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

Kansai Gaidai University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Osaka, 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 Gaidai UniversityOverview
The founding principles of Kansai Gaidai University (hereinafter referred to as the“University”) are “nurturing individuals with a well-rounded education who cancontribute to the international community” and “focusing on practical learning in order
to meet the changing social needs and viewing the world from a fair-minded perspective.”
Its purpose is “to nurture individuals with a well-rounded education who can contributeto the international community through promoting practical learning in order to meet thechanging social needs and viewing the world from a fair-minded perspective.” As a midto long-term plan for achieving its founding principles and purpose, the University has
established the Kansai Gaidai University Vision and Mid-term Plan, and is making efforts
to improve its educational and research activities.
The Board of Trustees is the organization with ultimate responsibility for internal
quality assurance. In accordance with the policy established by the Board of Trustees, aSelf-Study Committee gathers the results of checks and evaluations carried out by
Specialized Self-Study Committees that are established under the educational division
and administrative affairs division, and, based on that, the Board of Trustees gives
instructions for improvement. However, in actual practice, the Self-Study Committee
gives specific instructions for improvement based on the results of the check andevaluations. Therefore, the University should make appropriate improvements to its
internal quality assurance system so that university-wide educational management canfunction effectively.
With regard to education, each faculty appropriately organizes its curriculum
according to its degree award policy (diploma policy) and curriculum design andimplementation policy (curriculum policy). Furthermore, each department makes it easierfor students to take courses in a systematic and orderly fashion by providing a curriculum
map indicating the overall structure of the curriculum, correlation between subjects, andcorrelation with the degree award policy, and adopting a subject numbering system
whereby each subject is given a particular number according to its content and level.
Graduate schools also make it easier for students to take courses in a systematic andorderly fashion by allocating subjects to the appropriate category and year, and provide
education that appropriately combines course work and research work. The University
adopts class methods that promote active student participation. For example,2

consideration is given so that the class size matches the class form, and some classes
adopt active learning methods and project-based learning methods. With regard toachieving its founding principles, it is especially commendable that the University
capitalizes on its distinctive features as a foreign language university and provides avariety of study abroad programs both as part of and outside the curriculum, and combines
learning in Japan and actual practice abroad through the active development of distinctive
educational programs such as the Super IES Program, Kansai Gaidai Global HumanResources Development Program, and Service and Hospitality Industry Leader
Development Program.
However, several issues need to be resolved, especially in the graduate schools.
It is necessary to establish a policy indicating the methods and ideas for achieving thegoal of improving and enhancing the University. However, the degree award policy andcurriculum design and implementation policy are not set appropriately in the Graduate
School of Foreign Studies, among others. Research supervision methods are not clearlypresented to students in the form of a research supervision plan, whether students haveattained the learning outcomes stated in the degree award policy is not adequately grasped
or evaluated, and the M.A. Programs have not been able to gather enough students. Theseissues should be addressed.
Going forward, we hope the University solves these issues through internal
quality assurance efforts, and accelerates its distinctive initiatives for further developmentof its program.
Notable Strengths
Educational Program and Outcome
 With regard to achieving its founding principles, it is especially commendable that
the University capitalizes on its distinctive features as a foreign language university
and provides a variety of study abroad programs both as part of and outside thecurriculum, and combines learning in Japan and actual practice abroad through theactive development of distinctive educational programs such as the Super IES
Program, which was developed in collaboration with overseas affiliated universities,
the Kansai Gaidai Global Human Resources Development Program, which involves
participating in many subjects all taught in English, and the Service and Hospitality
Industry Leader Development Program, which combines specialized education inEnglish, studying abroad, and domestic and overseas internships with the aim of3

nurturing individuals who can participate in hotel management both in Japan andabroad.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance The Board of Trustees is the organization with ultimate responsibility for internal
quality assurance, and is supposed to give instructions for improvement to the relevant
divisions in charge based on the results of checks and evaluations. However, theinstructions for improvement by the Board of Trustees are a formality, and it is theSelf-Study Committee that actually promotes initiatives for improvement based on
the results of checks and evaluations carried out by the each Specialized Self-Study
Committee. Therefore, the University should clarify the authorities and roles of theBoard of Trustees and Self-Study Committee and make appropriate improvements sothat its quality assurance system can function effectively.
Educational Program and Outcome
 The M.A. Program and Ph.D. Program in the Foreign Studies Research Division do
not have a degree award policy corresponding to each degree. This should beimproved.
 The M.A. Program and Ph.D. Program in the Foreign Studies Research Division do
not have a curriculum design and implementation policy corresponding to each degree.
This should be improved.
 The M.A. Program and Ph.D. Program in the Foreign Studies Research Division do
not clearly present research supervision methods to students in the form of a researchsupervision plan. This should be improved.
 The relationship between the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy
and the measurement methods thereof are unclear in the M.A. Program and Ph.D.
Program in the Foreign Studies Research Division, and thus the learning outcomesindicated in the degree award policy are not measured in a diversified and appropriatemanner. This should be improved.
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Student Enrollment
 The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap in the M.A. Programand Ph.D. Program in the Foreign Studies Research Division is low at 0.37. The
University should thoroughly implement graduate school quota management toimprove the situation.

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