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

Bukkyo University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Kyoto, Japan

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

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Bukkyo University
Overview
In line with its founding principles, Bukkyo University (hereinafter referred to as the“University”) has as its mission and purpose “to contribute to the enhancement of global
culture and the progress of the welfare of all the human beings in the world by realizing
the target of developing proactive people with exalted personality and insight based on
the lofty spirit of Buddhism.” The University has seven faculties (Faculties of Buddhism,Literature, History, Education, Sociology, Social Welfare, and Health Sciences) and four
graduate schools (Graduate Schools of Literature, Education, Sociology, and SocialWelfare) under its regular program, as well as a correspondence program. In AY2012,
which marked the University’s 100th anniversary, the University formulated the Butsudai
Vision 2022 to indicate what kind of university it aimed to become in ten years’ time,
including “a university that nurtures individuals who can learn actively and are preparedto taken on challenges,” “a university that promotes distinctive research in line with its
mission and history,” and “a university that provides new learning styles to achieve a
lifelong learning society,” and described the measures for achieving the vision in theAction Plan for Achieving Butsudai Vision 2022 (Mid-term Plan (2013 to 2017)).
Regarding education, in order to realize the aforementioned vision, theUniversity appropriately designs curricula that facilitate the transition from general
education to specialized education in accordance with the degree award policy (diplomapolicy) and curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculum policy), establishes
Introductory Seminars as the core of first year education, and makes it easier for students
to move up to higher education, and encourages active student learning by providing
internship programs at companies, administrative agencies, and elementary and juniorhigh schools as well as numerous fieldwork subjects.
As one of its distinctive endeavors, the University has established the Honen
Buddhist Studies Research Center, which engages in research related to Honen’s ideas,
which serve as the foundation for the University’s principles of education, and thedissemination of research findings. This is expected to lead to the development of the next
generation of scholars. In terms of social cooperation and contribution, it is commendable
that the University has consistently engaged in forest conservation in the area surrounding
the Community Liaison Center and has regularly held lifelong learning extension courses
at the Lifelong Learning Center (Shijo Extension Center).

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There are, however, some issues that need to be resolved. As for education, thelearning outcomes clearly indicated in the degree award policy are not adequately grasped
or assessed. In addition, the graduate schools—with the exception of some departments—
have not established research supervision plans, and some graduate schools do not clearlypresent the examination criteria related to special assignment research results. Theseshould be established appropriately. Regarding student enrollment, quota management
should be implemented appropriately for the graduate program and college transfers.
In order to address these issues, the University needs to ensure the functionalityof its internal quality assurance system and engage in maintaining educational quality.
However, there are serious issues with the internal quality assurance system. The
University has created a system whereby the Quality Assurance Committee Community
Liaison is given the responsibility of promoting internal quality assurance, and theUniversity Assessment Committee conducts university-wide checks and reviews under
the supervision of the Quality Assurance Examination Committee. However, the selfreview that should form the basis of the system is only conducted when applying foruniversity accreditation (certified evaluation and accreditation), and is thus not conducted
on a regular basis. Going forward, we hope the University addresses the issues such as
those pertaining to education and student enrollment through conducting regular selfstudy in line with the policy and procedures for internal quality assurance established inAY2019 and ensuring the functionality of the system centered around the Quality
Assurance Examination Committee, and also promotes its distinctive initiatives toward
developing its program even further.
Notable Strengths
Education and Research Organization
 As an institution whose educational program is founded on Buddhist principles, theUniversity aims to conduct superior education that meets social needs throughenhancing research. To this end, the University established the Honen Buddhist
Studies Research Center in AY2014, as an institute dedicated to the study of Honen’sideas. Full-time faculty members, researchers, and others conduct joint studies, andthe research center engages in various activities including the collecting of books, thecreation of a database, and the dissemination of research findings through public study
meetings and a bulletin. Since the joint studies involve graduate students as well, they
are expected to lead to the development of the next generation of scholars. This3

endeavor by the research center contributes to the achievement of the University’sfounding principles and mission and purpose, and is thus commendable.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 Building on the community cooperation achievements of the Community Campus
Project, Community Liaison Center has entered into partnerships with Kyoto
Prefecture, Nantan City, and other companies and groups and carried out forest
conservation activities in central Kyoto Prefecture involving students and faculty
members. The Lifelong Learning Center (Shijo Extension Center) has regularly held
lifelong learning courses on Buddhism, history, art, natural science, and other topics,provided citizens with the opportunity to a learn in a broad range of fields, andgathered many participants. Aiming to become an intellectual hub connected tocitizens, the University has, in line with Buddhist principles, used its resources tocontribute to the local community in an evolving and consistent manner. This is acommendable endeavor.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Program and Outcome
 The Master’s Program in the Graduate School of Literature does not clearly indicate
the examination criteria related to special assignment research results.
 Although the faculties and graduate schools do attempt to grasp learning outcomes,
efforts to grasp and assess the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy
are lacking. Therefore, the faculties and graduate schools should appropriately
measure learning outcomes from multiple angles.
Student Enrollment
 The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap is low at 0.20 in theMaster’s Program in the Graduate School of Sociology, 0.22 in the Doctoral Programin the Graduate School of Sociology, and 0.20 in the Master’s Program in the Graduate
School of Social Welfare. Therefore, the University should significantly improve
graduate school quota management.

4 The Department of Buddhist Studies in the Faculty of Buddhism, the Department ofEnglish in the Faculty of Literature, the Department of History in the Faculty ofHistory, the Departments of Education and Clinical Psychology in the Faculty ofEducation, and the Department of Social Welfare in the Faculty of Social Welfare
have established enrollment quotas for college transfers. However, since theenrollment quotas have not been met for some years, the University should
significantly improve quota management for college transfers.
Recommendations
Internal Quality Assurance The University has established an internal quality assurance structure with the Quality
Assurance Committee as the responsible entity. However, self-review is only
conducted when applying for university accreditation (certified evaluation andaccreditation), and is thus not conducted on a regular basis. The process for making
improvements based on the results of checks and reviews is unclear, and a system forenabling the Quality Assurance Committee to implement management and provide
support has not been fully established. Therefore, the University should ensure thatits internal quality assurance system functions effectively.
Educational Program and Outcome
 The Master's and Doctoral Programs in all the regular graduate school programs, withthe exception of the Master's Program in the History Program, Graduate School ofLiterature, have not set forth research supervision methods and schedules in the formof a specific research supervision plan. Therefore, these should be established andclearly presented to students in advance.

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