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

Kanazawa Medical University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Ishikawa, Japan

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

Kanazawa Medical University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kanazawa Medical University

Overview
The three missions of Kanazawa Medical University (hereinafter the University) are“to develop good doctors,” “to advance medical knowledge and skills,” and “tocontribute to society.” The University is particularly characterized by its philosophy of“developing skilled medical professionals with high ethical standards and compassion.”On this basis, the University’s schools and graduate schools have set the objectives ofhuman resource development and of education and research in medicine and nursing.
In addition, in order to fulfill its missions, philosophy, and objectives, the University
has formulated a medium- to long-term plan, “Kanazawa Medical University
Educational Corporation Medium-term and Long-term Plan for the 50th Anniversary”,
and it is acknowledged that the University is working to enhance both the physical andsocial aspects of its educational and research activities.
With respect to internal quality assurance, the three pillars of the University’s
self-assessment are “education, research, and entrance examinations,” with a systemestablished for each. However, in education and research in particular, there is aninsufficient track record of improvement based on self-assessment results, and it isdifficult to say that university-wide educational management that encompasses
individual departments is properly functioning. In addition, the division of roles
between the University Management Council, which is the body responsible forpromoting internal quality assurance, and the Department Assessment Committee isunclear. As such, there are issues with the functioning of the internal quality
assurance system, and improvements must be made.
Regarding education, all schools and graduate schools have organized theircurricula appropriately in accordance with the degree award policy (diploma policy)
and curriculum design and implementation policy (curriculum policy). With respect
to the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy, the School of Nursing
has, in accordance with the degree award policy, implemented appropriate efforts to
identify and evaluate learning outcomes in the school by having students conduct
self-evaluations using a “Self-evaluation Form for Diploma Policy Attainment”
publishing the results on its website, and providing feedback internally. However,
although the Graduate School of Medical Science ascertains learning outcomes on
the basis of a dissertation examination, the connection between the dissertation
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examination criteria and the learning outcomes indicated in the degree award policy
is unclear, and the Graduate School of Nursing only conducts evaluations withrespect to part of the degree award policy. As such, the JUAA hopes to see further
improvement in the measurement indicators for learning outcomes at the graduate
school level.
In terms of student support, a Student Support Center, centering on the Student
Affairs, has been established, and a university-wide student support system has been
put in place. The Student Support Center and its members provide a wide range ofservices, including attendance support, preparation for national examinations, study
support for students with disabilities, support for international students, and career
education. In addition to these efforts, the University has also made outstanding
efforts to create an environment in which students can easily seek advice, such as
discussion meetings between faculty members in administrative positions andstudents and the “Pole Pole Cafe,” which is operated independently by students.
Conversely, in terms of issues that require improvement, the objectives of eachfaculty and graduate school are not stipulated in the school regulations, etc.
Regarding staff development (hereinafter “SD”), lectures on education, academic
matters, and medical topics are distributed via video-on-demand, but the number ofviewers has not been ascertained. This is insufficient, and requires that improvements
be made by conducting effective SD and ensuring its appropriate distribution acrossthe University.
In the future, the JUAA hopes that these issues will be resolved throughinternal quality assurance efforts, and that the University will make further strides
toward improving quality.
Notable Strengths
Student Support
 In accordance with the student support policy, a fine-tuned support system is inplace, centering on a system of academic advisors (class supervisors). At thediscussion meetings between faculty members in administrative positions andstudents, numerous and varied opinions and requests are raised each year, mainlyby alumni associations and class representatives, etc. Faculty and staff carefully
answer and respond to these views to gain students’ understanding and maketangible improvements to address their concerns. In addition, at the “Pole PoleCafe,” which is operated independently by students, senior students provide
counseling to junior students, providing a framework for students to discuss
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Kanazawa Medical Universitymatters that they may not feel comfortable discussing with their academicadvisors (class supervisors) and other faculty members. In this way, theUniversity is addressing each student individually and creating an environment
in which it is easy to seek advice, something to be commended.
Suggestions for Improvement
Mission and Purpose
 No educational and research objectives for the School of Medicine, the Schoolof Nursing, the Graduate School of Medical Science and the Graduate School ofNursing are stipulated in the university rules or equivalent regulations, soimprovement is required here.
Internal Quality Assurance Although the powers and roles of each of the major organizations involved ininternal quality assurance are indicated in regulations and policies, therelationships between each organization of the University as a whole, including
the Faculty Council and the committees of each department and graduate school,
is not clear, requiring the internal quality assurance system to be clarified.
Furthermore, in light of the fact that the self-study system is just beginning to beestablished and steady efforts will be required in the future, as well as the factthat appropriate feedback based on the check and review results of is only
partially provided, improvements are required to ensure proper functioning ofmanagement in the University Management Council and Evaluation andManagement Committee.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes The Graduate School of Medical Science and the Graduate School of Nursing
state that they measure learning outcomes through questionnaires to students, etc.
However, the relationship between this and the degree award policy is not clear,so improvement is required to set measurement indicators that are linked to thelearning outcomes specified in the degree award policy.
Student Enrollment In the last five years, the average ratio at the School of Medicine of freshmanenrollment to the freshman enrollment cap and the ratio of student enrollment tothe student enrollment cap have been high at 1.01 and 1.04, respectively,
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suggesting the need for improvements.
University Management and Finance With respect to SD for faculty members, insufficient efforts have been made interms of training, etc. conducted by the Center for Medical Education and byindividual departments. In addition, although a system is in place to enable theviewing of “Staff Development for the Safety Management System” and othertraining sessions using video-on-demand over the intranet, the number ofparticipants is not monitored, so appropriate post-implementation verification
cannot be said to have been conducted. Improvements are required to ensure that
substantive SD is properly implemented by targeting all faculty and staff andhandling content relating to university administration.

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