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

The University of Shimane

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Shimane, JapanAccreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2019
Accreditation Status: Accredited（Accreditation Period: April 1.2020 – March 31.2027）

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the University of Shimane
Overview
The basic principles of the University of Shimane (hereinafter referred to as the“University”) are presented in the University of Shimane Charter (hereinafter referred toas the “University Charter”). Its policies include “nurturing individuals who enhance theircivil learning, actively learn, and take action,” “practicing the ‘unification of the sciences’in response to the challenges faced by modern society,” “conducting research on local
issues from a diversified perspective, actively supporting community activities by citizens
and students, and contributing to the community,” “building an international hub for
research and education with a special focus on the Northeast Asia region,” and“implementing university management based on autonomy and cooperation and with ahigh level of transparency and functionality.” The University’s faculties and graduateschools are located on its three campuses in Hamada, Izumo, and Matsue. In order toachieve its basic principles, the University has formulated a mid-term plan that takes into
account the mid-term goals set by the prefectural government, and engages in educationaland research activities including nurturing “glocal individuals” capable of viewing thelocal community from a global, diversified perspective and developing an environment
in which students can teach and learn from each other.
With regard to internal quality assurance, the Self-Study Committee is
responsible for overseeing university-wide internal quality assurance. Since 2018, theUniversity has established campus-wide organizations such as the Educational Liaison
Meeting, General Education Promotion Center, and University Committee andimplemented other measures to enhance the structure for promoting university-wide
internal quality assurance. However, an improvement/enhancement process based on thePDCA cycle of each faculty and graduate school has not been established, and auniversity-wide management structure centered around the Self-Study Committee has notyet been realized. Therefore, the University should clarify the authorities and roles of theorganizations involved in internal quality assurance and enable its internal quality
assurance system to function effectively under the management of the Self-Study
Committee.
As for education, all faculties and graduate schools have established a degree
award policy (diploma policy) and curriculum design and implementation policy(curriculum policy) in accordance with the University’s overall policy, provide the2necessary subjects so as to enable students to acquire broad general knowledge anddevelop a deep understanding of specialized areas of study, and have created curriculum
maps that describe overall curriculum structures and the systematic relationship between
subjects, among other matters. It is commendable that the University has strived to nurtureindividuals with the expertise and practical skills for solving local issues by awarding
students who have taken community-oriented subjects set for each faculty and conducteda graduate research project aiming at solving a local issue with the title of Shimane
Community Meister, which was originally developed by the University.
Another remarkable feature is student support. The University has developed aninter-student support system as part of remedial education, adopted a program whereby
students are awarded points for extracurricular activities, and implemented other active
supportive measures to promote students’ independent activity. Support for students withdiverse backgrounds include living support for international students by “internationalstudent supporters,” and in AY2018, the University established the Diversity Promotion
Committee on its Izumo Campus with the aim of providing support to students withdisabilities or various religious backgrounds. Therefore, promotion of diversity isexpected to accelerate in the University. Regarding social cooperation and contribution,
the University has created a platform for solving issues faced by local municipalities,businesses, and other organizations by utilizing the University’s intellectual resources,and has contributed to the local community through cooperation with international
students. It is commendable that the University is fulfilling its mission as a prefecturalestablishment.
There are, however, some issues that need to be resolved. First, there are issues
with the curriculum design and implementation policy, examination criteria related to
special assignment research results, and quota management in the graduate schools. Next,
some faculties and graduate schools have not been able to adequately grasp the learning
outcomes indicated in the degree award policy. This should be improved. The University
should stipulate the criteria pertaining to the hiring of faculty members.
Going forward, we hope the University addresses the issues faced by its faculties
and graduate schools under the management of the Self-Study Committee and promotes
the distinctive initiatives specific to each campus on a university-wide basis towardachieving its goals in human resource development and local contribution in line with its
purpose and basic principles.

