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

Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Hyogo, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2019
Accreditation Status: Accredited（Accreditation Period: April 1.2020 – March 31.2027）

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences
Overview
Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the“University”) was founded under the motto of “Brighten the World at Your Corner,”
which means “to believe in your station as the best one and do your best there.” Aiming
to nurture individuals with comprehensive nursing skills who are capable of contributing
to healthcare, medicine, and welfare in the local and global community, the University
has carried out educational and research activities in the Faculty of Nursing and Graduate
School of Nursing it has established. The University formulated the Kansai University ofNursing and Health Sciences Mid- to Long-term Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Midto Long-term Plan”) in AY2015, and has created annual plans based on the Mid- to Longterm Plan, as well as a Mid- to Long-term Plan Roadmap in view of achieving it. The
University is engaged in nurturing nursing professionals with ethical awareness andglobal communication skills, and uses professional knowledge and skills in nursing tocontribute to the local community through recurrent education.
With regard to education, the University has established a degree award policy(diploma policy) in line with its mission and purpose, and provides small-group educationin both lectures and seminars in order to enhance students’ practical nursing skills. In
order to provide nursing and treatment that utilizes the resources (people, culture, nature)of Awaji Island, where the University is located, as a form of therapy, the University isengaged in the establishment of a research hub for promoting local revitalization anddeveloping a nursing education curriculum based on the basic idea of creating “Therapy
Island Awajishima,” in cooperation with the local government and other groups. It iscommendable that as part of this endeavor, the University has consistently held seminars
that cover a wide range of topics, from the basics of nursing diagnosis to issuesconcerning nursing and care in clinical settings, in the Nursing Diagnosis Research Center,and has worked on providing nursing skills for elders with dementia and verifying theeffects thereof.
There are, however, several issues that need to be resolved. With regard toeducation, the content of the curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculumpolicy) is insufficient, and there are issues with the syllabus content and description.
Measures to give substance to credits are insufficient, and evaluation methods andindicators for grasping the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy have2not been established. This should be improved. Criteria for faculty member selection havebeen established, but the content of the criteria are based on laws and regulations.
Therefore, the University needs to stipulate the specific selection criteria in regulations,and also establish criteria for qualification examination of graduate school researchsupervisors. Finally, there is a need to make the internal quality assurance system functionin order to solve these issues. However, although the Self-Study Committee is considered
the organization responsible for promotion of internal quality assurance, a structure forinternal quality assurance as a whole has not been established properly, and the authorities
and roles of the Self-Study Committee, including its management, in relation to otherorganizations involved in internal quality assurance are not clearly established. In reality,
the Self-Study Committee is not functioning, and it is the University Management
Committee that promotes internal quality assurance. Therefore, there is a significant
discrepancy between the actual situation and internal quality assurance-related policies
and procedures. The University should clarify the authorities and roles of eachorganization and rectify the structure and system so that internal quality assurance canfunction based on cooperation between the organizations.
Going forward, the University should, in line with its internal quality assurance
policy, continue to engage in self-study activities, including verification of theachievement of annual plans, review the composition and roles of internal committees,
establish an internal quality assurance structure, and make efforts to resolve the issues.
We hope the University expands its distinctive initiatives that leverage geographicalconditions and professional knowledge and skills in nursing to develop its program evenfurther.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 The University is engaged in various programs based on the perspective of solving
local social issues through nursing. With the aim of nurturing local nurses andpromoting nursing diagnosis and nursing treatment, the Nursing Diagnosis ResearchCenter has consistently held nursing diagnosis seminars that cover a wide range of
topics, from the basics of nursing diagnosis to issues concerning nursing and care inclinical and educational settings. Seminar participants have been increasing every year.
As part of its research on therapy as a cure/remedy involving people, nature, andculture, the University regards “touching care” methods, such as hand massaging for3

elders with dementia, as nursing skills, and has practiced these methods in its elderly
nursing training facility in an attempt to verify the effects they have on care recipients.
It is commendable that the University has used professional knowledge and skills in
nursing to contribute to the local community through such initiatives.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Program and Outcome
 The Faculty of Nursing and the Master Course of Nursing, Graduate School ofNursing, do not present the basic ideas on curriculum organization andimplementation in the curriculum design and implementation policy. This should beimproved.
 Even though the relevant office checks whether syllabus content corresponds to actualclasses, there are some issues with the description of criteria for assessment ofacademic achievement and class schedules. Thus, from the perspective ofencouraging active student learning, the items and content are insufficient. TheUniversity should review and improve the way syllabi are prepared and checked inorder to formulate syllabi that contribute to student learning.
 There is no limit on the number of credits undergraduate students can register for in asingle year. Especially in the second year, as there are many compulsory subjects thatare prerequisites for the nursing training provided in the third and subsequent years,
there are a considerable number of students who actually register for many credits.
Other measures have not been implemented, and not enough is being done to give
substance to credits. Therefore, the University should improve the situation in viewof the purpose of the credit system.
 The faculty grasps learning outcomes based on the grades in each subject, results of
the PROG test, and exit examinations, among other methods, while the graduate
school grasps learning outcomes through research supervision. However, therelationship between these methods and the learning outcomes indicated in the degree
award policy is unclear. Therefore, the University should make improvements so thatlearning outcomes are grasped and evaluated appropriately.

4Faculty and Faculty Organization The University selects all faculty members according to the Criteria for Faculty
Member Selection. However, the Criteria do not stipulate the specific examination
criteria or the criteria for qualification examination of graduate school researchsupervisors and assistant supervisors. The University should clearly indicate thecriteria used for qualification examination in the faculty member selection process,and also formulate criteria for qualification examination of graduate school faculty
members.
Recommendation
Internal Quality Assurance Although the Self-Study Committee is considered the organization responsible forpromotion of internal quality assurance, a structure for internal quality assurance as awhole has not been established properly, and the authorities and roles of the SelfStudy Committee, including its management, in relation to other organizations
involved in internal quality assurance are not clearly established. In reality, the SelfStudy Committee is not functioning, and it is the University Management Committeethat promotes internal quality assurance. Therefore, there is a significant discrepancy
between the actual situation and internal quality assurance-related policies andprocedures. The University should clarify the authorities and roles of eachorganization and rectify the structure and system so that internal quality assurance canfunction based on cooperation between the organizations.

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