An internal investigation at Hokkaido University has found that the university’s Chemistry Department engaged in “organized academic harassment.”
According to Hokkaido University’s investigation, associate professors who remained in laboratories after the retirement of their supervising professor were designated as “staff who should leave.” Internal rules were created to restrict their access to experimental facilities and office space and to prevent the assignment of students to their laboratories. These measures effectively pressured the associate professors to move to other institutions. The resulting vacancies were then used to bring in newly appointed professors and their subordinate faculty members. This practice continued for several years.
