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

Aoyama Gakuin University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2021
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2029）

Aoyama Gakuin University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Aoyama Gakuin University

Overview
Aoyama Gakuin University’s mission is based on the Educational Policy of Aoyama
Gakuin, and stipulates that the institution will “nurture persons who, with a soundunderstanding based on global perspectives, possess the wisdom and strength withwhich to discover and solve issues personally.” In addition, in order to fulfill thefounding spirit and its mission, Aoyama Gakuin has issued the “AOYAMA VISION”
and the “AOYAMA VISION: Committing to Higher Expectations” as well as
drawing up the “Aoyama Gakuin School Corporation: Medium- to Long-term Plan
<2020–2024>” as its medium- to long-term plan. As such, it is recognized as working
toward the enhancement of its educational and research activities.
The university-wide internal quality assurance system consists of the AllUniversity Self-Study Committee (hereinafter the “All-University Committee”,
which is responsible for verification, and the Education Management Promotion
Council, which is responsible for making improvements. However, the fact that thisis not consistent with the current relevant regulations poses a problem. Internal
quality assurance activities are conducted in accordance with the following
procedure: check and review activities are conducted by departmental self-study
committees (hereinafter the “Departmental Committees”, etc., the results of which
are reported to the All-University Committee, which issues the necessary instructions
for improvements and takes measures accordingly. However, the All-UniversityCommittee is not equipped to verify the self-study results by the DepartmentalCommittees, nor to encourage improvements, so this requires remedial action.
Regarding education, both the undergraduate and graduate divisions haveorganized their curriculums appropriately in accordance with the degree award policy(diploma policy) and curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculumpolicy). For example, the undergraduate program is based on the “Aoyama Standard”
for liberal arts education, and the curriculum is organized in terms of the specializededucation provided by each faculty and department. In addition, the faculties andgraduate schools provide education corresponding to the respective attributes oflectures, seminars, and experimental/practical training, as well as incorporatingclasses taught exclusively in English, classes that provide opportunities to learn
through game simulations, and classes based on Project Based Learning (PBL).
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The National Children’s Home Recommendation System, newly established inAY2018, is a system for admission by recommendation for residents of children’shomes that are members of the National Council of Social Welfare’s National Councilof Children’s Homes, and is an excellent initiative that is highly distinctive,
contributes to the realization of Aoyama Gakuin University’s educational philosophy,
and is expected to develop in the future.
In addition, the establishment of the AGU Integrated Research Organization
has developed and strengthened various research support systems within theUniversity, and the enhancement of research support, centering on the Liaison Center,is highly commendable as an initiative to foster young researchers.
Furthermore, in AY2016 the Volunteer Center was established based on theactivities of the Aoyama Gakuin University Volunteer Station, which was primarily
staffed by students. Also worthy of note is the fact that the center coordinates theregular “Service Learning” courses, in which students can enhance their learning byparticipating in activities at NPOs and other organizations, thereby energizing thepractice of civic cooperative education.
However, there are several issues that should be improved. Problems relating
to degree award policies and curriculum design and implementation policies werefound in a considerable number of graduate schools. There are also graduate schools
where the details of the student admission policy is the same for both the master’sand doctoral programs, and this should be corrected.
In addition, the University does not have a system in place to identify and assesslearning outcomes as stipulated in the degree award policy, and has not been able to
do so in a multifaceted and appropriate manner. This should be improved. Other
issues include graduate student quota management.
In the future, the JUAA hopes to see further development achieved byrestructuring the internal quality assurance system, resolving problems through theseefforts, and further developing the University’s distinctive initiatives.
Notable Strengths
Student Enrollment
 The National Children’s Home Recommendation System, newly established inAY2018, is a system for admission by recommendation for residents ofchildren’s homes that are members of the National Council of Social Welfare’s
National Council of Children’s Homes. Under this program, successful students
are exempted from the entrance fee and tuition for four years, as well as receiving
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a monthly scholarship of a certain amount. This system is highly commendableas a distinctive initiative that contributes to the realization of Aoyama Gakuin
University’s educational philosophy.
Education and Research Environment
 The establishment of the AGU Integrated Research Organization has led to thedevelopment and strengthening of various research support systems within theUniversity, and research support centered on the Liaison Center has also beenenhanced. This is commendable because it has resulted in the revitalization ofresearch activities, increased acquisition of external funding, and thedevelopment of young researchers.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 Based on the student staff-led activities at the Aoyama Gakuin University
Volunteer Station, which was established after the Great East Japan Earthquakein 2011, the Volunteer Center established by the University in AY2016, clearlydemonstrating its commitment to volunteering activities under the Policy on
Social Cooperation and Contribution. The Volunteer Center coordinates theregular Service Learning courses, which allow students to participate in activities
at NPOs and other organizations, as well as undertaking initiatives to energize
the practice of civic cooperative education. It is commendable that, through theseand similar initiatives, the University provides support for activities wherestudents collaborate with citizens.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes The same criteria for evaluating dissertations and research achievements inspecific subjects are used for the Graduate School of International Politics,Economics and Communication’s three Master’s Programs in Departments ofInternational Politics, International Economics, and InternationalCommunication. This should be improved.
Although the University conducts grade assessments for each class subject andstudent surveys for class improvement, it does not have a system in place toproperly identify and assess student learning outcomes as specified in the degree3Aoyama Gakuin University

