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

Kogakuin University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2020
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.1.2021 – March.31.2028）

Kogakuin University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kogakuin University
Overview
In 2012, on the 125th anniversary of its founding, Kogakuin University (hereinafterreferred to as the “University”) redefined the entire school’s mission as “Promote Infinite
Possibilities”, based on the founding spirit of “The ‘Mind of Engineering’ that widelyconnects the leading edge of education and research with society and industry.” Based on
the founding spirit and mission, the purpose of the University is “To provide a wide rangeof knowledge as a University under the Fundamental Law of Education and the School
Education Act and bring character to maturity while training engineers who can contributeto human society through teaching and researching advanced theories concerning
engineering and their applications.” The purpose of the graduate school is “To contributeto the development of culture by teaching and researching academic theories andapplications founded on undergraduate education.” Based on this, each undergraduate andgraduate school has a purpose, and clear direction to aim.
As for the internal quality assurance system, the “Internal Quality AssuranceCommittee,” which is responsible for it for the entire University, was established under
the President’s leadership to introduce an external evaluation system and actively improveeducation. However, these efforts have not led to improvements or enhancements basedon the results of the University-wide checks and reviews, nor can it be said thatmanagement is adequate for each department’s improvement activities. Improvements arerequired to clarify collaboration and divisions of roles for each committee related to theinternal quality assurance system and make its function effectively to realize practicalquality assurance.
The four items of the degree award policy are established in keeping with theeducational objectives of undergraduate and graduate schools, and the required learning
outcomes were clarified for each area based on the “ideal image of engineers that
Kogakuin University aims.” The grade evaluation is carried out according to the methods
and standards specified in the syllabus. The graduation and completion requirements areexplicit in the undergraduate and graduate school rules and made known to the students
in advance. In addition, it is commendable that the educational outcomes in the regularcourses are enhanced by establishing a basic system that can verify such aspects ofeducation as follows: implementing mutual understanding of education in general for all
faculty members through the “FD Handbook,” Faculty Development (after this called1

Kogakuin University“FD”), developing independent learning plans with encouraging the practice of learning
through the Student Portfolio “Carrier Design Note,” and the hybrid international classes
by combining secondary education programs with the teaching in the Faculty.
Regarding student support, to assist the needs of various students, facilities suchas the “changing room for everyone” that anyone can use regardless of gender identity
are established. Furthermore, educational support close to students is provided throughthe FD Handbook distributed to teachers and the Student Support Center. Concerning thesupport for the enhancement of extracurricular activities, it is deserving that a system has
been established to subsidize part of the activity costs every year when selected by opencall recruitment, voluntary creative activities by student groups are promoted. As a result,the great extracurricular activities of the students are achieved. As for social cooperationand contribution, many policies have been established and announced. Based on these,a wide variety of initiatives are implemented energetically. In particular, the “ScienceClassroom” has been continued for many years. It is a University-wide initiative with avast number of participants, which makes it an exemplary activity. In addition, theUniversity is engaged in activities that contribute to society in Japan and globally. Theseactivities include training skilled people for high schools and overseas educational
institutions. Therefore, it is praiseworthy that the University is actively sharing its
academic and research achievements with society.
However, several issues should be addressed. In addition to the inadequate
management by the internal quality assurance promotion organization mentioned above,
points such as the following require improvement: there are faculties, departments,
graduate schools, and majors where the primary approach for curriculum design is notindicated in the curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculum policy); somefaculties are not accepting the number of applicants to be admitted for each entrance
examination category, and Faculty Development activity for graduate school education isinadequate.
Moving forward, in addition to resolving these issues through internal quality
assurance, the University is expected to make great strides with the further developmentof its specific initiatives.
Notable Strengths
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes To improve the effectiveness of regular courses, the University is promoting mutual2Kogakuin University

