Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior College

The University of Shimane Junior College

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

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2018
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2019 – March.31.2026）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the University of Shimane Junior CollegeOverview
The University of Shimane Junior College (hereafter, the Junior College) was founded
upon the integration of the original Shimane Prefectural Women’s Junior College, createdin 1961 (renamed Shimane Prefectural Shimane Women’s Junior College in 1964) withthe merger of two vocational schools, and Shimane Nursing Junior College, created in
1995 with the merger of two nursing schools. In 2007, the two junior colleges wereintegrated into the University of Shimane and incorporated. With the mission goals of
becoming a college that “fosters the ability to inquire and execute,” “collaborates withregional communities,” and “responds to regional needs,” the Junior College’s Matsue
Campus operates three departments: the Department of Health and Nutrition, theDepartment of Childcare, and the Department of Arts and Sciences. The Department ofHealth and Nutrition became a four-year university department in 2018.
After the Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA)’s evaluation andaccreditation in 2011, the Junior College has worked toward various improvements. For
example, the committees including the Self-Study Committee have reviewed the numberof graduation credits required for the Department of Health and Nutrition and theDepartment of Childcare, and discussed the possibility of setting a yearly maximum
course load for the Department of Arts and Sciences. The Junior College has also revised
the school code and rules for taking courses.
This accreditation review confirms that the Junior College has undertaken
various unique initiatives to achieve its mission goals. In particular, it established the“Kira-kira Dream Project” to support students in voluntary and independent projects andprovide financial assistance. It also organizes meetings to work with guardians as asupport measure for students. In addition, it is commendable that the Junior College
actively engages with regional communities by encouraging students to read to children
at “Story Restaurant for Children,” an on-campus library with an assortment of picture
books and children’s literature, and by hosting the “Childcare Festival” in the “ChildCulture” course to apply what students learn in class to regional communities throughtheir interaction with children. Furthermore, in addition to offering extension programs
and creating a certification system for these programs, the Junior College collaborates

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with local companies and organizations to conduct region-oriented research and utilize
its expertise in the areas of healthcare, childcare, culture and tourism. It is commendable
that the Junior College continues to make these efforts to coordinate and cooperate with
regional communities in light of their needs. JUAA expects the Junior College to makeadditional improvement efforts to deepen and develop this collaboration.
There are several issues the Junior College needs to address, however. For
example, the intended profile of the faculty is not written; the benchmark for evaluating
student learning outcomes at the time of course completion is not fully developed; andthe counseling system for students requires improvement to address more diversified andcomplicated issues, and as no faculty member has taken a sabbatical, the system has notbeen used in an effective way. Also, as the roles of the Education and Research Council,
the Self-Study Committee, the Matsue Campus Steering Committee, and othercommittees are not clearly defined and difficult to understand from outside, the JuniorCollege is expected to develop an internal quality assurance system that clarifies theseroles and make further efforts for improvement, thereby leading to further development.
Notable strengths
Student Support
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The Junior College organizes meetings with the students’ guardians for all
departments to explain the current situation surrounding the school, provide
consultation on the students’ future careers, academic work, and college life, andexchange views with them. More than half the guardians participate in these meetingseach time. It is commendable that the Junior College is strengthening the relationshipof trust with the guardians by building a collaborative system and providing sufficient
support to students.

Social Cooperation and Contribution

The Junior College actively engages in activities for preschool children andelementary school pupils. These activities organized by students include picturebook reading events throughout the prefecture, such as “Story Delivery” and “StorySeminar,” and make use of the wide variety of picture books in the “Story Restaurant4J1for Children” on campus. It is commendable that through these activities the JuniorCollege strives to achieve its mission goals by actively supporting local families
raising children and interacting with local residents.
In response to regional needs, the Junior College has created an extension program
certification system to cultivate expertise in solving regional problems. It alsocollaborates with local organizations to conduct region-oriented research, making useof its expertise in the areas of healthcare, childcare, culture and tourism. It iscommendable that the Junior College is making these efforts through the “Center forRegional Cooperation in Shimane” in order to contribute to revitalization of regionalcommunities.