I have this issue endlessly. Here's a great example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVNt5id4Ke8
I'd like to extend upon this bug post and comment that plopping additional University buildings, i.e. the Engineering Division, does not check off prereqs for other cities in the region, nor does it provide the bonuses except to the original city. For example, the Hazmat trucks in the fire dept. The only prereq that is checked off in neighboring cities is that there is a university in the region. The other two requirements (the specific school and completed research are not recognized as being completed).
TL,DR - The University buildings are also bugged right now and completing research projects does not grant its benefits to any other cities.
I was playing on NA East 3 and I researched tier 3 nuclear reactors, and the other city built one, so that does work for me.
