Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation forProfessional Graduate Business School

Department of Advanced Management,Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: National

Location: Hyogo, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2023
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2029）

Department of Advanced Management, Graduate School of Business Administration,
Kobe University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the Department of Advanced Management,Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University
The unique purpose of the Department of Advanced Management, Graduate School ofBusiness Administration, Kobe University, is to “develop business professionals withadvanced knowledge in a specific field and in business management in general, alongwith logical thinking skills, the ability to apply knowledge in practice, an international
mindset, sound judgment, and communication skills, thereby able to play a core role in
the Japanese business community.” To achieve this purpose, the Department has pledged
in its medium- and long-term vision to improve educational outcomes by adopting (a)Research-Based Education, defined as an education approach grounded on advanced
research capabilities in all aspects of business management, and (b) the Project Research
Method aimed at generating sophisticated solutions through in-depth discussions between
students and faculty members. To put these concepts into practice, the Department hasestablished the Project Research Method (PRM), By the Job Learning (BJL), andResearch Based Education (RBE) as the three strategic principles to guide its MBA
program, which aims to develop professionals with morality, creativity, an international
outlook, and specialized skills.
The MBA program offers a structured curriculum consisting of core, specialized(applied), specialized (practical), and project-style subjects as four subject groups.
Courses are organized according to year level to ensure progressive learning. In line with
its emphasis on research-based education and work-study balance, the education program
offers both project-style and lecture-style courses, giving the curriculum a clear structurethat supports the Department’s unique purpose. Furthermore, taking the Case Project
Research, Theme Project Research, and Thesis Supervision Seminar in that order allows
students to progressively develop independent research skills.
In collaboration with the MBA program’s alumni association, MBA Cafe, theDepartment provides exclusive student support programs, such as a career developmentservice. The Department also supports students’ extracurricular and alumni activities incooperation with MBA Cafe and the non-profit Research Institute of Advanced
Management (RIAM) organization. These support programs are unique andcommendable features of the MBA program that help students resolve academic concernsand promote deeper learning of graduates as well as current students.
For the faculty, the Department organizes the Commerce and Business
Administration Workshop, held around ten times a year in addition to faculty1Department of Advanced Management, Graduate School of Business Administration,
Kobe University

development sessions, and has established and regularly operates an overseas research
program financed by Kobe University Rokkodai Foundation’s research and education
grant. Given the MBA program’s emphasis on research-based education, these programs
are especially effective in helping improve the quality of full-time faculty members andpromoting research education that connect academic theory and practice. These
distinctive features of the Department are commendable undertakings.
There are several areas of improvement the Department should address, however.
First, the limit on the number of credits a student can take in a year should berevised to align with the objectives of the credit system. According to the Standards for
Establishment of Universities, one credit represents 45 hours of learning. The present
limit of 50 credits per year is practically impossible to earn given that balancing work andstudy is one of the MBA program’s cornerstone principles. This is an issue that was raisedin the previous certified evaluation and accreditation for professional graduate businessschools conducted in AY2018, and the Department is advised to revise its credit policy toensure alignment with the credit system’s objectives. Second, although the Kobe
University Grading Policy provides target proportions of “Excellent” and “Good”
awarded to students, the grade distribution guideline is not followed in practice. TheDepartment is advised to consider adopting a grading policy that better reflects the actual
grading practice. With respect to faculty diversity, while the Graduate School as a wholeis making progress, the Department needs to make further efforts to increase the numberof female and international teachers. On school management, the administrative burden
shouldered by teachers is heavy due to increased tasks related to self-study activities andreduced staffing levels. As a result, teachers have less time for research and teaching. TheDepartment should simplify and streamline the relevant administrative duties to improve
this situation.
The final area of improvement concerns the Department’s involvement with theoutside community. The Department’s Advisory Board meets the criteria to serve as theCollaboration Council for Educational Programs, and is functioning properly andeffectively in that capacity, yet no university regulation stipulates that the Advisory Boardis the Collaboration Council for Educational Programs. It is acceptable for a body suchas the Advisory Board to serve as the Collaboration Council for Educational Programs solong as it meets the requirements prescribed by Standards for Establishment ofProfessional Graduate Schools. In such cases, however, it should be clearly stated inuniversity regulations that the body serves as the Collaboration Council for EducationalPrograms. The Department is therefore advised to stipulate in the university regulations
that its Advisory Board is equivalent to the Collaboration Council for Educational2

Department of Advanced Management, Graduate School of Business Administration,
Kobe University

Programs required under Standards for Establishment of Professional Graduate Schools.
Going forward, the Department is advised to utilize the results of this certified
evaluation and accreditation for professional graduate business schools and continue its
self-study efforts for improvement, assure and enhance the quality of its education
program, and further develop its unique characteristics.

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