International Joint Accreditation

Handbook
for Higher Education Institutions

2024 Edition

International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

Table of Content
1 Project Overview ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
1-1 Collaborative Agencies -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
1-2 Project Background ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
1-3 Project Goals ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
1-4 Organizational Structure ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

2 Standards and Accreditation Process -------------------------------------------------------- 6
2-1 Accreditation Standards and Indicators ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
2-2 Accreditation Process ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
2-3 Submit the Application ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
2-4 Prepare the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Supporting Documents ---------------------------------- 10
2-5 Review Team ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
2-6 On-Site Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
2-7 Opinion for the Draft Report by Institution -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
2-8 Accreditation Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
2-9 Appeal Process ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
2-10 Fees and Logistics------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
2-11 Other Items of Interest ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18

3 Annex ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
3-1 Rules Concerning International Joint Accreditation -------------------------------------------------------------- 20
3-2 Application Form --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27
3-3 Format of Self-Assessment Report --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28
3-4 Format for Opinion Statement--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
3-5 Appeal Format ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36
3-6 Further Information and Contacts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39I

International Joint AccreditationiJAS

1 Project Overview
1-1 Collaborative Agencies
The Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA) was established in1947 by 46 national, public, and private universities, taking several U.S. accreditation
agencies as a model. JUAA is a voluntary organization of higher education institutions(HEIs) which mission is “to promote to qualitative improvement of higher education
institutions in Japan through the voluntary efforts and mutual assistance of member
institutions and to contribute to international cooperation such as educational andresearch activities in higher education institutions.” When the School Education Act ofJapan was revised in 2002, JUAA became the first certification and accreditation agency
certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, andhas continued to engage in accreditation activities for HEIs. JUAA conducts certified
evaluation and accreditation for institutions and professional graduate schools andaccreditation for schools of veterinary medicine and dentistry.
The Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA) was foundedin 2003 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of evaluation
mechanism that meets policy requirements and practical needs. On the basis of anunbiased position with objective and fair perspectives, TWAEA has built up a solid
reputation in the implementation of evaluation system and has been widely recognized
as a professional evaluation agency. From 2004 onwards, TWAEA has been engaged in
evaluation projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan. Along withall other quality assurance agencies for higher education, TWAEA was officiallyrecognized as a certified evaluation agency since 2009. In addition to actively
participating in international quality assurance organizations in recent years, TWAEA
also engages in a range of international cooperation and exchange activities.

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The Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment(ONESQA) has been established to comply with the stipulation of the 1999 National
Education Act. It is an academic body specializing in educational quality assessment thatwill enhance the quality of education throughout Thailand and enable the educational
institutions to provide quality education to the Thai learners who will be endowed with
virtue, competence, and happiness. Furthermore, ONESQA aims to attain quality of its
operation by placing emphasis on the importance of streamlining the assessment system,
thereby improving assessment methods, and strengthening the recognition of thedeveloped standards. In 2018, the new Ministerial Regulation on Quality Assurance for
Education has been officially announced to use as a framework for internal and external
quality assessment which will allow each institution to evaluate the performance andcircumstances based on their own educational quality standards and criteria as well as
self-development plan. Hence educational institutions will decide their own institutional
QA system that will fit to their purposes and context while the External Quality
Assessment (EQA) will verify and audit education quality and standard of theinstitutions. Moreover, EQA will recognize individual differences of educational
institutions and serve as empowerment for them to maximize their potentials and toencourage them to align with the international standards.
The Mongolian National Council for Education Accreditation (MNCEA)
was established in 1998 as an independent external agency by the government decision.
MNCEA is administrated by the “Law of Mongolia on Education”, “Law of Mongolia
on Higher Education”, “Law of Mongolia on Technical & Vocational Education”, and“Rule of the Quality Assurance Agency” – endorsed by the government and otherrelevant laws. The mission of MNCEA is to support the quality of academic provision,
to safeguard national standards for tertiary (higher and vocational-technical) education
institutions and academic programs and to strengthen a visibility of Mongolian tertiary
education at the international level.

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1-2 Project Background
The “International Joint Accreditation Standards Project” (hereafter referred to as
the “iJAS Project”) is for collaborating agencies to provide joint evaluation andaccreditation services to HEIs around the world, especially those institutions whichmake internationalization as their development strategy. The promotion of international
joint accreditation will enhance quality assurance agencies’ mutual understanding ofeach other’s higher education environments and lead to greater international
cooperation.
In 2018, JUAA and TWAEA launched the iJAS Project for universities and collegesin Japan and Taiwan. HEIs that take part in this project and pass the accreditation
process will not only be recognized by an international accreditation organization, but
can also use it to emphasize the globalization of their education. The implementationof this project provides higher education in Japan and Taiwan with a guarantee on theinternationalization of their education quality.
In 2021, the project has been expanded to include ONESQA joining theinternational joint accreditation as a member agency. In 2024, MNCEA took part in thisproject for the first time to work collaboratively with a common goal. The frameworkand standards will be integrated to create synergy within the respective regions throughknowledge exchange on international joint accreditation.
The anticipated benefits for the participating institutions are as follow.


Improve the international superiority and strengthen the competitiveness of theinstitution by recognizing international quality assurance. Provide a reference forthe making of international cooperation agreements on mutual recognition ofacademic credits (proof of academic equivalence), dual degree system, andexchange/overseas students.
Participation in international quality assurance system will enhance the depth andbreadth of the institution from an international assessment perspective andgenerate a greater range of suggestions for improvements.
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The credibility of the professional assessment body in their region will provide
institutions with a quick way to open up international markets so that moreinternational students can be enrolled.
Overall, the promotion of international joint accreditation contributes to building

a more interconnected and collaborative global higher education landscape, benefitting
students, institutions, and societies worldwide.

