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

Fukui Health Science University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PrivateLocation: Fukui, Japan

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

Fukui Health Science University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Fukui Health Science University
Overview
Fukui Health Science University, founded on the spirit of “nurturing practical andmotivated medical technicians,” defines its purpose as “teaching advanced healthcare
knowledge and skills, cultivating professionals with practical skills, and producing
human resources supporting the health of local residents as a university indispensable
to the community.” The University’s predecessor nursing school was established on
the premises of a hospital, and since its opening in AY2017 the institution has
undertaken educational and research activities as an arm of a comprehensive medicaland welfare group covering medical care, nursing, welfare, health, childcare, andeducation. It is notable that the University takes full advantage of this environment
to provide practical education and create opportunities for students to organicallylearn team medicine, including comprehensive community care.
The University’s clinical training adopts specific teaching methods using
the group hospital, comprehensive support center, and other facilities as well as
promotes education with a focus on student cooperation in the Department of
Rehabilitation and the Department of Nursing. These approaches are expected toproduce positive outcomes in the coming years. In terms of curricula, the two
departments have systematically organized lesson subjects appropriate for eachdegree program based on their curriculum policies. To promote social cooperationand contribution activities, the University has established the Community Health
Education Promotion Committee to undertake support projects aimed at addressing
local residents’ health concerns, improving their well-being, and upgrading thequality of healthcare professionals. The University is expected to further promotethese activities based on its guiding principle and purpose.
As for the University’s internal quality assurance, the Self-Study
Committee has been established as a promotion organization, but no records are kept
for verification by a third party regarding the planning steps of the PDCA (Plan-DoCheck-Act) cycle serving as the foundation of internal quality assurance as well as
the committee’s reviews and improvement efforts following the reports from eachdivision. This situation indicates that the University’s internal quality assurance
system is far from functioning effectively. The University should reexamine theinternal quality assurance structure led by the committee and improve the mechanism

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for recording the internal organizations’ (divisions) PDCA cycles to promote
university-wide internal quality assurance. In addition, the University should
promptly undertake institutional research (IR) and system development, as collecting
and analyzing internal data are important to assure the quality of education.
There are several other issues the University needs to address. First, theUniversity has been unable to establish a solid financial base to sustainably carry out
its educational and research activities, due to the preparation of its opening inAY2017, including the recruitment of full-time faculty members. This issue needs tobe addressed by steadily enrolling students. Next, the Master of Health Science,
Graduate School of Health Science, has not specified the basic concept of curriculum
implementation in its curriculum policy. In addition, some faculty departments have
low ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap and a low average ratioof freshman enrollment to the freshman enrollment cap over the past five years.
Moreover, the University conducts faculty development (FD) activities through theFD Meeting to enhance the quality of its faculty and faculty organization, but theGraduate School of Health Science has failed to implement its own FD activities.
These issues should also be addressed.
Following the results of its first JUAA certified evaluation andaccreditation, the University is expected to revamp its internal quality assurance
system to assure the quality of education with steady improvements. The University
is also expected to enhance its distinctive features by ensuring the implementation ofinternal quality assurance initiatives.
Notable Strengths
Educational and Research Structure

The University established as a nursing school on the premises of a hospital takes
advantage of serving as an arm of a medical and welfare group operating
hospitals and welfare facilities as well as childcare and sports medicine services
to provide practical training and other programs in various locations offering
comprehensive medical care services. It is commendable that the University isproviding an environment where students can organically learn team medicine,including comprehensive community care, with a view to realizing the founding
spirit of “nurturing practical and motivated medical technicians.”

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Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance
The Self-Study Committee plays a central role in establishing the internal quality
assurance system, but in the improvement and enhancement process, instructions
are issued by the committee and the Board of Directors and Management Meeting.
The deliberation and decision-making process is also unclear with documents ondeliberations, agenda items, and reports mixed up in the meeting minutes. Inaddition, the task of the Self-Study Committee is limited to asking each division
to consider improvement measures and timeframes. This situation indicates thatthe internal quality assurance system is far from functioning effectively. In theyears ahead, organizations involved in internal quality assurance should bestructured to effectively operate the system, thereby ensuring that improvement
and enhancement measures are undertaken based on the self-study results.

Educational Program and Learning Outcomes

The Master of Health Science, Graduate School of Health Science, has not
specified the basic concept of curriculum implementation in its curriculum policy.
This issue should be addressed.

Student Enrollment
The Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, has a low average
ratio of 0.86 in freshman enrollment to the freshman enrollment cap over the past
five years and the same ratio in student enrollment to the student enrollment cap.
These ratios should be improved with the faculty’s student quotas thoroughlymanaged.

Faculty and Faculty Organization
The graduate school has not conducted its own FD activities for educational
improvements. This issue should be addressed with the graduate school’s FD
activities appropriately implemented.

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Recommendation
University Management and Finance
The University’s balance sheet for operating activities plunged into the red withthe recruitment of full-time faculty members for its opening in AY2017, and theratio of financial assets to the required reserve fund is also low and trending
downward. This situation indicates that the University has been unable toestablish a solid financial base to sustainably carry out its educational andresearch activities. As student enrollment is generally steady and personnel
expenses are expected to be reduced systematically, the University isrecommended to improve its balance sheet by formulating and implementing a
medium- to long-term financial plan that includes specific numerical targets andmeasures to achieve the medium-term plan.

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