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

Osaka University of Economics

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Osaka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2016
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2017 – March.31.2024）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the Osaka University of Economics
Overview
The Osaka University of Economics (hereafter, the University) began as Naniwa
Commercial High School, founded in 1932. The University opened under its current
name with the Faculty of Economics in 1949. Thereafter, the University has undergone
reorganization of new departments, faculties, and graduate schools, and currently has
four faculties: the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Business Administration, theFaculty of Information Technology and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of HumanSciences. The University also contains four graduate schools: the Graduate School ofEconomics (master’s program and doctoral program), the Graduate School of Business
Administration (master’s program), the Graduate School of Business Information
System (master’s program), and the Graduate School of Human Sciences (master’sprogram). The University has three campuses (the Osumi campus and Kitahama
campus in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and the Settsu campus in Settsu City, OsakaPrefecture) and has conducted education and research activities based on the founding
spirit of “freedom and harmony.”
After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(JUAA), the University developed a policy for creating a new internal quality assurance
system, and since 2014 the University has worked on the development andimplementation of this system. Specifically, the Self-Inspection Steering Committee
examines “The Report on Self-Inspection, Self-Evaluation, Target Setting, andProgress,” which indicates objectives, progress, tasks and improvement measures set
by each organizational unit from the viewpoint of the entire university and makes theresults public.
The University has implemented several programs to enhance student
experiences, including a training camp for first year students that develops humanrelationships and nurtures relationship skills, and the “Seminar-1 Grand Prix,” anannual competition involving the presentation of research outcomes in seminars acrossthe university that helps students broaden their views and maximize their seminar
activities. These efforts are distinguishing features of the University. It is alsocommendable that the Institute for Research in the Economic History of Japan and theInstitute of Small Business and Business Administration promote research on
economic history, small enterprises, and management. Furthermore, “Kisanji-juku
School,” a weekly event to promote the health of the elderly, and “Daikeidai (anabbreviated form of the school name in Japanese) Kids College” both enhance theexchange between the University and the local community and make significant
contributions to society.
However, several issues must be addressed. For example, the policies ondegree award in the Faculty of Business Administration and some graduate schools are
insufficient in their content. Additionally, the criteria for examining master’s theses andspecific assignments are not clearly differentiated in the master’s program of theGraduate School of Management, and the enrollment caps in several graduate schools
are not fulfilled. These issues should be improved.
Notable Strengths
Education and Research Organization
It is commendable that the University has established unique research institutes,
and that these institutes actively return their research outcomes to society. For
example, in an effort to realize its teaching philosophy, “human practical learning,”
the Institute for Research in the Economic History of Japan has collected3significant historical materials concerning the research of economic history of bothJapan in the world and Japan in Asia in order to enrich the research of economichistory. In addition, the Institute of Small Business Research and Business
Administration, as a specialized research institute on small enterprises, also
engages in leading-edge activities in the field of small business research andbusiness research.
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome
It is commendable that first-year education in the Faculty of Human Sciences
includes the “studying humans from various viewpoints,” an educational objectiveof the faculty which compels students to be active in learning the knowledge andtheory of how to develop meaningful human relationships. First-year students in
the Faculty of Human Sciences take a compulsory subject, “Theory and Practice of
Human Relations,” to learn theories of human relations development andcommunication before participating in the training camp, thus making it possible toeffectively enhance both human relationship development and interpersonal skills.
It is also commendable that the participation of second, third, and fourth-yearstudents as volunteer staff creates valuable opportunities to practice building
relationships and learning collaboration skills. This becomes an effective learning
experience for the both parties.

It is commendable that seminar activities are thriving, as expressed in the phrase“Daikeidai, well known for seminars.” In particular, the “Seminar-1 Grand Prix,”
which is a competition for all faculties, gives students an opportunity todemonstrate the outcome of seminar work. It is also commendable that this event iscarried out by a steering committee composed of student volunteers, with many
cooperative individuals, such as businessmen and women and faculty members,
serving as judges. The highly ranked prizewinners can participate in anintercollegiate presentation event among universities in western Japan. This event
does not only help student maximize their seminars activities, but also learn how to
perform research in wide-ranging fields and broaden their perspectives.

Social Cooperation and Contribution
It is commendable that the University has made contributions to the region andsociety by making students involved and strengthening the local community
through various activities. In particular, the University promotes exchanges withthe local community via the “Kisanji-juku,” weekly events that promote good
health of the elderly, and the “Daikeidai Kids College,” which provides sports
instruction and supports learning. The Kids’ College offers local primary school
students sport classes where University students instruct them, and “Daikeidaiclasses” where teacher education students provide learning support for participants.
In the “Kisanji-juku,” students instruct older adults in exercise to support theirhealth, while individuals who have taken the classes hold events in the annualschool festival or during other seasonal opportunities. Thus, the university andlocal residents are interactive in promoting mutual experiences.

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and OutcomeIn the Faculty of Business Administration, the master’s and doctoral programs in
the Graduate School of Economics, and the master’s program in the Graduate
School of Human Sciences, the policy on degree award does not indicate learning

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outcomes, such as knowledge and skills required for the completion of the program.
This should be improved.
The criteria for master’s theses and the research report on specific assignments are
not differentiated in the master’s program in the Graduate School of Business
Administration. Individual criteria for each should be developed.

Enrollment
The ratio of enrolled students to the student enrollment cap is low at 0.15 in themaster’s program in the Graduate School of Economics, 0.45 in the master’s
program in the Graduate School of Human Sciences, and 0.17 in the doctoral
program in the Graduate School of Economics. These numbers should beimproved.