1-3 Project Goals
Promoting international joint accreditation for higher education serves several
important goals and benefits. These goals are aimed at enhancing the quality ofeducation, fostering collaboration among quality assurance agencies, and developing
global standards. Here are some key goals:







Enhance the international recognition and credibility of higher education
institutions.
Facilitate the internationalization of higher education in a manner that meets the
emerging needs and challenges.
Sustain continuous improvement by encouraging institutions to meet and exceed
established standards.
Encourage collaboration and partnerships between educational institutions fromdifferent countries.
Foster the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise among quality
assurance agencies, promoting a global perspective in education.
Facilitate the mobility of students, academics, and professionals by creating acommon framework for accreditation.

1-4 Organizational Structure
Under the “Rules Concerning International Joint Accreditation” (Annex 3-1), the“International Joint Accreditation Committee” (hereafter referred to as the“Accreditation Committee”) shall be set up by this project to ensure the evaluation
process in full and smoothly. Then, “Review Team” shall be formed for each applicant
institution based on their nationality, features, and attributes under the Accreditation4

accreditation work information

Publication of project-related information[Figure 1] Project Organizational Structure．

． Coordination between institution and review team
． Assist with the revision of standards and related forms． Formulation of enforcement procedures and related guidelines． Support project activities． Management of funding and inter-team coordination． Sending and receiving of project-related documentation and correspondence． Collation/Proofreading of project-related reports and information． Overall project planning, supervision and progress management． Formulation of project schedules and organizing of working groups． Coordination of tasks and collection of information

5

Applicant Institution
administrative
consultation

iJAS Secretariat

provideinformation
administrative
servicewritten review/on-site review

Review TeamiJAS
International Joint Accreditation

Committee. Furthermore, to provide support for the iJAS Project, JUAA and TWAEA

as the two founding agencies jointly establish a Secretariat (hereafter referred to as the“iJAS Secretariat”). The planned organizational structure for the project is as follows.

International Joint Accreditation Committee

project consultation, executive guidance

liaisonInternational Joint Accreditation

iJAS

2 Standards and Accreditation Process
2-1 Accreditation Standards and Indicators[Table 1] International Joint Accreditation Standards and Indicators
Standard 1: Mission, Goals & Strategy
1-1

The university appropriately defines its mission and goals. In addition, it
appropriately defines the goals of each school and department in light of theuniversity’s mission and goals.

1-2

The university appropriately specifies its mission and goals and the goals of eachschool and department in written university rules or other rules equivalent thereof,
made known to university staff and students, and made public to society.

1-3

The university establishes mid- and long-term plans and other measures with a viewto the future of the university, and in order to realize its mission and goals, and thegoals of each school and department.

1-4

The university defines a strategy on internationalization in line with its mission andgoals.

Standard 2: Internal Quality Assurance
2-1

The university specifies university-wide policies and procedures for internal quality
assurance.

2-2

The university puts in place a university-wide system responsible for promotinginternal quality assurance.

2-3

The internal quality assurance system is effectively functioning based on the policies
and procedures.

2-4

The university appropriately publishes information on educational and research
activities, the results of self-studies and self-evaluation, finance and other various
activities of the university to achieve accountability to society.

2-5

The university regularly verifies the adequacy of the internal quality assurance
system through reviews and evaluation and utilizes the results of such reviews andevaluation to make improvements.

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Standard 3: Teaching & Learning
3-1

The university specifies and publishes policies on degree award, curriculum design
and implementation, and student admission in order to realize its mission and goals.
It ensures that these policies are appropriately linked and consistent with each other.

3-2

The university systematically designs the curriculum and offers courses suitable for each
degree program based on the policies for curriculum design and implementation.

3-3

The university clarifies the ideal image of faculty members and the policy fororganizing faculty organization. It develops faculty organizations based on this policy
to implement educational and research activities by the schools and departments.

3-4

The university implements various measures to stimulate students’ learning andeffectively provide education.

3-5

The university appropriately implements evaluation of students’ learning outcomes,
granting of credits and awarding of degrees.

3-6

The university appropriately assesses and evaluates learning outcomes as specified
in the policy on degree award.

3-7

The university appropriately admits students based on student admission policy. It
puts student support systems in place and offers appropriate student services sothat students can concentrate on learning and lead stable campus lives.

3-8

The university specifies policies for ensuring the environment and conditions forstudents’ learning and educational and research activities by faculty members. Basedon such policies, the university must have sufficient school sites and buildings andmaintain facilities and equipment necessary for educational and research activities. It
must also have a library and systems for providing academic information services
and ensure they are functioning appropriately.

Standard 4: Faculty
4-1

The university implements systematic and multifaceted Faculty Development (FD)
programs to promote the qualitative improvement of faculty members and facultyorganization.

4-2

The university recruits, hires and promotes faculty members and evaluates theirperformance appropriately in accordance with rules and regulations.

4-3

Faculty members incorporate the outcomes of research and development and/or
cooperation with industry into education to offer enhanced learning opportunities
to the students.

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Standard 5: Social Connection
5-1

The university specifies policies on social cooperation and contribution toappropriately share educational and research outcomes of the university withsociety. Furthermore, it implements specific measures for social cooperation andcontribution based on the policies.

