To promote improvement in the environment ensuring independent researches by young scientists, the special coordination funds for promoting science and technology "Program for the Promotion to Improve Independent Research Environments for Young Scientists" was started based on the tenure track system to give opportunities for young scientists to independently conduct their researches under competitive conditions in research institutes aspiring toward world-class achievements. This program aims at reforming staff training systems (introducing the "Japanese style tenure track system"). After the completion of the 5-year program, the university should continue the system as its own effort.
In the University of Tsukuba, the "Initiative to Train Young Researchers Who Will Lead the Next Generation", which was adopted in FY 2007, has been carried out. Concerning the reformation of staff training systems in the University of Tsukuba, the TARA (Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance) Center introduced a fixed-term employment system in 1994 for the first time in Japan. Initiative to the application of this program, the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences having the fixed-term employment system since FY 2002 and the Institute of Biological Sciences having the tenure track system since FY 2005 early in Japan started to set up a cooperative program for the application. Subsequently, the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Applied Biochemistry joined the program to collaborate with the present program. In response to the trials by these pioneering institutes, the University of Tsukuba determined in January 2007 to introduce either the tenure track system or the fixed-term employment system into every department throughout the university during the first intermediate trial and intermediate planning phase.
On the other hand, the University of Tsukuba launched its "Organization for the Support and Development of Strategic Initiatives" under the leadership of the president as "a new framework for improving the educational and research level of the entire university including the existing organizations by energetically developing activities whereby the university can carry out world-class achievements in research and then give back those achievements to institutions such as graduate schools and centers for education or research" in FY 2007. The present "Initiative to Train Young Researchers Who Will Lead the Next Generation" is ranked at the top level S and has been carried out with the university's support concerning research space, funds and personnel. According to this program, young teachers, three associate professors and 12 assistant professors, were employed and one or two mentors who give scientific, educational and administration advice are provided for each of the young teachers. To ensure the independence of the young teachers, an independent-style core facility (General Research Building D), where one research assistant for each of the young teachers and five technical and clerical staff are provided, was set up.
This program is characterized by being voluntarily managed routinely by an "Administration and Coordination Committee" organized by the young teachers themselves. Young teachers with proven research achievements were employed and allowed to conduct their researches in a well-established environment with sufficient assistance for improving their "scientific", "educational" and "research administration" capabilities. Under these circumstances, it is really expected that these young teachers will become not mere scientists or teachers but "leaders of the university in the next generation".