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

Toyo Gakuen University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Tokyo, Japan

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

2

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Toyo Gakuen University
Overview
Toyo Gakuen University (hereafter, the University) was first founded as Toyo
Women’s Dental College under the old education system in 1926, and after its
reorganization from Toyo Women’s College, the school was established in 1992 as aco-education four-year university with one faculty, the Faculty of Humanities, and twodepartments, the Department of English and American Language Studies and theDepartment of English and American Area Studies. At present, the University consistsof three faculties that include the Faculties of Global Communications, HumanSciences, and Business Administration, and the Graduate School of Business
Administration (master’s program). With Hongo Campus located in Bunkyo Ward ofTokyo and Nagareyama Campus in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture, the University
conducts its education and research activities based on its founding spirit of “JikyoYamazu (Never Stop Striving).”
Since the Japan University Accreditation Association’s (JUAA) FY2010
University Accreditation in 2010, the University has set the major goals of developing
a university-wide structure and system for conducting self-study and improving student
enrollment, with the university executive office, faculty council, and graduate school
playing a central role in developing a system for these improvements. As for internal
quality assurance, the Toyo Gakuen University Evaluation Committee was formed toensure its implementation and improvement, in addition to promoting transparency.
The University also seeks to realize its three missions by introducing basic educational
subjects focusing on the development of basic social skills and improving its curricula,for example, creating a curriculum designed for English language education, while atthe same time supporting students in cooperation with related offices.
The University’s programs for this University Accreditation include Academic
Learning and Professional Skills (ALPS), a program providing English education for
specially selected English classes with the aim of further improving its English
education curriculum; the International Career Program (ICP), a curriculum thatcombines English education, global liberal arts studies, and study abroad; and theEnglish Lounge, a language learning center where students can improve their English
language abilities through practice with native speakers. These activities are highly3commendable as the University’s extensive efforts across faculties to enhance students’English abilities.
On the other hand, while the University has gradually improved its quota
management for student enrollment, some faculties and departments continue to facechallenges, and this issue needs to be addressed. In addition, the ongoing problem of
the University’s serious financial conditions should be corrected, with carefulconsideration given to the educational environment standards required to improve theUniversity’s balance sheet and establish a solid financial base. Moreover, the faculties’
degree award policies and curriculum design and implementation policies need to bereviewed in accordance with the purpose of the degree programs. Improvements arealso required for the graduate school’s curriculum design and implementation policy.
In the coming years, the University is expected to engage in improvement activities byutilizing its strengths to meet these challenges.
Notable Strength
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome
It is commendable that the University promotes English education throughout all
faculties by introducing Academic Learning and Professional Skills (ALPS), aspecial English class for selected high achievers, to provide practical lessons thatinclude giving presentations in English. In addition, the International Career
Program (ICP) aims to help students acquire global knowledge and perspectives
by offering English education in small groups and global liberal arts, as well asrequiring one year of study abroad. Moreover, the English Lounge was establishedon campus to create an environment for international exchanges. These efforts areundertaken across all faculties, with participants playing an active role asvolunteer interpreters in international sports competitions and holding events tointroduce different cultures, thereby realizing the University’s mission of“fostering an international mindset in students.”

4

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

The degree award policy is identical to the objective of human resources
development in the Faculties of Global Communications, Human Sciences, andBusiness Administration, and the Graduate School of Business Administration, andfails to specify the intended learning outcomes after completing the programs. Thisissue should be improved.

Given that the curriculum design and implementation policy is the same among theFaculties of Global Communications, Human Sciences, and Business
Administration, improvements are required for each faculty to formulate its own
policy. In addition, the Graduate School of Business Administration has failed todeliver on its basic notions for educational content and methods. These issues
should be improved as well.

Enrollment
The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap in FY2017 is low at0.83 in the Department of Human Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences. This ratio
should be improved.

The ratio of transfer students to the transfer student admission cap in FY2017 islow at 0.30 in the Department of Global Communications, Faculty of Global
Communications; 0.10 in the Department of English Communications, Faculty ofGlobal Communications; 0.08 in the Department of Human Sciences, Faculty ofHuman Sciences; and 0.14 in the Department of Business Administration, Facultyof Business Administration. These ratios should be improved.

Areas of Serious ConcernEnrollment
In 2017, the average of ratios of freshman enrollment to the freshman enrollment

5cap in the past five years and the ratio of student enrollment to the student
enrollment cap are low at 0.86 and 0.83, respectively, in the Faculty of Global
Communications, and 0.63 and 0.59 in the Faculty’s Department of Global
Communications. These ratios must be improved.
Administration and FinanceThe ratio of financial assets to the required reserve funds and the rate of next fiscal
year’s excess of carry-over expenditures to the operating income are worsening
each year, and the financial base required to realize the objectives and goals ofeducation and research is not fully established. The University must address theseissues by carefully considering the education and research environment standards
and setting specific policies and numerical targets to attain its medium-term plan,with a view to improving its balance sheet and establishing a solid financial base.