Standard 6: Governance
6-1

The university specifies policies on the administration of the university as necessary
for realizing its mission and goals and the mid- and long-term plans establishedwith a view to the future of the university.

6-2

The university must be administered appropriately based on the policies.

6-3

The university establishes administrative organizations that properly function toundertake work related to the operation of the legal entity and university, support
for educational and research activities, and other necessary work. It also puts
measures in place to motivate and promote the qualitative improvement ofadministrative staff members to ensure the effective administration of theuniversity.

The six standards established by the iJAS Project serve as the fundamental criteria,
and in the event that a newly applying institution takes into account specificconsiderations in its features, additional indicators may be added. In response torequirements of the government in the respective regions, additional indicators referred
to as “iJAS Plus” will be introduced. In this context, the additional indicators will beapplicable exclusively to the HEIs in their respective regions. To ensure theappropriateness of the process, the addition of indicators shall be confirmed by the
Accreditation Committee for completeness.

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2-2 Accreditation Process[Table 2] International Joint Accreditation Process
Stage

Activity

Details

Application submitted by
the institution
Preparation Accreditation information
submitted by theinstitution
Document Review

Review

Report

The institution submits the application to
the iJAS Secretariat for processing.
Accreditation information (SAR andsupporting documents) is submitted by theinstitution.
A document review is conducted by the
Review Team. A “Request for Clarification
List” shall be provided to the institution 5
weeks before the on-site review.
The institution provides its The institution responds to the “Request
response and explanation
for Clarification List” 2 weeks before theto the “Request for
on-site review, and the iJAS Secretariat
Clarification List”
sends its written responses to the Review
Team.
On-site Review
The Review Team visits the institution forthe on-site review.
Produce the draft report
The draft of the accreditation report is
produced by the Review Team and sent toof accreditation
the institution by the iJAS Secretariat.
Opinion Statement by the The institution reflects the “factual errors”
institution
in the draft report for the Review Team toreassess.
Approval of accreditation The Review Team submits theresults
accreditation report and accreditation
results recommendation to theAccreditation Committee, so that thereport can be verified, and the results
approved.
Announcement of
The accreditation report and accreditation
accreditation results andresults shall be sent to the institution by thepresentation of theiJAS Secretariat.
certification
Appeal by the institution
Appeal application is submitted by theinstitution to the “International Joint
Accreditation Appeal Committee” forreview to see if the accreditation results
need to be adjusted or remain unchanged.
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2-3 Submit the Application
The institution sends an Application form (Annex 3-2) to the iJAS Secretariat by
specified deadline.

2-4 Prepare the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Supporting
Documents
The institution shall write a SAR in English based on the accreditation standards.
Six copies of the written documentation and electronic files are to be provided for the
document review. The electronic files can be uploaded to the iJAS Cloud, and the accesslink to the cloud will be provided to the institution in a separate email, one week prior
to the submission deadline.
The aim of this project is to assist the institution realize self-growth andimprovement. It is advisable for the institution to consider the accreditation standards
and the indicators in the light of their own mission, educational goals, and development
strategy. Quantitative data or qualitative descriptions should be used when writing theself-assessment report to provide a basis for the accreditation examination. The noticefor writing the self-assessment report is as the follows.







The SAR is to be written in English and based mainly on conditions at the timeof writing. Any future plans or practices can be included as well.
The contents of the SAR should present the institution’s overall operations andperformance in terms of the international joint accreditation standards. These
shall include: (1) Description of current conditions, (2) good practice/features, (3)improvement/problems and difficulties, and (4) action plan/improvement
strategies. (see also Annex 3-3)
The SAR should consist mainly of qualitative descriptions, supplemented withspecific quantitative data as supporting evidence. There is no need to submit
quantitative forms separately.
The SAR should not exceed 100 pages in length and should use a font size of 12.
Attachments are to be provided as electronic files and do not count towards thepage limit.

10International Joint Accreditation

Submitted Information

iJAS

Description of Information

 Self-assessment
report in English

Maximum length of 100 pages. 6 copies of the written
documentation and electronic file.

 Relevant attachments(institutions may
choose what toprovide)No restrictions on page count. Those that can beelectronic are uploaded to the cloud; those that cannot beelectronic are submitted in six copies.
※If the quantitative data relating to institution
operations has been disclosed on the website, theinstitution can simply provide the link in the relevant
explanation, without the need for additional printing
and distribution.

2-5 Review Team
2-5-1 Review Team Composition

The Review Team is to be established to conduct document analysis and on-site

visits under the Accreditation Committee. Senior professors with administrative
experience or senior administrative staff related to evaluation/quality assurance activity,
or top industry executives should in principle be invited to serve on the Review Team.
In principle, the Review Team consists of five members, including one
representative from the location of the applicant HEI and four members from otherregions. In case of special circumstances, such as iJAS Plus (mentioned in p.8), theaddition of 1-2 members will be considered based on actual conditions.

2-5-2 Reviewers Selection Principles






Previous experience or current appointment as a tier-1 executive includingpresident, vice-president, dean of academic affairs, dean of general affairs, deanof student affairs, or dean of research & development;
Professor with relevant practical experience in higher education administration or
institutional research;
Senior administrative staff or staff related to self-evaluation activity;
Industry representative in executive position (business owner, senior manager,
director, etc.) familiar with higher education.

