Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior College

Iwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College

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

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

Iwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results forIwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College
Overview
The founding mission of Iwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College (hereafter,the College), is set forth as: “In hopes of creating a new era of harmony among men,nature and science, we provide an education that fosters independence, knowledge andhighly specialized skills which contribute to the enrichment of humanity and society.”
Under this mission, the College strives “to produce highly cultured and competentprofessionals through specialized education and research combined with liberal arts
education, and to contribute to the development of local and global communities.”
The College is part of a university system that includes Morioka PrefecturalUniversity. Activities related to teaching, admissions, and public relations are conductedwithin the framework of such university-wide organizations as the Education Support
Office, Center for the Advancement of Higher Education, Student Support Office,Research and Regional Cooperation Office, Planning Office, and General Affairs
Division. Internal quality assurance is implemented in accordance with the universitywide Internal Quality Assurance Policy formulated in AY2021 by the University
Evaluation Committee. The university-wide organizations are responsible for the actionplans covering the entire university system, while the College develops and implements
its own independent action plans outlined in the Medium-term Plan. The College’s
education and research activities are reviewed by the Self-Study Committee with theresults reported to the Planning Office, one of the university-wide organizations, throughthe University Evaluation Analysis Division and the University Evaluation Committee. Itshould be pointed out that the internal quality assurance system described here needs to
be clearly documented in the College’s policies or regulations.
The education programs of each department are guided by the diploma andcurriculum policies, and student learning outcomes are assessed in accordance with theassessment policy established in AY2018. To improve teaching effectiveness, the Collegeoffers pre-enrollment and remedial classes, promotes one-on-one instructions, adopts
teaching methods that encourage active student participation, and has created a computer
network system. These undertakings are executed by the College under the supervisionof the Education Support Office after discussions by the Academic Coordination Council.
An original project of the College is the Volunteer Project : “Mizubora” to assist
with disaster recovery, in which students and teachers have hand-delivered bottled water1

Iwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College

to temporary housing residents since the Great East Japan Earthquake. This on-going
volunteer activity has now expanded to involve the entire university system community,including students from overseas universities and international students receiving
scholarships administered by external organizations. Student participation has turned theproject into an opportunity for students to reflect on multiculturalism and become
involved in addressing immediate local problems. It is highly commendable that theCollege is making social contribution efforts through this volunteer program.
There is one issue that the College needs to address, however. No upper limit isset on the number of credits students can register in a year, permitting motivated students
aiming for qualifications to take as many credits as possible. The College does provide
students with course planning advice, but given there are students who register too many
credits in the academic year, the current practice inadequately ensures credit validity. The
College is advised to examine and review both student course registration and student
learning data, and develop measures to improve teaching effectiveness.
Going forward, the College is expected to continue with its internal quality
assurance efforts to address the issue raised above and to develop its characteristics within
the university system for further growth.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
The College initiated and continues to operate the Water Volunteer program to assist
with disaster recovery, in which students and teachers have hand-delivered bottled
water to temporary housing residents since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The
volunteer program has now expanded to involve the entire university systemcommunity, including students from overseas universities and international students
receiving scholarships administered by external organizations. As a valuable
opportunity for students to reflect on multiculturalism, the project is a commendable
effort that has developed into an educational activity also helping to address
immediate local problems.

Suggestion for Improvement
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes2

Iwate Prefectural University, Morioka Junior College There is no upper limit on the number of credits students can register in a year,
permitting motivated students aiming for qualifications to take as many credits aspossible. The College does provide students with course planning advice, but given
there are students who take too many credits in the academic year, the current practice
inadequately ensures credit validity. The College is advised to examine and review
both student course registration and student learning data, and develop measures toimprove teaching effectiveness.

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