award policies of each faculty and graduate school. Improvements are required
to implement this in a multifaceted and appropriate manner.
Student Enrollment
 The ratios of enrolled students to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.43 forthe Master’s Program at the Graduate School of Literature, 0.17 for the Doctor’s
Program in Graduate School of Law, 0.13 for the Five-year Doctor’s Program inGraduate School of Cultural and Creative Studies, 0.24 for the Doctor’s Programin Graduate School of Science and Engineering, and high at 2.11 for the Doctor’s
Program in Graduate School of Social Informatics. Improvements are requiredin order to ensure proper graduate student quota management, including theimplementation of measures currently under consideration.
Recommendation
Internal Quality Assurance A system has been established in which the All-University Committee performs
verification and the Academic Management Promotion Council takes charge ofimprovement initiatives for priority issues identified by the committee. However,regulations have not been established governing the status of internal quality
assurance initiatives to be undertaken by the Academic Management Promotion
Council. In addition, although the Departmental Committees conduct self-study
and assessments based on the self-study checklist, there is no functioning
mechanism for the All-University Committee to verify each department’s
inspection and assessment and to encourage improvements and enhancements.
Taking this into account, remedial measures should be taken to ensure that going
forward, university-wide internal quality assurance promotion bodies arepromptly and appropriately involved in the management of each department’s
PDCA cycle, and that steady improvements and enhancements are made.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes In the Graduate School of Economics’ Department of Economics andDepartment of Public and Regional Economics, the details of the curriculum
design and implementation policy are the same for the Master’s and Doctoral
programs. No specifics are provided on the basic approach to the design ofcurricula for the Graduate School of Law’s Doctor’s Programs in Department ofPrivate Law and Department of Public Law, Graduate School of International4

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Politics, Economics and Communication’s Doctor’s Program in Department ofInternational Communication. No specifics are provided on the basic approachto implementation of curricula for the College of Economic’s Department ofEconomics and Graduate School of International Management’s Master’s
program in Department of International Management as well as Five-year
Doctor’s Programs in Department of International Management Science atAoyama Business School. No specifics are provided on the basic approach toeither curriculum design or implementation for the Graduate School of
Literature’s Doctor's program in Department of Japanese Literature andLanguage and Graduate School of Science and Engineering’s Combined Frontier
Program. Furthermore, the PhD Program and the D.B.A. Program at Aoyama
Business School’s Department of International Management Science share thesame degree award policy and curriculum design and implementation policy,
even though the degrees awarded are different. This should be corrected.
Student Enrollment
 At the Graduate School of Education, Psychology and Human Studies’
Department of Education and Department of Psychology, the details of theadmission policy are the same for the Master’s and Doctor’s programs, asituation that should be remedied to establish appropriate policies for each degreeprogram.

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