understanding in general in education through the “FD Handbook” distributed to all
faculty members. In addition, remedial teachings at the Learning Support Center are
conducted for “basic lectures,” and “individual guidance” for students with diverse
admission backgrounds is also provided. Furthermore, through the student portfolio“Career Design Notes” and the “Science Classroom,” the University encourages
developing self-directed learning plans and study. Also, by taking “HybridInternational Classes,” the students can experience life in foreign countries andindustrial sites while taking specialized courses in Japanese. As a result, not only is
the motivation to learn foreign languages enhanced, but students also gain thenecessary field experience as engineers and scientists, leading to effective learning.
Therefore, these various efforts can be evaluated as excellent efforts to activate
student learning.
Student Support
 Based on the Student Support Policy, full-scale student assistance is provided toaddress various difficulties and needs of individual students from both aspects offacilities and supporting measures. Many “everyone's toilets” that can be used byanyone regardless of gender or gender identity have been installed at the Hachioji
campus, and expansion work is also underway at the Shinjuku campus. Besides
setting up “Changing Rooms for Everyone” on both campuses, the “FD Handbook”
distributed to faculty members has a section called “For Improving Education withEmpathy for Students.” In addition, efforts are made to devise classes that consider
various expressions of sexuality, language, and cultural background. In addition tothis, teachers are provided with sufficient information and guidance to enable a wide
range of collaborative support in student counseling. It is commendable that theUniversity provides support in learning and life, and upholds the “Promote InfinitePossibilities” outlined in its mission and purpose.
 A system is in place to subsidize part of the activity costs each year for students
selected by an open-call recruitment system and promote student groups' voluntary
creative activities to help enhance regular extracurricular activities for students. For
example, the “Kogakuin Solar Team” chosen in the open-call student project won a
prize in an overseas competition. The “Honey Bee Project,” which fabricatesproducts such as bath salts containing honey and bottled honey, etc., actually sells itsproducts. Furthermore, it is commendable that in addition to the production
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techniques learned in a regular course, industrial products are linked to theacquisition of experience and knowledge of a series of business processes in the realworld, such as planning, development, sales, related laws, and regulations, etc.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 Based on the University’s social cooperation and social contribution policies, theUniversity is engaged in several social contribution activities related to industryacademia-government collaboration and next-generation human resource
development. Specifically, the “Science Classroom” has been held for many years
for “promoting science education in Japan by arousing the interest of young peoplein science.” The usefulness and practicality of science are communicated mainly toelementary and junior high school students through various productions andexperiments. It is also an opportunity for the participating undergraduate andgraduate school students in the position of teaching to cultivate a deeper
understanding of their specialty and improve their technical and presentation skills
through planning and managing exhibition themes. The “Science Classroom” hasgrown into a main science event in the Tama area with many visitors. It is cosponsored and supported by various organizations such as Hachioji City and the City
Board of Education and has become an activity representing the entire University. It
is estimable that the results of the University education and research are actively
passed on to society.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance Although the University is actively working on educational enhancement, thecollaboration and divisions of roles for each committee related to the internal quality
assurance system are unclear. In making improvements and enhancements based on
the checks and reviews results, because inadequate management is provided by theInternal Quality Assurance Committee, which is the internal quality assurance
promotion organization, a review of the internal quality assurance system is necessary.
Improvements are required so that the internal quality assurance system functions
effectively to realize practical quality assurance.

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Educational Program and Learning Outcomes The basic approach for curriculum implementation should be improved because ofnot being specified in the curriculum design and implementation policy for thefollowing: the School of Advanced Engineering, composed of the Department ofChemistry and Life Science; Department of Environmental Chemistry and ChemicalEngineering; Department of Applied Physics; Department of Mechanical Scienceand Engineering; the School of Engineering composed of Department of MechanicalEngineering; Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering; School ofArchitecture organized with Department of Urban Design and Planning; Departmentof Architecture, Department of Architectural Design; the School of Informatics
composed of Department of Computer Science; Department of Information Design;
Department of Information Systems and Applied Mathematics; Graduate School ofEngineering Master's Program in Architecture; and the same graduate school Master'sProgram in System Design.
Student Enrollment
 The School of Architecture and that of Informatics are also recruiting students who
do not specify their department at the time of admission. A comprehensive
examination will be conducted to determine the department to which they belong insophomore for these students. Since the ratio of applicants for admission here ishigher than that for each department to which they belong, the recruitment capacity
management as a school is not suitable. Appropriate improvement of enrollment
capacity is required.
Faculty and Faculty Organization
 Since graduate school-specific FDs are not implemented for educational
enhancements, improvements are necessary so that the entire master's and doctoral
programs or each graduate school can implement FD appropriately.

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