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2-5-3 Conflicts of Interest

The Review Team members are recommended by each collaborative agency in theiJAS Project, compiled by the iJAS Secretariat, submitted for approval by the
Accreditation Committee, and then provided to the evaluated HEI to express its
opinions, thus avoiding conflicts of interest.
Reviewers shall uphold the ideals of professionalism, respect, fairness, andimpartiality by maintaining confidentiality and building trust. They shall also comply
with the code of ethics, maintain a professional attitude, follow the code of conduct,and carry out all the accreditation tasks to ensure the credibility of the accreditation
results. The iJAS Secretariat will distribute a declaration of impartiality and nondisclosure agreement among the Review Team members to prevent any possible
conflicts of interest and ensure the confidentiality of the information.

2-6 On-Site Review
On-site review will take a full day to provide more time for communication andexchange opinion. Reviewers will carry out the on-site review based on the selfassessment information provided by the institution undergoing accreditation and the
supporting information on the site.

2-6-1 On-Site Review Itinerary[Table 3] On-Site Review TimetableTime
09:00-9:30

Activity
Preparatory meeting ‧‧‧Description
Review Team members arrive at theinstitution for preliminary communication
Review and discuss items requiring
clarification
Confirm the route for campus tour

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International Joint Accreditation

Time
09:30-10:30

Activity
Introductions andbriefing on
institution affairs

‧
‧

iJAS

Description
Review Team and institution personnel
introduce themselves to each other
The institution delivers a presentation on
its development and accomplishments

10:30-11:30

Examination of
information‧

Review Team examines the relevant dataon display

11:30-12:30

Campus tour‧

Tour of teaching activities and facilities

12:30-13:30

Lunch anddiscussion
Interview withfaculty, staff, andstudent
representatives‧

Lunch and brief meeting‧

Review Team has interview with thepresident, tier-1 executives, teachers,
administrative staff, and student
representatives

13:30-15:30

15:30-16:00

Verification and‧confirmation ofdata/Supplementary ‧explanation by
institution

Review Team engages in discussion andcollation of opinions
Review Team communicates and clarifies
any questions with the institution regarding
the written information and what theyexamined on the day

16:00-17:30

Authoring of report ‧Review Team holds discussion to reach aconsensus and writes the preliminary draftof the accreditation report

17:30-18:00

General forum

Review Team exchanges opinions with theinstitution‧

2-6-2 Key Points in the On-Site Review


Briefing by the institution

The institution briefly describes its development and accomplishments based on
the international joint accreditation standards and indicators. If time permits, theReview Team can further inquire about the clarification points raised before the on-site
visit, and the institution can provide relevant information in response. In addition,

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reviewers may ask questions regarding the pre-review documentation and thepresentation content on the day of the visit.
Examination of information
The Review Team should allocate sufficient time for the examination of all related

information prepared on the day. During this session, personnel from the evaluatedinstitution can assist from the sidelines at the event venue to facilitate reviewers inquickly obtaining the necessary information.
Campus tour
The institution shall prepare a recommended route for the campus tour and provide

it to the Review Team for discussion during the preparatory meeting so that the actualroute for the tour can be decided upon.
Interview with faculty, staff, and student representatives
The interview for the president shall take the form of a joint discussion. Theinterview for Tier-1 executives, faculty, administrative staff, and students shall take theform of a joint discussion or one-to-one interview.


Verification and confirmation of data / Supplementary explanation by
institution
The Review Team members shall communicate and clarify with the institution any

questions they may have regarding the written documents, on-site information, andinterviews. The institution can also provide supplementary explanations on related
information. If there are no questions raised, then the time is used for discussion byreviewers.
General forum
During the final session on the day of the on-site visit, the Review Team will

exchange information and discuss their observations with the evaluated institution.
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Reviewers will also inquire if there are any outstanding matters that need to be addressed
before their departure to ensure a thorough completion of the on-site review process.

2-7 Opinion for the Draft Report by Institution
To ensure equitable treatment, if the institution believes after receiving thepreliminary draft of the accreditation report that the review opinion contains any“factual errors,” the institution can submit the opinion to the Accreditation Committee
within the specified time period. The Review Team will refer to the content of theopinion submitted by the institution to check the information and write a response to
the opinion. (Annex 3-4)
The process for statement of opinion and the response is as shown below.

Submit draft of accreditation report

Institution files request for re-review along withsupporting evidence or explanation for any“factual error” in the review opinion within one
month of receiving the draft

Convening of re-review meeting

Yes

No

Accept opinion

Revise accreditation report

Unchanged accreditation report

International Joint Accreditation Committee approves the accreditation report[Figure 2] Opinion Statement Process

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2-8 Accreditation Results
Accreditation results can be “accredited” or “not accredited” in accordance with
the International Joint Accreditation Standards.
The accreditation period starts from the date of on-site review. The valid ofaccreditation is 6 years. Once accreditation results have been approved by the
Accreditation Committee, a certificate in English shall be issued accordingly.
Furthermore, the results will be published on the website and in relevant public
documents. The information will also be disseminated on suitable occasions.
[Table 4] Explanation of the International Joint Accreditation Results
Accreditation Results
Accredited

Description

Remarks

Valid for

 Fully meets with all Accreditation period starts

6 years

requirements forfrom the date of on-site

international joint

review

accreditation standards,
sufficient supplementary
information was provided,and can continue tomaintain steady growth.
Not Accredited

 Did not achieve the Institutions may re-submit
their application one year
before the accreditation
expires.
 If the institution wishes to

educational goals in a

dispute the accreditation

definite manner and does

results after it is received,

not satisfy the basic

they may file an appeal

requirements forwithin 30 days.

international joint

 Only the applicant

accreditation standards.

institution is notified, andthere is no publicannouncement.

