Ueno Gakuen University（上野学園大学）
Evaluation summary
Standard 1. Mission and Objectives, etc.
The origins of the University lie in a girls’ school established in 1904, and its founding principle
centers on the concept of self-awareness, which was the educational policy emphasized by thePresident of the school at the time, Kuragoro Ishibashi. This founding principle has been maintained
to the present day, now the University is coeducational, and is stipulated in the UniversityRegulations. The University’s policy of nurturing the spirit of self-awareness through music andconducting the development of human resources who can pass on that spirit to subsequent generations
is reflected in the University Regulations, and its individuality and distinctive qualities are shown.
The University makes efforts to publicize its mission and goals to students at the entrance ceremonyand other occasions, to faculty and staff through the All-Faculty and Staff Meeting, and to the outside
the University through its website. The University’s mission, goals and educational objectives arereflected in the annual business plan as educational and research activities. Furthermore, a mediumto-long-term vision is adopted for its approach to educational reform, reflecting the three policies of
diploma policy, curriculum policy and admission policy. An education and research organization andfacilities are in place to attain the University’s mission and goals.
Standard 2. Learning and Teaching
The University clearly states its admission policy, and the various entrance examinations areappropriately implemented. In terms of the distinctive quality of class instruction methods, theUniversity has a low student-teacher ratio, a learning level streaming system, an open individual
lesson system, a playing advisor system and other innovations. Collaboration between faculty andstaff is achieved through, for example, the course registration guidance provided at the start of eachacademic year and other guidance on registrating courses. Career counsellors are posted to the Career
Support Center, and guidance given regarding an array of different career paths. Consideration is also
paid by the provision of various types of guidance on around 40 types of recruitment, which arearranged on days of the week and times that make it easy for students to participate in. Surveys of thecircumstances of students’ lifestyle are conducted, the opinions and hopes of students regarding theirgeneral day-to-day lives are ascertained on a wide basis and problems are solved. The Ishibashi
Memorial Hall, an educational facility, is a medium-sized concert hall with excellent acoustics andthe stage for tuition and numerous recitals by both musicians studying at the University and invited
to perform from outside.
Standard 3. Management, Administration and FinancePursuant to the articles of endowment, various regulations have been put in place for themaintenance of management discipline and integrity. With regard to safety the University has
established its Crisis Management Regulations, and a system is in place for putting into practicecountermeasures against matters that have to be dealt with on an emergency basis. The Board ofDirectors is situated as the supreme decision-making body, and is operated appropriately with theadvance submittal of documents etc. The President acts as the Chairperson of the Faculty Council,
the Student Committee, the Self-Inspection and Evaluation Committee, the Faculty Development(FD) Committee and other bodies, and is exercising leadership. With respect to the management
system for the staff’s execution of their business, personnel evaluations are conducted each year inline with the personnel evaluation system. Initiative towards the establishment of financial operations
are insufficient, entrants are not fully secured and a stable financial based has yet to be achieved. The
University’s accounting procedures are conducted properly and pursuant to the Accounting Standards
for Incorporated Educational Institutions. The various University regulations need to be reviewed toadapt to amendments to the law, and the disparity between the University Regulations and the actual
state of the University is an issue requiring immediate measures.
Standard 4. Self-Inspection and Evaluation

The University has organized a Self-Inspection and Evaluation Committee according to its SelfInspection and Evaluation Regulations and the Self-Inspection and Evaluation Committee
Regulations, and conducts independent and autonomous self-inspections and evaluations. The
President serves as the Chairperson of the Self-Inspection and Evaluation Committee, which also
consists of the Dean and various committee chiefs. In addition, with an awareness of the importanceof evidence, this evidence is drawn up by each unit of the University and its incorporated entity. The
activities of the Self-Inspection and Evaluation Committee are made known to the faculty throughthe Section Chief Council and Faculty Council. Improvements and reforms made as a result of selfinspections and evaluations were previously the remit of the Management Planning Office but are
now taken charge of by the Management Reform Office, and attempts are being made to establish aPDCA cycle by tackling the issues uncovered by the self-inspections and evaluations.
In summary, the University is implementing undergraduate program education in line with both its
founding, educational and research principles and objectives, and is adapting to the changing times.
However, the number of students is continuously falling below the total capacity, and the businessactivities income and expenditure (imputed income and expenditure balance) is with a partial
exception in the red. As a result if this the balance brought forward payment funds are not being
adequately obtained and subsequently there is an urgent need to secure full enrollment quotas andtotal capacity, and make improvements to establish a financial base.
Note that with regard to the University’s unique initiatives regarding its mission and goals, thegeneral comments on “Standard A. Social contributions and international contributions” should bereferred to.