (diabetes, asthma, etc.), consult a doctor in advance and get immediate medical attention when you have a sickness.
7. Get thermometers and masks regularly in case of the infection, and prepare foods, drinking water and other basic commodities so that you can stay home for a week or more.

Reference Websites etc.

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• World Health Organization (WHO)

The possession, cultivation and transferring of cannabis [marijuana] are strictly prohibited and illegal in Japan. Anyone who violates this law will be judged as violation of the Cannabis Control Law and will be jailed up to seven years.

Students should observe the Japanese Law and keep away from cannabis [marijuana] or any other illegal substances. Please be careful about not getting involved in these crimes.

Dr. Makoto Kobayashi received his B.S. in 1967 and his Ph.D. in 1972 from Nagoya University. After being appointed research associate at Kyoto University, he joined the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) as Professor, and in 1992 become Professor Emeritus of KEK.

Dr. Toshihide Maskawa

Dr. Makoto Kobayashi

Typically the peak season for spread of measles is from April to June when group ceremonies and activities such as school entrance ceremonies are scheduled. In order to prevent an outbreak on campus we recommend consulting your personal doctor and considering a second vaccination or antibody test, for those who have not received a measles vaccination in the past, have not contracted the disease, or received vaccination over 10 years ago.

Measles is airborne, spreading through the air via droplets. It can also be communicated by direct contact. The disease is highly contagious. Measles incubates for roughly 10 days before symptoms become apparent. The first symptoms to appear are those of a severe cold, accompanied by high fever, coughing, a runny nose, continuing for two to four days. This is followed by a rash that spreads over the entire body. If untreated, the patient weakened by measles risks contracting further, even more serious illnesses.

Because measles is highly contagious, everyone's first concern must be with preventing its spread. Measles is contagious from the point at which cold symptoms emerge, and remains contagious until five days after the rash appears.

To avoid infection, everyone is asked to hold meetings and workshops to a minimum. Further steps you should take include:

• Gargling and washing your hands frequently;
• If you have not contracted measles in the past, and have not yet been innoculated, obtain an innoculation at your doctor's;
• If you experience symptoms such as a cold or fever, do not go outside or come to University unnecessarily, and obtain medical attention immediately;
• Remember that measles is contagious from the moment cold symptoms appear.

If you develop a cold, please receive medical attention immediately, and make contact with the student affairs section (Kyoumu-gakusei-kakari) of your faculty.