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2-9 Appeal Process
If the institution would like to dispute the accreditation results after it is received,
they may file an appeal within 30 days. Appeals may be submitted by the institution if it
does not accept the accreditation results, and only one appeal may be made. Appeals
may also only be submitted over “factual errors” in the content of the accreditation
report. The appeal process is as shown in the following diagram.

Accreditation results are “not accredited”
Accept accreditation results

Reject accreditation results

File complaint over “factual errors” within 30 daysof receiving the accreditation results

Convene appeal committee

Accept complaint

Reject complaint

Re-review
Accreditation results

Send report on results appeal examination in writing[Figure 3] Appeal Process

2-10 Fees and Logistics
2-10-1 Accreditation Fees

The fee structure for accreditation includes review fee and on-site visit expenses.

The review fee charged by the iJAS Secretariat cover the honoraria for Accreditation
Committee/Review Team members, reviewers training expenses, and administrative17

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management fees. The travel and lodging expenses for on-site visit are directly borne by
the applicant institution.
The applicant institution may withdraw its application on or after the day on which
the Accreditation Committee starts the accreditation process. When an application iswithdrawn, the accreditation fees paid will not formally be refunded.

2-10-2 Logistics and Support

The transportation for reviewers traveling to the country of the evaluatedinstitution is coordinated and arranged by the iJAS Secretariat. Then, the receipts or
invoices will be provided to the institution, which is responsible for reimbursing theexpenses. The institution is responsible for the practical organization of the local
transportation, accommodation, and meal for on-site visit, including booking andpayment arrangements.

2-11 Other Items of Interest
2-11-1 Before On-Site Review







The institution shall ensure that its website is working normally during the review
period. The institution’s “transportation routes” and “campus map” should also
be placed on the website for reference.
The Review Team will provide a “Request for Clarification List” 5 weeks before
the on-site review. The institution should provide its response to the items in the“Request for Clarification List” 2 weeks before the on-site review.
The institution is asked to prepare the SAR and its evidencing materials on the dayof the on-site review for the convenience of the Review Team.
The iJAS Secretariat will assist the Review Team and the institution undergoingaccreditation in confirming the itinerary for the on-site visit and the representatives
to be interviewed.

2-11-2 On-Site Review PeriodAll the activities listed in the published itinerary for the on-site review should in
principle be conducted.

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

















iJAS

The institution is asked to carry out the necessary planning and preparations forthe on-site review itinerary. The personnel involved for each phase should bepersonnel involved in related activities.
To protect the interests of the evaluated institution and the Review Team, if there
are any changes in the review process and timetable, then an agreement on changeof itinerary should be signed by both parties to ensure that the review itinerary iscompleted in full.
While the on-site review is in process, the institution shall not allocate venues withaudio or video recording equipment for the review and interviewers. No
audio/video recording or photos should be made throughout the review. Any
exemptions require the prior consent of the Review Team members.
Review information provided on the day should be arranged in the order of theinternational joint accreditation standards for ease of reading. If the relevant
supporting information has been digitized for storage, the institution shall present
them as a computer index.
If the institution would like to make any amendments or additions to the SAR on
the day of the on-site review, a copy can be collected by the accompanying assistantwith the consent of the institution once it has been confirmed by the Review Team.
To avoid excessive travel times and impacting the operation of the institution,
boxed lunches at the review venue should be arranged if possible. There is no needfor accompanying institution personnel either.
The iJAS Secretariat will provide the members of the Review Team withidentification badges on the day of the on-site review. The institution is asked tohelp guide the reviewers driving themselves to the review venue and arrange forparking.
The institution is asked to refrain from providing any form of reception,
hospitality, or gifts (e.g. souvenirs, presents) to avoid impacting the fairness andimpartiality of the accreditation results.
During the accreditation process, the institution shall not contact the Accreditation
Committee and Review Team members in private to ask about the accreditation
results.

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3 Annex
3-1 Rules Concerning International Joint Accreditation
Rules Concerning International Joint Accreditation
Revised on January 31, 2024
CHAPTER I
Article 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Purpose

These Rules provide for matters necessary to jointly implement university accreditation (hereinafterreferred to as “Joint Accreditation”) pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between thelisted member agencies.
Article 2Higher Education Institutions Subject to Joint Accreditation

Higher Education Institutions (hereinafter referred to as “HEIs”) subject to Joint Accreditationare HEIs that have been established under the laws and regulations of the respective countries.
Article 3

Commencement of Joint Accreditation

If a request for Joint Accreditation is received, the International Joint Accreditation Committee(hereinafter referred to as the “Accreditation Committee”) will commence the assessment for Joint
Accreditation.
Article 4

Accreditation Method

Accreditations are to be conducted through document analysis based on self-assessment reports
and other necessary materials prepared in accordance with the separately provided International
Joint Accreditation Standards (hereinafter referred to as the “Standards”) as well as through site
visits.
Article 5

Accreditation Results

Accreditation results are certified as “accredited” or “non-accredited” based on the Standards.
Article 6

Accreditation Cycle

HEIs certified as meeting the Standards that wish to be certified on a continuous basis will receive
the next accreditation within six years after receiving the previous accreditation.
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CHAPTER II
Article 7

iJAS

MEMBER AGENCIESEligibility

Member agencies are those that have a proven performance in the university evaluation in theirrespective countries and that meet the following requirements.
1. Support the purpose of Joint Accreditation.
2. Engage in the Joint Accreditation project.
3. Review their own organization and activities constantly and make efforts to enhance themselvesin order to achieve the mission and purpose of their own activities.
Article 8

