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

Osaka Dental University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Osaka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2021
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.1.2022 – March 31, 2029）

Osaka Dental University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Osaka Dental University

Overview
Osaka Dental University, with “philanthropy and the public interest” as its founding
spirit, declares the purpose of the institution to be “to widely provide knowledge indentistry required to be a dentist, to teach theory and techniques deeply in specializedareas, to help develop intellectual, moral, and applied abilities, and to contribute to
the creation and development of culture.” On the occasion of the 100th anniversaryof its founding, the University drew up “Five Basic Goals and “Three AdditionalGoals.” As such, it is recognized as making efforts from a long-term perspective tosecure students, produce excellent dental professionals, and enhance its educationaland research activities.
The Osaka Dental University Council (hereinafter the “University Council” asa body for promoting internal quality assurance under the internal quality assurance
policy. Self-study responsibilities are shared between the University Council and theOsaka Dental University Self-Study Committee (hereinafter the “Self-StudyCommittee”, which compiles the check and review results conducted by each faculty,graduate school, etc. to conduct self-study on a university-wide basis. However, withrespect to faculties and graduate schools’ efforts to make improvements andenhancements based on the recommendations obtained from the check and review
results, the specific management and support system for the University Council andthe Self-Study Committee is not sufficient. This should be improved.
Regarding education, the University offers appropriate courses and hasorganized its curriculum appropriately in accordance with the degree award policy(diploma policy) and curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculumpolicy). In addition, each faculty and graduate school takes various measures tostimulate student learning and provide effective education. For example, the syllabus
clearly states the class objectives and outline, achievement objectives, indicators oflearning outcomes, class content and methods, lesson plans, instructions for classpreparation, grading methods, textbooks and reference books, and office hours toclearly indicate to students the purpose of taking the course and how to prepare forit. The University is generally taking appropriate measures to understand andevaluate the learning outcomes of the undergraduate program, such as byadministering a questionnaire of graduates to have them self-assess their levels of1

Osaka Dental Universityachievement. It is highly commendable that the School of Dentistry has implemented“Honors Education” as part of its efforts to support students with outstanding
academic records, and that the results of this program are reflected in students’research, study abroad, and other achievements.
Another outstanding initiative is the Dental Hygienist Training Center, which
serves as a recurrent education facility for dental hygienists, enabling those who
attend to re-enter the workforce. The Student Research Grant, established to cultivatea research mindset among students at the School of Dentistry, has also produced
results, with students who have engaged in research receiving awards at academic
conferences.
However, there are some issues where corrections and improvements need tobe made. First, with regard to student admission, there are some faculties where theratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are too low or too high,making it difficult to say that student quota is properly managed. Meanwhile, theissues regarding internal quality assurance are as described above. Furthermore, atthe graduate school level, there is a lack of faculty development (hereinafter “FD”)
relating to the understanding and evaluation of learning outcomes and improvementof education as stipulated in the degree award policy.
Going forward, the JUAA hopes that the University will resolve these issues
through internal quality assurance efforts and makes greater strides forward by
further developing its many distinctive initiatives.
Notable Strengths
Education and Research Organizations
 The Dental Hygienist Training Center, which was established to support thereturn to work of dental hygienists who have left the profession, ensure prompt
development of clinical practice skills for newly qualified dental hygienists, andto ensure they stay in the field, has produced many graduates since its
establishment, of whom nearly 70% have found employment. As such, theDental Hygienist Training Center effectively functions as a recurrent education
facility for dental hygienists, and is commendable as an initiative that meets theneeds of the current dental care system.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes As part of its efforts to support students with outstanding academic records, theSchool of Dentistry has implemented Honors Education, which consists of three2

Osaka Dental University

core areas: English study support, research challenge, and overseas training. Theprogram is producing positive results, with some participants winning top prizes
in competitions sponsored by the Japan Dental Association for the presentationof research results, while others have gone on to graduate school and then studied
abroad to conduct research. Honors education is highly commendable as anadvanced initiative to develop not only basic researchers, but also researchminded dentists, and international dentistry educators, researchers, and clinicians.
Student Support
 The Student Research Grant, established to cultivate a research mindset among
students at the School of Dentistry, provides grants after screening to students
who are engaged in research and supports them to present their research results
at professional academic conferences, etc. Students who have received the grant
have received awards at conferences for their research, and the program iscommendable for the improved motivation to study that it has provided.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance The University Council was established as a body to promote internal quality
assurance, and together with the Check and Review Committee, it compiles
the check and review results conducted by each faculty, graduate school, etc.,
makes recommendations for improvements and enhancements, and promotesinternal quality assurance on a university-wide basis. However, with respect
to both the University Council and the Check and Review Committee, there isinsufficient specific management and support to enable faculties, graduate
schools, etc. to make improvements and enhancements based onrecommendations. This should be improved.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes Although the Graduate School of Dentistry and the Graduate School of Health
Sciences hold mid-term research presentation meetings to identify andevaluate learning outcomes as specified in their degree award policies, therelationship between the methods of identification and assessment with theoutcomes specified in these policies is unclear. Improvements are required toensure that the learning outcomes specified in the degree award policies are
identified and assessed in an appropriate and multifaceted manner.
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Faculty and Faculty Organization
 Since no graduate school-specific FD on educational improvement isconducted, measures are required to ensure that this is implemented
appropriately, either for the master’s and doctoral programs as a whole or foreach graduate school individually.
Recommendation
Student Enrollment
 The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap is high at 1.07 in
the Faculty of Dentistry of the School of Dentistry, and low at 0.81 in theFaculty of Health Sciences and 0.56 in the Faculty’s Department of Oral
Health Engineering. This should be corrected to ensure proper undergraduate
student quota management.

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