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

The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2013
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period:April.01.2014 – March.31.2021）

2

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
Notable Strengths
Education and research organization
It is commendable that the purpose of the University of Occupational andEnvironmental Health (hereafter, the University) is fulfilled through maintaining
an active research institute that is constantly conducting education and research
activities. The Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences has been designated as a
World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center since 1988, and has
achieved satisfactory results by hosting international group training courses
concerning occupational medicine on behalf of the International Cooperation
Agency. In addition, it has accepted occupational medicine graduate students from
Asian countries.

Educational content, methods, and outcome

It is commendable that, as a result of education programs it has offered, theUniversity has produced a great number of occupational physicians and physicians
who work in hospitals dealing with occupational accidents and diseases. In theSchool of Medicine, a yearly survey asks each graduate whether they work in thearea of occupational medicine and health. Through this survey, the University
measures how much its education accomplishes its mission and purpose.

Social cooperation and contribution
It is commendable that the University has fulfilled its purpose through social
contributions and collaborations, has fulfilled the purpose of the University. The
University is actively engaged in issues of occupational medicine and health on anational scale. For example, extending its social contribution beyond its local area,
the University undertook medical support of the workers of the disabled
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and the people in the Tohoku region immediately
following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and its support continues today. Also,
the University has promoted the international exchange of specialists ofoccupational medicine and health. For example, as a WHO Collaborating Center,the University has been involved in the international action plan on the issue ofasbestos, has hosted international Group Training Courses concerning occupational
medicine and health on behalf of the International Cooperation Agency, andaccepted graduate students of occupational medicine from Asian countries.

Suggestions for Improvement
Mission and purpose
The purpose of education and research, including the cultivation of persons oftalent for each school and department, is not clearly defined in the regulations of
the University. This situation should be improved. While the founding purpose of
the University is comprehensive and unique, including broad perspectives, the“mission” is not clear enough to determine its appropriateness in the light of thecurrent situation of occupational medicine and health, as well as in relation to thecontent of education and research currently offered by the University. The

3University should constantly self-study its education to determine whether it is still
relevant, and actively remind the students and members of the public of the resultsof such a self-study. The University should make its education and researchreflective of its mission and purposes.
Faculty and faculty organization
In each school and graduate school, the criteria for hiring, ranking, and promotion
are not defined. This should be improved.

In the School of Medicine, the systematic effort to improve the quality of teaching
staff is not sufficient. Further efforts, such as active faculty development activities,
should be undertaken to maintain and improve the quality of teaching staff.

Educational content, methods, and outcome


Degree-granting policies have not been formulated in each of the University’sschools or graduate schools. These policies should be formulated and made public.
Also, the basic philosophies on educational content and methods are not stated.
This should be improved.

Although the results of faculty’s teaching evaluations by students are disclosed tostudents and the faculty, efforts to inform students, to develop systems to examine
the results, and to formulate plans for improvement are not sufficient. These points
should be improved.

The maximum number of yearly credits students can register for has not been set in
the Program of Occupational and Environmental Management in the School ofHealth Science. This should be improved in accordance with the purpose of having
a credit system.

In the syllabus of the Graduate School of Medical Science, the contents are notsufficient. The information needed to prepare for specific classes, the purpose ofspecific classes, the attainment of objectives, the content of individual classes, andthe methods of instruction and evaluation are not stated. Furthermore, theyear-long schedule is not included. This should be improved.

In the Graduate School of Medical Science, the criteria for examining
degree-seeking theses and dissertations have not been clearly stipulated. Thisshould be improved by clearly stating the criteria in the student handbook.

In the Graduate School of Medical Science, some students complete all
requirements except the dissertation, and leave the university before completing
their dissertation requirement within the time limit set by the university. Later,when these students submit their dissertations, they are granted doctoral degrees inthe same manner as those students continuously enrolled even though they do nothave enrollment status. This is not an appropriate use of the system. The criteria for
granting doctoral degrees should be reconsidered, and in accordance with thepurpose of course-based doctoral programs, measures should also be taken toensure degree completion within the required time frame.

4Student supportRegulations to prevent harassment have not been stipulated, and students, faculty
members, and administration staff are not well-informed about the preventative
measures or procedures to deal with this issue. The University should improve its
support system.

Administration and finance
The mid-term plan has been formulated, but its progress has not been assessed
systematically. In addition, there is a perception gap among teaching andadministration staff. Thus, it is hard to conclude that the plan has been
implemented properly. Hereafter, the University should restructure its
administrative operation so that it can support and manage the academic institution
beyond the borders of the educational corporation and the academic units by
sharing the mid-term plan in tangible forms among teaching and administration
staff.

Area of Serious Concern
Educational content, methods, and outcomeIn the Graduate School of Medical Science, a research guidance plan has not beenformulated. This plan must be formulated so that the faculty can offer theappropriate research guidance and guidance for writing the degree thesis according
to the plan.

Internal quality assuranceThe “University Organization Evaluation Committee” is not presently active, andwhile the “Management Organization Evaluation Committee” is supposed tointernally assess the progress of the mid-term objectives and mid-term planannually and conduct self-studies and evaluations regularly, the results have notbeen aggregated in an organized manner. For instance, while harassment issues
have appeared often, university-wide preventative measures are still insufficient.
Furthermore, the self-study and evaluation of the University relies mostly on theExternal Evaluation Committee, but the process to move from evaluation results tomeasurable improvements has not been established internally. Thus, it is difficult toconclude that the internal quality assurance system has been working properly at
the University. Hereafter, the University must establish an internal quality
assurance system by stipulating the necessary policies and regulations regarding
internal quality assurance, and implement self-studies and evaluations with thecooperation of teaching and administration staff beyond the borders of theeducational corporation and the academic units.