Accession of New Member Agencies

Agencies may submit a letter of intent and an overview of their agency to the iJAS Secretariat(defined in CHAPTER V) if they wish to become an affiliate. Accession is reviewed by the
Accreditation Committee. After approval, the secretariat of each agency reports to its Board ofTrustees/Executive Board.
CHAPTER III
Article 9

INTERNATIONAL JOINT ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE

Establishment of the Joint Accreditation Committee

The Accreditation Committee is to be established as a collegial body of all member agencies tocarry out Joint Accreditation.
Article 10

Composition and Term of Office of Accreditation Committee Members

1. The Accreditation Committee is composed of nine to fifteen committee members.
2. The iJAS Secretariat consults member agencies to nominate representatives. The representatives
will be recruited by the member agencies from experts who possess rich experiences in higher
education in their respective countries.
3. If there is a vacancy among the committee members, it shall follow the procedures set out inparagraph 2 of this Article and fill the vacancy.
4. The term of office of each committee member is three years. There shall be no limit onconsecutive terms.
5. The term of office of a replacement committee member is the remaining term of thepredecessor of that committee member.
Article 11

Committee Chair and Vice-Chair

1. The Accreditation Committee consists of one committee chair and one committee vice-chair.
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2. The committee chair and vice-chair are elected by the committee members. At the point, thecommittee chair and vice-chair will be selected from different countries.
3. The committee chair is in charge of the duties of the Accreditation Committee.
4. The committee vice-chair assists the committee chair, and if the committee chair is unable toperform the duties or if the office of the committee chair is vacant, the committee vice-chair
will act in the place. In the case of a vacancy, a new committee chair shall be appointed as soon
as practicable.
Article 12

Holding of Accreditation Committee Meetings

1. The committee chair shall convene Accreditation Committee meetings; provided, however, thatthe committee chair must convene an Accreditation Committee meeting no later than forty-fivedays if one-third or more of the committee members so request.
2. In the case of the preceding paragraph, the Accreditation Committee may hold a meeting using
the web conference system if the committee chair deems it necessary.
3. In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph 1, the committee chair may substitute a
resolution of the Accreditation Committee by obtaining the approval of the committee
members in writing or by other means, without convening an Accreditation Committee meeting
if the committee chair deems it necessary.
4. No Accreditation Committee meeting may be held without the attendance of half or more of
the committee members.
5. Decisions of the Accreditation Committee are to be made by a majority of the committee
members in attendance, and in the event of a tie, the committee chair shall make that decision.
Article 13

Exclusion of Interested Parties

1. No Accreditation Committee member may participate in deliberations or decisions related to
the Joint Accreditation of the HEI to which that member belongs.
2. If any committee member falls under the preceding paragraph, that member will not be includedin the committee members in attendance under Article 12 paragraph 3.
Article 14

No Proxies for Accreditation Committee Members

The duties of an Accreditation Committee member may not be performed by a proxy.
CHAPTER IV
Article 15

REVIEW TEAM

Establishment of the Review TeamThe Review Team is to be established to conduct document analysis and site visits under the
Accreditation Committee.
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Article 16

iJAS

Composition of the Review Team

1. In principle, the Review Team is to be composed of five members.
2. In principle, one of the members in the preceding paragraph will be selected by the
Accreditation Committee from the country of the Applicant HEI (defined in CHAPTER VI).
3. The four members in paragraph 1 other than the member selected in paragraph 2 will be selectedby the Accreditation Committee from among countries other than the country of the Applicant
HEI.
4. If there is a vacancy among the Review Team members, the Accreditation Committee shall fillthat vacancy in accordance with the procedures in paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 (as applicable).
5. The Review Team member cannot be the expert from the Applicant HEI.
Article 17

Chief of Review Team

1. The Review Team is to have one chief.
2. The chief is to be appointed by the Accreditation Committee from among the members. At thattime, the member selected in paragraph 2 of the preceding article may not be appointed as thechief.
3. The chief shall convene the Review Team meeting in accordance with the instructions of theAccreditation Committee chair.
Article 18

No Proxies for Reviewers

The duties of a reviewer may not be performed by a proxy.
CHAPTER V
Article 19

SECTRETARIAT

Establishment of the iJAS Secretariat

To promote Joint Accreditation, the Japan University Accreditation Association and the Taiwan
Assessment and Evaluation Association as the two founding agencies jointly establish a Secretariat.
The duties of the iJAS Secretariat are to:
1. Policy Development: The Secretariat formulates draft policies for Joint Accreditation, including
standards, criteria, and guidelines.
2. Coordination and Planning: The Secretariat coordinates, plans, and oversees Joint Accreditation
tasks, providing transparent updates and reports to stakeholders.
3. Quality Assurance: The Secretariat ensures accreditation process integrity, conducting periodic
evaluations and addressing deficiencies.
4. Capacity Building: The Secretariat organizes workshops and training for personnel andreviewers in Joint Accreditation, enhancing competencies.
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iJAS

5. International Collaboration: The Secretariat collaborates with other agencies, fostering global
recognition of Joint Accreditation through knowledge-sharing.
CHAPTER VI
Article 20

