University Accreditation Results(Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for University)

Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PrivateLocation: Kyoto, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2022
Accreditation Status: accredited（Accreditation Period: April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2030）

Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kyoto Pharmaceutical University
Overview
Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, founded on the philosophy of “Philosophia et
Praktikos (Philosophy and Practice),” defines its principles and purpose as“contributing to the health and welfare of humanity based on the dignity of life bypromoting pharmaceutical education and research as an advanced education andacademic research institute”; “nurturing the abilities of students to think and act basedon a wide range of expertise in medicine, drug design, and life sciences, as well as
the skills necessary for humane pharmacists with abundant knowledge and highethical standards based on the dignity of life”; and “cultivating human resources who
can play an active role in a variety of fields, including clinical studies, drug design,
academia and education, and health and hygiene.” To achieve these principles andpurpose, the University has formulated a medium-term plan that sets the goal ofenhancing its educational and research capabilities to foster scientific thinking, andis working to promote education and research with a focus on clinical studies. InAY2016, the University drew up a master plan to develop a long-term vision in therun-up to the 150th anniversary of its foundation. The plan includes developing andapplying cutting-edge research to education with the aim of becoming “a university
pursuing the cultivation of ‘pharmacist-scientists’ dedicated to advanced research andguided by the University’s founding philosophy (Kyoyaku Brand).”Regarding internal quality assurance, the University has formulated theKyoto Pharmaceutical University Policy for Internal Quality Assurance to realize its
principles, purpose, and policies. The policy states that the University conducts selfstudy of its educational and research activities, makes constant improvements andreforms to enhance the quality of education based on the results, and releases theevaluation results and other information to the public. In AY2021, the University
established a university-wide internal quality assurance system led by the Self-Study
Steering Committee, but the committee has not effectively fulfilled its role as anorganization promoting internal quality assurance. In fact, the Executive Faculty
Meeting makes arrangements and hold discussions with each division, while theManagement Meeting evaluates and provides feedback on the progress of themedium-term plan. In addition, the committee’s self-study remains a work inprogress with notable strengths and issues based on results yet to be identified. This1

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issue should be addressed by clarifying the positions of the Executive Faculty
Meeting and the Management Meeting in the internal quality assurance system, andensuring that self-study activities are regularly conducted, with each division’s
improvement and enhancement efforts based on the results appropriately managed
by the Self-Study Steering Committee.
As for the University’s education, both the faculty and the graduate school
have appropriately established diploma policies for each degree to be awarded, andthe curriculum policies are properly designed and made known to the public. To help
students acquire academic skills for active learning, such as listening to lectures,
taking notes, and writing reports, the University published the booklets AcademicSkills for Kyoto Pharmaceutical University Students in 2020 and Academic Skills
for Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021. The University also carries out rubric
evaluations and surveys at the time of graduation to monitor and assess the faculty’s
student learning outcomes. To assess pre-clerkships, a general evaluation form wasintroduced in AY2018 for students to self-evaluate the level of acquiring eachlearning item.
As social contribution efforts, the University provides the recurrent
education, Lehmann Program, with the aim of developing leaders in the field ofpharmacy. The program accepts not only the University’s graduates but also those ofother universities and is designed for working adults to participate as well. It is highly
commendable that the program functions as a social contribution project open to thepublic.
There are several issues the University needs to address. First, the graduate
school has not established and published the screening criteria for research outcomeson specific themes, and this situation must be corrected. The school has also failed tomonitor and evaluate the student learning outcomes stated in the diploma policies.
Moreover, the school’s admissions policies are almost identical in describing thetypes of students desired in all programs, and quota fulfillment is insufficient in someprograms. These issues should be addressed. In addition, the University should
clarify the faculty development (FD) activities of each faculty and graduate school
aimed at improving the quality of faculty members and faculty organizations andcarry out FD activities related to educational improvements appropriate for eachorganization. With all these issues involving the graduate school, efforts should bemade to improve and enhance the school’s education.
In the years ahead, the University is expected to resolve each issue throughinternal quality assurance efforts with the Self-Study Steering Committee as a2

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responsible body, while further promoting distinctive initiatives to bring about furtherachievements.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
The Lehmann Program, established as a recurrent education program forpharmacists, is the University’s extended certificate program open to the public,
welcoming not only its own graduates but also those of other universities. It iscommendable that this program is expected to serve as a social contribution
project allowing participants to improve their writing skills for papers and casereports, learn the necessary qualities as site leaders, and acquire qualifications
for professional and certified pharmacists, thereby contributing to the cultivationof future leaders in the pharmaceutical field.

Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance

An internal quality assurance system led by the Self-Study Steering Committee
has been established in response to the issues concerning the University’s regularinspections and assessments, but the committee has not effectively fulfilled its
role as an organization promoting internal quality assurance. In fact, theExecutive Faculty Meeting makes arrangements and hold discussions with eachdivision, while the Management Meeting evaluates and provides feedback on theprogress of the medium-term plan. In addition, the committee’s self-study
remains a work in progress with notable strengths and issues based on results yetto be identified. This situation should be addressed by clarifying the positions ofthe Executive Faculty Meeting and the Management Meeting in the internal
quality assurance system, and ensuring that self-study activities are regularlyconducted, with each division’s improvement and enhancement efforts based on
the results appropriately overseen by the Self-Study Steering Committee.

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Educational Program and Learning OutcomesThe graduate school evaluates student learning outcomes based on dissertations
and class evaluation surveys, but the connection to the diploma policies is unclear.
This situation should be addressed with the learning outcomes monitored andevaluated as stated in the policies.

Student Enrollment
The admissions policies of the Doctoral Degree in Pharmacy and PharmaceuticalSciences, Pre-Doctoral Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Doctoral Degreein Pharmaceutical Sciences are almost identical in describing the types ofstudents desired. This issue should be addressed.

The Pre-Doctoral Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences has a low ratio of 0.10 instudent enrollment to the student enrollment cap. This ratio should be improved
with the graduate school’s student quotas thoroughly managed.

Faculty and Faculty Organization
The University undertakes university-wide FD and other activities to improve
the quality of its faculty members and faculty organizations, but the graduate
school’s FD activities are carried out only as part of the faculty’s activities. Thisissue should be addressed with the faculty and graduate school separately
clarifying and conducting FD activities related to educational improvements
appropriate for each organization.

Recommendation
Educational Program and Learning OutcomesThe Pre-Doctoral Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences has not established andpublished the screening criteria for research outcomes on specific themes. Thissituation should be corrected.

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