Nishikyushu University（西九州大学）
Evaluation summary
Standard 1. Mission and Objectives, etc.
The founding principles of the University are cited as fostering individuals who will teach asophisticated degree of knowledge, seek to improve humanity, contribute to society with professional
knowledge and applied technology, improve world culture and contribute to human welfare. The
education policy is summed up in the easily understood phrase of “Asunaro,” which the University
defines as “a positive attitude promoting achievement of aspirations” and the mission, goals andeducational objectives have all been documented. The University has also made its “local community
university declaration,” conducts educational and research activities that tie in with solving problems
in the local community, and clearly presents its collaborations with the local community as a factor
that gives it individuality and distinctive quality. These practices are not merely the result of initiatives
on the part of the University or its transmission of information, but can also be described ascountermeasures to the recent changes in the state of society, and have been built up in a mutual
relationship of trust towards the University from the local community and the return of educational
achievement to the local community on the part of the University.
Standard 2. Learning and Teaching
The admission policy has been designed from the perspective of fostering human resources in
professional occupations who can help to revitalize the local community. In line with this policy, awide variety of entrance examinations are conducted, and efforts to secure students made.
Furthermore, in the common educational curriculum, in courses such as the Asunaro Experience I –III course, students are not limited solely to their specialist area and can take part in volunteering,
local community work, group work, problem-solving-based learning and experience-based learning
through which they put into practice both their career education and the idea of the “local communityuniversity.”
In addition the University has a low teacher-to-student ratio system, student records are kept, andefforts made to keep meticulous details about the behavior of students, their attendance or absencefrom class and awarding of credits right from when they enter the University. Feedback is provided
to students and detailed guidance is given. Not only is the University fully equipped with all therequisite facilities and equipment, it also serves as a community activity support facility by being
open to citizens. It has established the Nishikyushu University Group Community Collaboration
Center, and mutually cooperates with the local community by putting back into it its researchachievements.
Standard 3. Management, Administration and Finance
The School Corporation Nagahara Gakuen, which is the university provider, has prepared thevarious internal regulations for the University in strict compliance with the Basic Act on Education,
School Education Act, Private Schools Act and other legislation, continuously strives to realize theUniversity’s mission and goals, and has declared the maintenance of management discipline andintegrity. The Director governs school affairs, oversees the faculty and staff, possesses authority withrespect to all matters related to education and research, and bears final responsibility. The Director
also serves as the Board Chair, implements smooth decision-making with regard to the mutual
intentions of the University's incorporated entity and education and learning division, and university
operation and governance is functioning through mutual checking. Suggestions from faculty and staff
are deliberated over by various types of committees, suggested at the Director’s Office Council, andthere is a system for making these suggestions specific at the Faculty Council; operations are therefore
conducted with both leadership and a good bottom-up balance. Since the 2003 academic year theUniversity has continuously created a business plan and compiled a budget in line with the MediumTerm Goals and Plan. The University’s fiscal balance is at an appropriate level, and the financial basein a healthy state of affairs.

Standard 4. Self-Inspection and Evaluation
Pursuant to the Nishikyushu University Self-Inspection and Evaluation Regulations, which werereformed in the 2002 academic year, the Nishikyushu University Inspection and Evaluation Operation
Committee was organized and prepared as an implementation system Self-inspection and evaluation
is implemented through an action program that is formulated each year according to the MediumTerm Goals and Plan, and the degree of attainment is summarized. Through these efforts the university
operations for the realization of its founding principles, mission, goals and educational objectives are
made visible, and a PDCA cycle mechanism has been established.
In summary, under the leadership of the Board Chair, Director, and Deputy Director, the unique
Asunaro Experience I – III course has been established incorporating the perspective of various
volunteer and community collaboration activities contributing to the fostering of core humanresources to vitalize the local community, and an educational curriculum with special features has
been designed. It is to be hoped that future learning achievement will be enhanced by the construction
and practice of a comprehensive curriculum for the first to third year students
Note that with regard to the University’s unique initiatives regarding its mission and goals, thegeneral comments on “Standard A. Making diploma policy concrete (education and research thatlinks in with the local community)” should be referred to.