JOINT ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES

Submission of Materials

1. A HEI that applies for Joint Accreditation (hereinafter referred to as an “Applicant HEI”) shallsubmit an application form and prescribed materials to the iJAS Secretariat by the specified date.
2. An Applicant HEI shall submit any additional materials other than those set out in the preceding
paragraph if so requested by the Accreditation Committee or the Review Team.
Article 21

Withdrawal of Application

1. An Applicant HEI may withdraw its application on or after the day on which the Accreditation
Committee starts the accreditation process. When an application is withdrawn, the accreditation
fee paid will not formally be refunded.
2. Any request in the preceding paragraph must be made in writing.
Article 22

Training of Committee Members and Reviewers

The iJAS Secretariat shall plan training for committee members and reviewers on evaluation
practices. The member agencies shall provide training in an appropriate manner in accordance withthe accreditation schedule.
Article 23

Document Analysis

The Review Team shall carry out document analysis based on the materials submitted by eachApplicant HEI.
Article 24

Site Visits

The Review Team shall carry out site visits in which all of the Review Team members participate
based on the document analysis.
Article 25

Preparation of Accreditation Results (Draft by Review Team)The Review Team chief shall prepare the accreditation results (draft by Review Team) by the
specified date based on the document analysis and site visit.
Article 26

Statement of Opinion

1. The iJAS Secretariat shall present the accreditation results (draft by Review Team) in thepreceding article to the Applicant HEI.
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2. After receiving the accreditation results (draft by Review Team), the Applicant HEI may state
its opinion on any factual error or other matters in the accreditation results (draft by Review
Team) to the Review Team in writing by the specified date.
3. If the Applicant HEI states its opinion under the preceding paragraph, the Review Team chiefshall hold a Review Team meeting and deliberate on whether to adopt that opinion.
4. As a response to the stated opinion, the decision on whether to adopt that opinion, together
with the reason therefor, is to be promptly conveyed to the Applicant HEI.
Article 27

Determination of the Accreditation Results

1. After the procedures in the preceding article are complete, the Review Team chief shall submit
the accreditation results (final draft) to the Accreditation Committee.
2. The Accreditation Committee shall deliberate on the accreditation results (final draft) andconfirm the accreditation results.
3. Each member agency reports the accreditation results to its own Board of Trustees/Executive
Board.
CHAPTER VII
Article 28

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACCREDITATION RESULTS

Notification of Accreditation Results

After obtaining the decision of the Accreditation Committee on the accreditation results, the iJAS
Secretariat shall promptly notify the Applicant HEI of those results.
Article 29

Announcement of Accreditation Results

Each member agency shall announce the accreditation results on their respective websites.
CHAPTER VIII REVIEW OF APPEALS AGAINST ACCREDITATION RESULTS
Article 30

Appeal Committee

An appeal is to be reviewed by reviewers from countries other than the country of the Applicant
HEI.
Article 31

Review Procedures

Appeal review procedures are to be separately provided.
CHAPTER IXCERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION

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International Joint Accreditation

Article 32

iJAS

Certificate of Accreditation

A Certificate of Accreditation is to be delivered to any Applicant HEI that has been accredited asmeeting the Standards as a result of the Joint Accreditation.
CHAPTER X
Article 33

ACCREDITATION FEE

Accreditation Fee

An accreditation fee is to be separately stipulated upon consultation among each member agency.
CHAPTER XIArticle 34

REVISION OF THE STANDARDS

Establishment of and Revisions to the Standards

The Standards are established and revised by the Accreditation Committee.
CHAPTER XII
Article 35

MISCELLANEOUS

Revisions to and Abolition of these Rules

Revisions to and abolition of these Rules are to be made by the Accreditation Committee.

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iJAS

International Joint Accreditation

3-2 Application Form

International Joint Accreditation[Part 1] Basic Information
Name
Number of

Total number

teaching unitsof students
Teaching organization

Teaching unit name

School system

1.

Number of studentsYearestablished

1.

1.

1.

2.

2.

2.

3.

3.

3.

2.
3

[Part 2] Contact Information
Contact
person

Name

Title

Services unit

Email

TelephoneI, the undersigned

(

)

Fax

Extension(name)(position)

representative of()(institution)

confirm the application of my institution to go through the International Joint Accreditation.
President:(Signature/Stamp)

27

Date:

YYYY / MM / DD

International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

3-3 Format of Self-Assessment Report

International Joint Accreditation
XX University(Size 28, Times New Roman)
Self-Assessment Report(Size 24, Times New Roman)(Cover page can be of your own design)
President

Signature/
Stamp

Management

Signature/
Stamp
Contact details

Name

Title

(Please stamp with
official seal)

Telephone
Fax
MobileEmailDate

YYYY / MM / DD

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International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

I. Abstract

II. History of XX University

III. Self-Assessment
Chapter 1 [Standard 1: Mission, Goals & Strategy]
1-1 Defines Its Mission and Goals
1-2 Publicity
1-3 Mid- and Long-term Plans
1-4 Strategy for Internationalization
Examples of Good Practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
i.
ii.
Areas for Improvement
The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan
Chapter 2 [Standard 2: Internal Quality Assurance]
2-1 Policy for Internal Quality Assurance and Procedures
2-2 Organization of the Quality Assurance
2-3 Efficiency of the System
2-4 Result Accountability
2-5 Mechanism of Review
Examples of Good Practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
i.
ii.
Areas for Improvement
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iJAS

