Research ActivitiesWaseda University

To build “A Waseda that Shines on the World Stage”

TAKEUCHI, Atsushi
Senior Dean, Research Council／Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering

The Research Council at Waseda University is a research platform that was established in 2009 with the goal of facilitating collaboration and exchange among researchers across departments, and promoting an organizational and strategic approach to pursuing research at the University level.

By defining social and academic research topics from a global perspective and determining strategic priorities based on the diverse range of research seeds available at Waseda University, the Research Council strives to become a unique and distinctive research hub.

In line with President Tanaka’s vision to build “A Waseda that Shines on the World Stage,” we aim to take on new challenges to engage in cutting-edge research and build a foundation that will allow us to consistently disseminate research that has true value.

September 2020

What are University Research Initiatives?

Waseda University publicly invites research projects to be supported with priority within the university. After these projects go through a certain review process, Waseda University then provides support for them as University Research Initiatives. These research initiatives are performed as project research institutes  with budget granted by Waseda University.

The research period is five years. An interim assessment and a final assessment will be carried out in the third year and fifth years, respectively.

Information on public invitation

Priority assessment (overview)

The review/assessment working group , established under Research Council Steering Committee, carries out a prior assessment of the University Research Initiatives at the time of adoption, as well as an interim assessment in the third year, and a final assessment in the fifth year (or the final year of establishment).

Therefore, even if a research initiative is planned to be implemented (a project research institute is planned to be established) over a period of four years or more, the review/assessment working group  may reach the decision to terminate it before such planned period ends, depending on the results of the interim assessment.

Organization assessment (overview)

Research organizations will be established for a period of five years in principle, and may be reestablished for an additional period of up to five years. (A second reestablishment will not be permitted.)

Under this rule, a prior assessment is carried out at the time of establishment, and a final assessment is carried out in the final year (or the fifth year after establishment ). In addition, a prior assessment is carried out at the time of reestablishment, and a final assessment is carried out in the final year (or the fifth year after reestablishment) . If the necessity arises (such as if an issue is recognized), an interim assessment will be carried out.