Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior CollegeOhtsuki City College

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

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2022
Accreditation Status: accredited（Accreditation Period: April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2030）

Ohtsuki City College

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Ohtsuki City College
Overview
The purpose of Ohtsuki City College (hereafter, the College) is “to conduct education andresearch of broad general knowledge and specialized knowledge and skills with highambitions in line with the Basic Act on Education and the School Education Act, and toproduce a qualified workforce that can contribute to cultural and economic development.”
The College does not create medium- or long-term plans setting the overall direction of
its operations, but formulates action plans for its priority goals on an item-by-item basis.
In recent years, for example, the College has planned and implemented curriculum
reforms and adopted the course system, demonstrating that efforts are being made toimprove its education and research activities from medium- and long-term perspectives.
With respect to internal quality assurance, the College created in AY2021 a newinternal quality assurance promotion system to improve the quality of its education andresearch activities in response to the results of the AY2015 certified evaluation andaccreditation for junior colleges. The new system is not without flaws, however, with therelationship between the faculty meeting and the two bodies responsible for internal
quality assurance, namely the Internal Quality Assurance Promotion Committee and theVision Development Committee, not clearly defined. Moreover, there are no regulations
defining the roles and responsibilities of Executive Meeting. The College is advised toestablish the roles and responsibilities of its organizations, and ensure the bodies in chargeof promoting internal quality assurance have the capabilities to manage and support theimprovement efforts of various organizations.
The College established diploma and curriculum policies in AY2016 in responseto the recommendations of the previous certified evaluation and accreditation for juniorcolleges. The adoption of the course system has provided more organization and structure
to the education program, and a graduation thesis was made a mandatory requirement asa measure to enhance educational effectiveness. The College also offers personalized,dedicated student support tailored to the situation of each individual, with faculty advisorsand seminar instructors attending to students’ academic needs, and the staff of the “CareerLab” providing career guidance suitable to their post-graduation goals and aspirations.
Moreover, the College plans to further revamp its course system in AY2023, a move
expected to bring additional teaching improvements.
The College’s unique feature is its social cooperation and contribution activities1

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led by the Community Laboratory, in which teachers, staff, and students collaborate withgovernment and civic organizations. One especially notable undertaking as a public juniorcollege established by the city of Otsuki is the project in which the Community
Laboratory worked with organizations that study tourism and population issues in Otsuki
to promote efforts to address local government challenges. With the establishment of theCommunity Research Center now under discussion, it is expected that the College’s social
cooperation and contribution activities will expand and develop going forward.
Several areas for improvement were identified by the certified evaluation andaccreditation, however. With respect to teaching, the College should adopt a more multidimensional approach for monitoring and evaluating the student learning outcomes
specified in the diploma policy. Regarding admissions, the admissions policy of theDepartment of Economics fails to describe the academic history, scholastic standards, andskills of the students it seeks to serve. This situation should be improved.
Going forward, the College is expected to further develop its uniquecharacteristics by taking coordinated actions to address the issues raised above and byensuring that its internal quality assurance system functions effectively.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 The Community Laboratory leads the College’s social cooperation and contribution
activities. As part of a collaborative project with organizations that study tourism andpopulation issues in Otsuki, for example, the Community Laboratory has addressed
the specific challenges faced by the city. Discussions are underway to transform theCommunity Laboratory into the Community Research Center, which is acommendable move expected to lead to closer collaboration with the city government
and to enhance its education and research functions.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance
The College fails to define the division of roles and responsibilities between theInternal Quality Assurance Promotion Committee and the Vision Development
Committee, two organizations established in AY2021 to promote internal quality

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assurance and which comprise the internal quality assurance system. Furthermore,
the roles and authority of Executive Meeting, a body that in effect promotes internal
quality assurance, are not stipulated in the regulations. The College is advised toestablish the roles and responsibilities of the bodies in charge of promoting internalquality assurance, along with the relevant rules and regulations, and ensure theinternal quality assurance system functions effectively under the guidance of the
responsible bodies.

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