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

Fukuoka University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

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

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Fukuoka UniversityOverview
Fukuoka University defines its founding philosophy as “Steady, Sensible, Sincere,
Strong, and Spirited,” and sets forth the three educational and research principles of“coexistence of specialists and generalists,” “coexistence of specialized educationand interdisciplinary education and research,” and “coexistence of regionalism andglobalism” for the purpose of providing “education for all” based on duality. TheUniversity describes its founding philosophy as “Fukuoka University’s Five Ss (FU5s)” in simple English and publicizes the phrase in various media. This is acommendable effort to promote the University’s unique values widely in Japan andabroad. However, some faculties and graduate schools are expected to provide a more
specific connection between their purpose and educational and research principles.
The University has adopted long-term priority policies over the decade underFukuoka University Vision 2014-2023, and along with these policies the University
has formulated the Fukuoka University Medium- to Long-term Plan (Phase 1: 20202024) for the five-year period from AY2020 with a view to the 100th anniversary of
its founding in 1934.
Regarding the University’s internal quality assurance, the Self-Assessment
Promotion Council is responsible for promoting university-wide internal quality
assurance in accordance with the Fukuoka University Internal Quality Assurance
Policy (Basic Concepts, etc.). The meeting issues specific instructions on internal
quality assurance to the departments after setting up the Domain-based Internal
Quality Assurance Promotion Committee consisting of the Educational Promotion
Council, Central Research Promotion Council, Regional Cooperation Promotion
Council, and Project Management Council. Following the meeting’s instructions, theDepartment-based Self-Study Implementation Committee conducts a self-study ofeach department. In this way, the three-tiered internal quality assurance system has
been in place with assessments carried out by the External Assessment Committee
when appropriate. It is commendable that the University is appropriately operating
the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles of department-based, domain-based, anduniversity-wide internal quality assurance through three-tiered improvement
instructions and reports.
As for the University’s education, diploma and curriculum policies are1

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established, made known to the public, and appropriately managed. The University’sefforts to enhance student learning and provide effective education are recognized,with active learning and other approaches eagerly adopted and a support system
actively promoted.
The University has notably undertaken an initiative to assess theachievement of the student learning outcomes stated in the diploma policy. TheUniversity’s unique “FURIKA” class survey system was introduced in AY2018 forstudents to reflect on their studies and for faculty members to confirm theachievement of student learning outcomes. It is highly commendable that theUniversity has developed a mechanism for improving and enhancing its educationfrom the standpoints of students, faculty members, and organizations. In addition, theMonozukuri Center carries out distinctive manufacturing projects for students todevelop design and conceptual abilities as well as self-reliance, reasoning, and otherpractical skills. This is an outstanding student support initiative as part of theUniversity’s “education for all” efforts. Moreover, the University takes advantage of
its strengths as an institution offering a wide variety of academic programs toundertake social cooperation and contribution activities through the collaboration ofstudents, faculty, staff, and local residents. These outstanding initiatives include theFaculty of Engineering’s years of river cleanup activities and the “Fukuoka Method”
landfill technology jointly developed by the University and Fukuoka City.
There are several issues the University needs to address, however. The
University’s student quota management should be improved as student enrollment iseither far above or far below the student enrollment cap in some faculties andgraduate schools. Moreover, a number of inconsistent description formats were foundin the curriculum policies of the faculties and departments. The Graduate School
Handbook provides unclear explanations as to how the graduate schools’ systematicand sequential curricula are linked to the diploma policies, and teaching methods are
not specified in the syllabuses for some course subjects. These issues should be
addressed in the coming years.
The University operates a multi-layered cycle of its highly structured
internal quality assurance system, and is expected to unify and refine its educationaland research activities by utilizing and upgrading this system. The University is also
expected to progress further by constantly inspecting and enhancing such distinctive
initiatives as the FURIKA class surveys and the Monozukuri Center as it accumulates
and disseminates its achievements to society.

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Notable Strengths
Educational Program and Learning OutcomesThe University developed its own online FURIKA class survey and feedback
system in AY2018 to allow students to reflect on their learning in all subjects byanswering questions focusing on study hours, achievements, comprehension,and other performances. In addition, FD activities are conducted for faculty
members to learn in detail about FURIKA with the system used to improveclasses, as well as for the heads of educational programs to confirm theachievement of the learning outcomes stated in the diploma policies. It iscommendable that these approaches are expected to promote educational
improvements for students, faculty, and organizations in terms of lessons andeducational programs.

Student Support

The Monozukuri Center supports university-wide education and research
activities, and manages five student projects (Solar Boat Project, Eco Mileage
Challenge Project, Interior Design Project, Robot Project, and Programming
Project). With the aim of participating in off-campus competitions, students plan
their own projects assisted by the center’s teaching and technical staff, and makefull use of the necessary manufacturing tools to carry out the entire process fromdesign to production and testing. These activities were originally led by students
from the Faculty of Engineering, but with programming added to encourage theparticipation of liberal arts students, the center’s projects have developed into
university-wide initiatives. The center now aims to foster students throughmanufacturing by helping them develop design and conceptual abilities as well
as self-reliance, reasoning, and other practical skills. This approach iscommendable as an outstanding student support initiative of the University’s“education for all” efforts based on its educational and research principles andfounding philosophy.

Social Cooperation and Contribution
The University utilizes the expertise of its faculties, departments, and graduate
schools to respond to a wide range of community needs, in line with its social
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cooperation and contribution policy. Specifically, the Faculty of Engineering’s
faculty and students have long engaged in river cleanup activities with localresidents. The University and Fukuoka City have jointly developed the Fukuoka
Method landfill technology, which is internationally recognized and now used inmany parts of the world. It is commendable that the University takes advantageof its strength as an institution comprising faculties and graduate schools invarious specialized fields of study to realize the coexistence of regionalism andglobalism.
Suggestions for Improvement
Student Enrollment
The Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, has a high ratio of 1.04 in student
enrollment to the student enrollment cap. This ratio should be lowered with theundergraduate school’s student quotas thoroughly managed.

The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.43 in
the Master’s Degree Program of the Graduate School of Humanities, 0.25 in theDoctoral Degree Program of the Graduate School of Humanities, 0.25 in theMaster’s Degree Program of the Graduate School of Economics, 0.27 in theDoctoral Degree Program of the Graduate School of Commerce, and 0.29 in theDoctoral Degree Program of the Graduate School of Science. These ratios shouldbe improved with the graduate schools’ student quotas thoroughly managed.

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