March 9, 2018

Musubi Tabuchi
Chair, Evaluation Promotion Committee
Kwansei Gakuin(Chancellor, Kwansei Gakuin)2017 Kwansei Gakuin University Self-Assessment Results
We have the pleasure of releasing the results of the Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU)
self-assessment for the 2017 academic year—an initiative to review our philosophies, goals,education and research targets and policies, etc., and evaluate the progress toward realizing thegoals and action plans.
Our AY2017 self-assessment evaluated the status of the achievement of the vision (goals) andaction plans formulated in AY2015.
With a view to reinforcing the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle toward spontaneous andself-sustaining development, in AY2004 Kwansei Gakuin established a New Self-assessment
System, under which we would annually carry out a self-assessment linked to the Certified
Evaluation and Accreditation System. In AY2006, KGU was subject to the first Certified
Evaluation and Accreditation for University performed by the Japan University Accreditation
Association (JUAA), and was accredited as conforming to the JUAA University Standards.
In AY2009, we reviewed the evaluation items, reflecting changes in the JUAA’s evaluation
criteria, redefined our five-year goals through AY2013 and worked on them. In AY2014, wereassessed the progress made during the last five years in achieving the redefined goals. Duringthat period, in AY2013 we underwent the Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for University
for the second time, resulting in KGU again being granted accreditation as satisfying the JUAA
University Standards.
KGU self-assessment conducted so far has enjoyed high acclaim as a pioneering approach tokeep the PDCA cycle in motion. We have indeed been interviewed by several organizations
including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the JUAA andother universities on our self-assessment efforts. At the same time, however, we have faced severalchallenges.
In addressing these challenges, we have worked to incorporate a process that would allow us tomodify our goals flexibly in response to changes in social and environmental conditions, andshare important matters for inclusion in different policies, so as to create consistency among
different schools and departments.
KGU self-assessment from AY2015 onward is obviously intended to ensure the quality ineducation that the JUAA suggests in its evaluation (basic evaluation) as to whether or not theSchool Education Act, the Standards for Establishment of Universities and other relevant legal
requirements common to all universities are respected. In addition, our self-assessment seeks tohave the internal quality assurance system operate effectively, thereby improving the quality ofeducation and research, as indicated in the direction of the third Certified Evaluation andAccreditation.
We will adopt the perspective of the third Certified Evaluation and Accreditation andincorporate opinions from KGU and its schools and departments in the method of implementing
the self-assessment. By doing so, we will ensure that the PDCA cycle for our internal quality
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assurance system functions properly, thereby establishing a better self-assessment system.
We must ensure that KGU’s self-assessment evolves in such a way as to lead to moresophisticated, more self-sustaining and higher quality education and research.
Should you have any comments or suggestions regarding our report (or its supporting
documents), please contact our Secretariat.
Self-assessment Secretariat: Kwansei Gakuin Assessment Office
jikohyouka@kwansei.ac.jp

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