3Notable Strengths
Education and Research Organization
 The University has established a system in the undergraduate curriculum whereby
students who have taken basic subjects, specialized subjects, and seminar subjects
involving specialized research and study on local issues faced by Shimane Prefecture
are awarded with the title of Shimane Community Meister, and strives to nurtureindividuals with the expertise and practical skills for solving local issues. This is acommendable initiative that will lead to achieving the goal stated in the University
Charter of nurturing individuals who can contribute to community revitalization anddevelopment.
Student Support
 As part of remedial education in the Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition, the University
has established a mentoring system in which senior students help junior students intheir studies. This system does not only provide learning support to junior students
but also provides senior students with an opportunity to engage in active learning asmentors. A volunteer mileage system whereby students receive points according totheir extracurricular achievements and a support program for covering the travel
expenses of students participating in disaster volunteer activities have been
established on a university-wide basis. It is commendable that the University actively
supports students’ local contribution and social implementation activities.
 The University has enhanced its support to students with diverse backgrounds. For
example, Japanese “international student supporters” are assigned to provide
university life-related support, including that related to dormitory life, to internationalstudents. In addition, in AY2018, the University established the Diversity Promotion
Committee on its Izumo Campus, which is responsible for building facilities that meetthe needs of students with disabilities and providing meals that are prepared inconsideration of religious backgrounds, among other tasks. The University plans toimplement these initiatives on a university-wide basis. These are commendable
initiatives that will contribute to the creation of campuses on which diverse students
can study in harmony with each other.

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Social Cooperation and Contribution
 The University Charter, which presents the University’s basic principles, states thegoal of promoting local research and contributing to solving local issues. TheUniversity has developed the Enmusubi Platform, which is an arena for discussing
whether issues faced by local municipalities, businesses, and other organizations canbe solved by utilizing the University’s intellectual resources. Steadily building on thisplatform, the University engages in social contribution activities aiming at solving
local issues. The University holds the KENDAI Enmusubi Forum, shares information
on local issues with those on and outside campus, and disseminates its researchfindings. In this way, the University utilizes its resources to contribute to the localcommunity, which is commendable achievement.
 The University actively supports international exchange on and off campus. For
example, it has established the GLOBAL DREAM HUNT program as a study abroad
support program for Japanese students. The program provides grants to students who
have planned for their own destination and activities. Also, the University holds an
on-campus international exchange event called the World Café and has adopted alanguage partner system whereby Japanese students and international students teacheach other languages. The University provides the opportunity for international
students and local residents to interact. International students visit elementary andjunior high school students in the prefecture, and they teach each other about theirlanguage and culture. These are commendable initiatives that not only contribute to
the globalization of the University but also enable the local community to participate
in international exchange activities.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance The University has worked on creating an internal quality assurance structure centeredaround the Self-Study Committee. However, an improvement/enhancement process
based on the PDCA cycle of each faculty and graduate school has not been established,
and a university-wide management structure centered around the Self-Study
Committee has not yet been realized. The University should clarify the authorities androles of the organizations involved in internal quality assurance and enable its internal5

quality assurance system to function effectively under the management of the SelfStudy Committee.
Education and Research Organization
 The Graduate School of North East Asia and Development Studies (Master'sProgram) does not present the basic ideas on curriculum organization andimplementation in the curriculum design and implementation policy. This should beimproved.
 The Graduate School of North East Asia and Development Studies (Master'sProgram) does not specify the examination criteria related to special assignment
research results. Therefore, the criteria should be established and clearly presented tostudents in advance.
 Although the Faculty of Policy Studies has tried to measure learning outcomes via
GPA, class questionnaires, and other survey methods, it has not been able toadequately grasp the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy from theresults. The Graduate School of North East Asia and Development Studies (Master'sProgram and Doctoral Program) and the Graduate School of Nursing Science have
tried to grasp learning outcomes through the evaluation of research presentations andstudent questionnaires, but the relationship between these methods for grasping
learning outcomes and the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy isunclear. Therefore, measures should be implemented to grasp and assess learning
outcomes in an appropriate manner.
Student Enrollment
 The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap is high at 3.17 in theGraduate School of North East Asia and Development Studies (Doctoral Program).
The University should thoroughly implement graduate school quota management toimprove the situation.
Faculty and Faculty Organization
 It is stated in the University of Shimane Faculty Member Selection Rules that the6

criteria for faculty member hiring “shall be established separately.” However, thecriteria have not been stipulated. In order to ensure transparency in the hiring process,the criteria should be established and clearly presented in advance.

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