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

Dokkyo University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Saitama, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2021
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2029）

Dokkyo University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Dokkyo University

Overview
Dokkyo University has its founding philosophy of being as “an institution wherecharacter is developed through learning.” With a strong emphasis on foreign
language education, the University’s purpose is to equip graduates with anautonomous and practical mindset for tackling complex issues in Japan and theinternational community, as defined in the Dokkyo University Rules (hereinafter, the“Rules”). The purpose of each faculty, department, and graduate school is also clearlystated in the Rules as well as the Dokkyo University Graduate School Rules(hereinafter, the “Graduate School Rules”). The Basic Plan, a six-year medium- tolong-term plan for all of Dokkyo Gakuen was formulated to fulfill the mission andpurpose of the University. This plan is reviewed every two years and renewed basedon the status of its progress, with the Basic Plan currently in its 11th version.
Regarding internal quality assurance, the Rules and the Graduate School Rules
cite its promotion. In March 2020, in advance of the next certified evaluation andaccreditation by the JUAA, the division of roles for the university-wide internal
quality assurance framework was laid out among the Self-Study and Internal Quality
Assurance Promotion Committee (hereinafter, the “Internal Quality Assurance
Promotion Committee”), the Checks and Reviews Planning Committee, and the FD
Promotion Committee. Having positioned the Future Vision Deliberation Committeeof the undergraduate and graduate divisions as a committee for the promotion ofinternal quality assurance, the cooperative relationship between these committees
and the Secretariat Self-Study, and the university-wide Internal Quality Assurance
Promotion Committee has also been clearly defined. The Curriculum Committee wasset up in 2021 and a mechanism was just put in motion to improve the assessment ofeducation and learning overall, and as such, the above-mentioned internal quality
assurance system is still incomplete. It has yet to be seen how effectively the newsystem will ultimately function, and its development going forward as well as
positive results are anticipated.
Looking at education, the mission of the University and the degree award
policy (diploma policy) for each faculty, department, and graduate division areappropriately organized, and a curriculum design and implementation policy(curriculum policy) in line with each degree award policy are available. Curriculum1

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designs are sequential and systematic, and besides course flow charts created for eachfaculty and department, a university-wide common curriculum and one for each of
the faculty and department divisions provide a systematic language education
program, which is commendable. Nevertheless, in areas other than language,recognizing and assessing learning outcomes as described in the requirements fordegree awards at each of the faculties, departments and graduate schools areinsufficient. This should be improved.
Regarding student support, the Dokkyo University Human Rights Declaration
has been drawn up and it is particularly noteworthy that student support is being
provided from a perspective that considers diversity, with basic policies regarding
support for students with disabilities and for LGBTQ students being announced. TheUniversity can be highly commended for its continued efforts to develop an
educational and research environment based on the “Dokkyo University
Environmental Declaration” to save energy and reduce carbon emissions on campus
and to raise awareness among students, faculty, and staff members regarding
environmental conservation. A notable strength can be said to be the University’s
cooperation with municipalities and former educational institutions for activities
related to social contribution and community service, holding enriching activities formany people including community residents and junior high/high school students.
However, there are several issues that should be improved. Besides the abovementioned issues regarding recognizing and assessing learning outcomes, there areissues regarding student enrollment such as over enrollment in faculties andenrollment quota not being met for college transfers and graduate programs.
The JUAA hopes that further development is accomplished with theappropriate functioning of the internal quality assurance system and improvements
to the various issues mentioned above.
Notable Strengths
Student Support The University has been providing support from a perspective recognizing
diversity, such as by allowing students with gender dysphoria to use a chosenname on campus since 2009. In 2020, the Dokkyo University Human Rights
Declaration was drawn up, and the Basic Policy on Support for Students withDisabilities at Dokkyo University and Basic Policy on Support for LGBTQ
Students at Dokkyo University was announced. Further initiatives being taken inline with those policies can be commended, such as creating an accessibility2Dokkyo Universitymap, removing gender categories from university documents, and providing
employment information accordingly.
Education and Research Environment
 Regarding the educational and research environment, the University is being
conscientious of the natural environment on and off campus. Based on the“Dokkyo University Environmental Declaration,” it has focused on education
and research on the environment and installed equipment to save energy andreduce carbon emissions in buildings. Opportunities are provided for thosewithin and outside of the University to see and experience the facilities. Since
AY2010, the University has also been issuing the Environmental Reportannually to share information about the environment and its initiatives for theenvironment. With Earth Week Dokkyo being held since 2016 and events to raiseawareness being led by students, the University can be commended for its
continuous, outstanding efforts in making improvements to educational andresearch facilities while protecting the environment, and heightening awarenessamong students, faculty, and staff members.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 The University cooperates with municipalities and former educational
institutions locally to provide language seminars for a wide array of people,
including residents, junior high/high school students, and the internationalcommunity. Language initiatives aimed at high school students are particularly
broad, with seminars including “Introduction to German for High SchoolStudents” with which students can become acquainted with a foreign languageand culture. They also serve to provide students with opportunities to interact
with fellow high school students who share an interest in the same language andculture. These activities match the objectives of a University that emphasizes
traditional foreign language education. The University also hosts many events
such as open seminars and workshops, contributing to local revitalization withthe cooperation of neighboring communities. The events are all very worthwhile
and attended by many participants.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes Recognizing and assessing students’ learning outcomes are limited to certain3

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areas. Learning outcomes specified as requirements for degree awards in eachfaculty, department, and graduate school are not being recognized and assessedin a diversified and appropriate manner. This should be improved.
Student Enrollment
 The ratio of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap in the Departmentof Tourism and Transnational Studies in the Faculty of Foreign Languages ishigh at 1.26. To ensure proper undergraduate student quota management, thisshould be improved.
A situation continues for which improvements should be made where transfer
students are not being enrolled in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in
the Faculty of International Liberal Arts and the Department of International
Legal Studies in the Faculty of Law, for which there are transfer enrollment
quotas.

The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.10 for
the LL.M. Program in Law of the Graduate School of Law, 0.17 for the M.A.
Program in Foreign Languages of the Graduate School of Foreign Languages,
and 0.34 for the M.Ec. Program in Economics & Management Science of theGraduate School of Economics. There are also no students enrolled in theDoctoral Programs of the Graduate School of Law, Graduate School of ForeignLanguages, and the Graduate School of Economics. To ensure proper graduate
student quota management, this should be improved.

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