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

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences

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

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2021
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.1.2022 – March 31, 2029）

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences

Overview
The Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences defines its founding philosophy
as “the fusion of scientific thinking and artistic sensibility,” and, specifically, “thecreation of new culture through the reevaluation of the act of production and researchfrom a broad perspective, and the fusion of advanced, specialized technology andresearch in the sciences with artistic creation, rooted in a philosophical andintellectual perspective.” Additionally, the purpose of the Institute is defined as“fostering people, who, equipped with the attributes of highly creative individuals,’
pioneer new ontologies for our information society, and contribute to theimprovement and development of academic culture and the promotion of industry.”
Consequently, the Institute has devised a six-year medium-term plan and goals,beginning AY2018, based on the economic growth and employment strategy of Gifu
Prefectural government, the Institute’s establishing body. The plan develops theInstitute’s educational and research activities as a graduate school by establishing theCourse of Media Creation in the Graduate School of Media Creation. In addition, adoctoral program was established in AY2021.
A “Management Council” was established in AY2020 to strengthen theinternal quality assurance system. The Management Council, under the direction ofthe President, constructed a system for supporting the improvement of eachorganization, based on the self-assessment results of various committees, including
the “Self-Assessment Committee.” However, the members of the Management
Council and the Faculty Council sometimes overlap. Also, the improvement andenhancement efforts, based on the results of actual self-assessments, have so far been
conducted by the Faculty Council. Therefore, an internal quality assurance systemthat clarifies the role of the Management Council must be developed andimplemented.
Regarding education and other activities, the Institute has established threepolicies (a degree conferral policy (diploma policy), a curriculum design andimplementation policy (curriculum policy), and admission policy). The curriculum
is designed to offer students a system of courses that provide them with basic skills
in information science and the art field of their specialization, develop the knowledge
and skills necessary for advanced media expression, and, lastly, enable them to1

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences

acquire applied and comprehensive knowledge and skills through seminar courses.
In particular, the “Project Courses” enable students to study a wide range of media
expression through participating in research and technological development projects
alongside multiple faculty members from various areas of expertise. This is highly
commendable as an effective method of education. Other commendably distinctive
characteristics of the Institute are: the establishment of the “Research Center for
Industrial Culture” (RCIC), which aims to apply the results of research widely insociety through industry-academia-government collaboration and cultural activities
while conducting a variety of social contribution activities, and faculty and students’collaborative management of local artistic and cultural events that foster the nextgeneration of “highly creative individuals.”
While the above-mentioned activities demonstrate the Institute actively taking
advantage of the characteristics of an arts-oriented graduate school, there are also
some issues to address.
The Institute states that it monitors and assesses learning outcomes, based on
the evaluation of completed works and dissertations, and the results of awards
received by students and graduates. However, these are not sufficient for themeasurement of learning outcomes as indicated in the degree conferral policy. Theseoutcomes should be properly monitored and evaluated so that the results can be used
to improve and enhance the Institute’s curricula and educational methods. Next, theInstitute must inspect and ascertain systematically the issue of the large number ofgraduate students who are enrolled beyond the standard term of study, and work on
improving the situation. In order to improve these issues and guarantee the quality of
the Institute’s education, it is important to have a functioning internal quality
assurance system. However, as already mentioned, the system established in AY2020
requires review.
In the future, the JUAA hopes that the internal quality assurance system willfunction to guarantee the quality of education at the Institute, and that its
characteristics and achievements will be communicated to society, producing furtherdevelopment.
Notable Strengths
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes In the Project Courses, graduate students with diverse backgrounds participate
in projects alongside multiple faculty members with different areas of expertise,
engaging in interdisciplinary research and technological development. This2

Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences

offers hands-on learning of media creation in a wide range of fields including art,
design, philosophy, science and engineering, and sociology, as well asexperience with building teams from diverse groups of people. This program iscommendable for developing a broad perspective and the ability to plan,organize, and realize ideas.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 Various social cooperation and contribution activities, centered on the ResearchCenter for Industrial Culture, are carried out on an ongoing basis to share thefruits of education and research with the local community. Especiallycommendable are the Institute’s initiatives that contribute to the revitalization of
the local community through the application of its specialization in the arts.
These include multiple social contribution activities each year, such as: the “GifuOgaki Biennale,” a public media art research event that promotes and educatesthe public about the state of manufacturing through art, and the “Ogaki Mini
Maker Faire,” where makers from various fields gather to showcase their skills.
Both of these events contribute to the development of the next generation of“highly creative individuals.”
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance The Management Council, newly established in AY2020, is responsible forpromoting internal quality assurance The council is supposed to deliberate on
measures for improvement and provide instructions or advice to ensure thefunctionality of the internal quality assurance systems. In practice, however,internal quality assurance is being conducted under the Faculty Council.
Therefore, improvements are required to clarify the role of the Management
Council within the internal quality assurance system and to ensure that it
functions effectively.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes The Institute monitors and assesses learning outcomes based on the evaluationof completed artwork, dissertations, and awards received by students andgraduates; however, these are not sufficient to monitor and assess learning
outcomes indicated in the degree award policy. Improvements are required toensure that learning outcomes are appropriately measured, and the results are
3Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciencesused to improve and enhance the Institute’s curricula and educational methods.
Regarding the large number of students who remain enrolled at the Institutewithout completing their studies within the standard term, the reasons for thisshould be investigated by the department, and systematic improvements shouldbe made. This could include identifying and sharing information students’progress on their master’s graduation artwork and theses, as well as theirchallenges.

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