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

The University of Aizu

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

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2017
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2018 – March.31.2025）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the University of Aizu
Overview
The University of Aizu (hereafter, the University) was opened in 1993 in
Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture as a university solely dedicated tocomputer science and engineering, with the objective “to Advance Knowledge forHumanity.” In addition to the existing Undergraduate School of Computer Science andEngineering, the University added a Graduate School of Computer Science andEngineering later, establishing a master’s program in 1997 and a doctoral program in1999. It was reorganized as a public university corporation in 2006 and currently
carries out education and research activities in one undergraduate school, one graduate
school and related facilities.
After its accreditation review by the National Institution for Academic Degrees
and University Evaluation (now the National Institute for Academic Degrees andQuality Enhancement of Higher Education) in 2010, the University has been working
sincerely toward addressing the low rate of student enrollment in the master’s program
pointed out in the review. Although improvements have been made regarding thismatter as a result, the University still recognizes it as an issue and is striving for further
improvements with a focus on internal students advancing to graduate studies.
One of the University's initiatives, aimed at developing computer specialists
adept in English is providing students with an excellent English language education.
One part of this initiative is allowing all students to write and present a graduation
thesis in English. The University stands out for developing computer scientists andengineers who can use English flexibly.
On the other hand, there are several issues that need to be addressed. The
maximum number of credits that students can register for in a year in theundergraduate school is high. The undergraduate and graduate schools share the same
admission policy, and separate policies have not been formulated for each school. The
degree award policy and curriculum design policy for the Master’s and Doctoral
programs in the Graduate School of Computer Science and Engineering are not distinct.
In the doctoral program, research work and course work have not been appropriately
combined, and the research supervision plan has not been clearly indicated to students
in the master’s program is not indicated clearly to the students. These are all issues that

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should be addressed.
Notable Strengths
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

Based on a stance of developing researchers and technicians capable of succeedingin the global market, the University has implemented a number of measures aimed
at providing students with an education in both general and specialized subjects
that is consistently aimed at helping them learn to use English as a tool. First, it
has established a policy that all students must write and present a graduation thesisin English. Secondly, students are educated in the English skills during their firsttwo years that they will need in the course of their university education. Finally,
third and fourth-year students take specialized courses that are taught in English..
It is commendable that the University helps all students acquire English language
skills necessary for their specialized fields through such initiatives.

Social Cooperation and Contribution
The University has formulated the University of Aizu Regional Contribution
Policy under one of its founding goals, “contribution to industry and culture inFukushima.” Under this policy, the University deploys faculty to educational
institutions within and outside Fukushima Prefecture, holds visiting lectures inhigh schools, and organizes public lectures for prefecture residents (TRY series).
In addition, its University-Business Innovation Center serves as an interface andholds open innovation (AOI and KOI) conferences together with private
corporations and local government officials. It also established the University ofAizu Revitalization Center to support recovery from the Great East JapanEarthquake and set up the new Laboratory for leading-edge ICT in Aizu (LICTiA)
to advance the University of Aizu IT Entrepreneur Development Project. It iscommendable that the University collaborates with and contributes to society
through various projects. In particular, it hosts the All-Japan High School
Computing Contest (PC Koshien), a high-level personal computer contest for highschool and technical college students nationwide, in cooperation with Fukushima
Prefecture and Aizuwakamatsu City. It is commendable that the University has

4been contributing for many years to the advancement of computer-related
technical skills among high school students across Japan.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

The degree award policy of the Graduate School of Computer Science andEngineering does not differentiate between the master’s program and the doctorate
program. This should be addressed, and a separate degree award policy should beformulated for each program.

The curriculum design and implementation policy of the Graduate School ofComputer Science and Engineering does not differentiate between the master’s
program and the doctorate program. This should be rectified, and a separate
curriculum design and implementation policy should be formulated for eachprogram.

The curriculum for the doctorate program in the Graduate School of Computer
Science and Engineering does not appropriately combine course work withresearch work. The University should provide educational content suitable for theprogram by reviewing it in light of the program-based graduate school system.

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The maximum number of credits a student can register for in one year in theUndergraduate School of Computer Science and Engineering is high at 56. Thisissue should be rectified in light of purpose of the credit system.

The research supervision plan for students in the master’s program of the GraduateSchool of Computer Science and Engineering has not been made sufficiently clearto the students. This issue should be rectified.

The master's thesis and doctoral dissertation review criteria in the Graduate Schoolof Computer Science and Engineering have not been clarified. This should beaddressed and the criteria for each program should be clearly stated in “CampusGuide” and other materials.

5Enrollment
The undergraduate and graduate schools share the same admission policy, andseparate policies have not been made for each school. This issue should beaddressed, and separate admission policies should be formulated for each programin the undergraduate and graduate schools.