The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan
Chapter 3 [Standard 3: Teaching & Learning]
3-1 Policies to the Objectives
3-2 Curriculum Design Structure
3-3 Faculty Organization and Development
3-4 Measurements of Student Learning Outcomes
3-5 Evaluations of Student Learning Outcomes
3-6 Accountability of Student Learning Outcomes Evaluations
3-7 Student Support Systems
3-8 The Quantity and Maintenance of Facilities and Equipment
Examples of good practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
i.
ii.
Areas for Improvement
The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan
Chapter 4 [Standard 4: Faculty]
4-1 Faculty Development System
4-2 Faculty Recruitment and Evaluation
4-3 Industry Cooperation
Examples of good practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
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i.
ii.
Areas for Improvement
The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan
Chapter 5 [Standard 5: Social Connection]
5-1 Policies and Implementations
Examples of good practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
i.
ii.
Areas for Improvement
The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan
Chapter 6 [Standard 6: Governance]
6-1 Administrative Policies
6-2 Mechanism
6-3 Implementations
Examples of good practice
Examples identified as good practice in …………………………
i.
ii.

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Areas for Improvement
The university’s evaluation processes have identified the following as areas requiring
improvement.
i.
ii.
Action Plan

IV. OtherV. Conclusion

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International Joint Accreditation

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3-4 Format for Opinion Statement

International Joint Accreditation

Instructions on Writing Opinion Statement
1. If you believe there are any “factual errors” such as misunderstandings by
the reviewers or any parts that do not match the actual situation, you can
submit your opinion using the form below. There is “no need” to respond to
every opinion issued by reviewers.
2. Do not make a request for re-review regarding corrective action taken or
proposed for future implementation in response to the opinions issued in thedraft accreditation report. Matters that fall outside of the scope will not be
addressed.
3. The explanations in the institution’s request for review should be succinct andin list form. The explanation for each point should not exceed one page inlength (suggestions of a similar nature can be consolidated) and placed under
the corresponding accreditation opinion. Any supporting information should
be included as an attachment (and indexed for ease of reference). The request
for re-review should be written in English using the Times New Roman fontin size 12. Please expand the form if there is insufficient space. (Please referto the sample below).
4. Please send XX printed copies of the “Opinion Statement” to the iJAS
Secretariat and upload the electronic file to the iJAS Cloud before
YYYY/MM/DD.

33

International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

International Joint Accreditation

XX University
Opinion Statement

President

Signature
Application date

YYYY / MM / DDThis application has a total of ___ pages (including this page)34

International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

Accreditation Report Items to Opinion Statement
Accreditation
standards

1. Mission, Goals & Strategy

Item requiringcorrective action andrecommended
corrective action

3. ○○○○ should establish…… Complementary measures……

Attachments

 Yes

□ No
Explanation is as follows

1. On YYYY/MM/DD, the school……
2. The school…… (Attachment 1)

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3-5 Appeal Format

International Joint Accreditation
Instructions for Writing of Appeal Application
1. The institution may submit an appeal application once the results of theinternational joint accreditation have been announced.
2. Please state all the inaccuracies and reasons under each reason for appeal. The
appeal will be rejected otherwise.
An “inaccuracy” is where the data, information or other content used to arriveat the “accreditation results” is different from the actual conditions at theappealing school during its assessment period. Where the inaccuracy was dueto the omissions or errors in the information provided by the appealing schoolat the time of examination, then this may not be used as the reason for appeal.
3. The author of the appeal application should use a list format with bullet points.
Use the Times New Roman font in 12 pt size for English text. Please expand
the fields as necessary if there is insufficient space on the form. Any supporting
information should be included with the appeal application when it issubmitted.
4. Please send XX printed copies of the “Appeal Application” to the iJAS
Secretariat and upload the electronic file to the iJAS Cloud before
YYYY/MM/DD.

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International Joint Accreditation

iJAS

International Joint Accreditation

XX University
Appeal Application

President

Signature
Date of Appeal

YYYY / MM / DDThis application has a total of ___ pages (including ___ pages of attachments)

37

International Joint Accreditation

Abstract of accreditation
reportDescription of grounds forcomplaint

38

iJAS

Title of supporting
information attachedInternational Joint Accreditation

iJAS

3-6 Further Information and Contacts
Should there be any further queries or questions concerning this project, please getin contact with the iJAS Secretariat.
Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA)
2-7-13 Ichigayasadohara-cho Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0842, Japan
TEL: +81-3-6228-1315
FAX: +81-3-3260-3667
EMAIL: intl@juaa.or.jp
Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA)
5F-1, No.3, Nanhai Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10066, Taiwan
TEL: +886-2-3343-1177
FAX: +886-2-2394-7261
EMAIL: ijas@twaea.org.tw

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Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA)
2-7-13 Ichigayasadohara-cho Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0842, Japan
TEL: 81-3-6228-1315 EMAIL: intl@juaa.or.jp
Website: https://www.juaa.or.jp
Mongolian National Council for Education Accreditation (MNCEA)
No. 9B, Lagshan Center, Prime Minister Amar Street 6th Khoroo, Sukhbaatar
District, Ulaanbaatar 14192, Mongolia
TEL: 976-7010-9391 EMAIL: secretariat@mncea.edu.mn
Website: http://mncea.edu.mn
Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA)
24th Floor, Phayathai Plaza Building, 128 Phayathai Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
10400, Thailand
TEL: 662-216-3955 EMAIL: inter@onesqa.or.th
Website: https://www.onesqa.or.th/en
Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA)
5F-1, No.3, Nanhai Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100231, Taiwan
TEL: 886-2-3343-1177 EMAIL: ijas@twaea.org.tw
Website: https://www.twaea.org.tw