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

Sapporo Medical University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Hokkaido, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2017
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2018 – March.31.2025）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Sapporo Medical University
Overview
Sapporo Medical University (hereafter, the University) succeeded the Hokkaido
Women’s Medical College, which was established to resolve the shortage of doctors
during the Second World War and opened in 1950 as a university with a single faculty,
the Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine. The School of Health Sciences wasestablished later in 1993. The University became a public university corporation entity
in 2007 and performs educational and research activities under its philosophy of“striving to be a medical university of the highest level.” Today, the University isorganized into two faculties: the School of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences,and two Graduate schools based on the faculties.
After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(JUAA) in 2010, it formulated the “Second Mid-term Plan” (2013-2018) in 2013 andhas been implementing improvements in line with its targets of “fostering medicalpersonnel with a rich sense of humanity and improving medical services for the peopleof Hokkaido,” “advancing international and leading-edge research activities,”“providing information about latest research and medicine to the community” and“giving back to society through research.”
The University is unique in its efforts to give back to Hokkaido residents andthe world through its international and cutting-edge research findings in the ResearchInstitute for Frontier Medicine, an affiliate institution of the University, in the field ofregenerative medicine and contribute to resolving medical issues of the community by
sharing research findings and medical information with Hokkaido residents throughpublic programs and lectures in collaboration with companies and local governments,
centered on its Collaboration Center for Community and Industry. It is alsocommendable that the University has been holding the long-term Joint Seminar on
Regional Health Service with the objective to provide students with opportunities tolearn about the significance of collaborating with different professionals and acquirecommunication and other essential skills as part of its inter-professional education
program implemented jointly by the School of Medicine and the School of Health
Sciences.
The University needs to address several issues, including managing student

3quota in the School of Medicine, formulating the purpose concerning the fostering of
human resources and degree award policies on award of degrees in the graduate
schools, as well as clearly setting out the criteria of thesis or dissertation examination.
It is expected to address these issues through the internal quality assurance system andwork for further growth.
Notable Strengths
Education and Research Organization
In 2011, the University reorganized and consolidated the Cancer Research Institute,
the Marine Biomedical Institute and other facilities into the Research Institute forFrontier Medicine. This resulted in the promotion of research in regenerative
medicine and establishing corporate-funded Advanced Regenerative Therapeutics.
Furthermore, the University is connecting these activities to advancement ofresearch by working toward practical application of regenerative medicine
products. It is commendable that the University has been realizing its philosophies
of “advancing international and leading-edge research activities” and contributing
to society through its research findings.

Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

The University has been holding the long-term Joint Seminar on Regional HealthService as part of its inter-professional education program implemented jointly by
the School of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences and conducted as aconsistent program for first to fourth year students. In the program, students fromeach year perform three activities - basic practical training in community
healthcare, medical café and community-based team medical training. It provides aplatform for students to conduct clinical case-studies and eventually propose
solutions for medical issues faced by the community. It is commendable that theUniversity strives to deepen the students’ understanding about the significance ofcommunity issues and collaboration between various professions as well as
improve communication and other skills required for collaboration with different
professions by incorporating such active learning activities in the form of a joint
program between the two schools.

4Social Cooperation and Contribution
The University strives actively to collaborate with companies and local
governments through its Collaboration Center for Community and Industry andholds many public programs and lectures based on such collaboration. Thesepublic programs spread information on the findings of research carried out incollaboration with companies and contribute medical knowledge and technology
to the community, using the University’s resources. It is also commendable that theUniversity has been continuously striving to resolve the community’s medical
issues through collaborations with companies and the community. Its initiatives
include a radio program, in collaboration with a company, through which it has
been spreading information on state-of-the-art research and education for three anda half years and sharing of medical information with community residents.

Suggestions for Improvement
Mission and Purpose
The University has not formulated the purpose concerning the fostering of humanresources for each of the degrees in its graduate schools. Therefore, it should
formulate the purpose concerning the fostering of human resources and the otherpurposes of carrying out education and research.

Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

The degree award policy has not been formulated for each of the degrees in theGraduate School of Medicine. This should be addressed.

The curriculum design and implementation policy has not been formulated foreach of the programs in the Graduate School of Medicine. This should beaddressed.

The criteria for examination of dissertations or theses for the Master’s andDoctoral thesis in the Graduate School of Medicine have not been clarified. This5should be addressed.
Enrollment
The admission policy has not been formulated for each of the programs in theGraduate School of Medicine. This issue should be addressed.

The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap in the Graduate
School of Medicine is high at 1.02 and should be improved.