SAPPORO -- A striking 64.3% of Hokkaido University faculty members responding to a union survey released on Oct. 27 said they had considered moving to another university or institution or were already preparing to do so.
The university's faculty and staff union launched the survey out of concern that continued cuts to operating grants, which cover the basic expenses of national universities, and soaring utility costs were seriously affecting education and research activities. In particular, it said that cuts to funding allocated to individual faculty members had become routine and were directly impeding their teaching and research.
Many respondents also criticized the government's research policies, describing them as "a path to national ruin."
65% say rising utility costs are having an impact
The survey was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. It was sent to faculty members whose contact details were available to the union, and 399 responded.
Of the respondents, 19.5% specialized in medical, dental or pharmaceutical sciences; 13.1% in social sciences; 12.8% in agriculture or environmental studies; 12.1% in engineering or information science; 10.8% in mathematical or physical sciences; and 10.3% in biological sciences, among other fields.
Regarding funding allocated to individual faculty members, 39.2% said it had been "somewhat reduced," while 32.4% said it had been "substantially reduced." Asked whether rising utility costs had affected the allocation of funds for teaching and research, 65.2% said they had.
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