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

Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Osaka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2015
Accreditation Status: Accredited（Accreditation Period: April.01.2016 – March.31.2023）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Osaka University for Health and Sports Sciences
Overview
Osaka University for Health and Sports Sciences (hereafter, the University) wasestablished in 1965 as a institution with a single faculty in the field of health and sports
sciences in the Kansai region. The University was based on Namisho Gakuen, a legallyincorporated educational institution and in 1989 its campus moved to Kumatori town,
Osaka Prefecture. The University established a master’s program in 1992 and a doctoral
program in 2001, and partially reorganized its junior college to establish the School ofHealth and Welfare Sciences in 2003. Currently, the University has two faculties, theSchool of Health and Sports Sciences and the School of Health and Welfare Sciences,
as well as one graduate school, the Graduate School of Sports and Exercise Sciences.
The University has conducted vigorous education and research activities in the fields ofphysical education, lifelong sport, and health and fitness promotion while consideringmodern changes and requirements, based on its founding spirit: “cultivating mind,virtue, and body through ceaseless effort in order to serve society.”
After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(JUAA) in 2008, the University has conducted reviews and evaluations for thisaccreditation, primarily through the Self-Study Committee, and also through the“Midterm Goal and Plan for Osaka University for Health and Sports Sciences”(hereafter, the Midterm Plan). However, the “Annual Report on Self-study,” which issupposed to be published every other year, has not been published since 2010, and theSelf-Study Committee does not appear to function properly. It is expected that theUniversity will continuously conduct the review.
The University has made some notable efforts for improvement. For example,
many of the students have been connecting to the community by participating involunteer activities through seminars or club activities. Furthermore, the University has
supported the improvement of basic academic skills through detailed learning supportfor students.
However, the University still has several issues to address. The University does
not have separate policy on degree award, curriculum design policy, or the admission
policy to the master’s and doctoral programs in the Graduate School of Sports andExercise Sciences. In addition, the University has not made the criteria for examining
theses clear. It is expected that the University will improve the policies and systems ofits graduate school.
Notable Strengths
Student Support

It is commendable that the University has made efforts to improve the academic
skills of its students and has made its career education support more functional. By
focusing on the improvement of graduate employment rates, the University has
made comprehensive attempts to facilitate students’ voluntary efforts. For example,in addition to “Career Festa” (Career Week), during which students are expected tolearn the skills they will need for job hunting and competencies for working
persons, the University has encouraged its students to make notes on careerplanning, hourly learning records, and learning review. In addition, the University
has set up a learning support lab that offers not only support for improvement ofbasic academic skills, but also provides academic support for highly achieving
students as they endeavor to pass various qualification examinations such as theteacher licence and the civil service examinations.

3Social Cooperation and Contribution
It is commendable that the University has made use of faculty diversity in its efforts
to contribute to society. Since 2012, the University has promoted socialcontributions, such as lifelong sports, by establishing the university-wide “Student‘Dream’ Project,” where budgets are allocated to students’ volunteer activities thatare overseen by faculty members. Moreover, most students make connections withthe community, including senior citizens and children, by participating in volunteer
activities for local residents and through their seminars and club activities.

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome
The Graduate School of Sports and Exercise Sciences does not have a separate policy
on degree award, nor does it have a curriculum design policy for the master’s anddoctoral programs. The curriculum design policy in the Graduate School of Sports
and Exercise Science only defines the abilities to develop and foster talent but does
not include a perspective on the design and implementation of curriculum. Thisshould be improved.

In the School of Health and Welfare Sciences, the maximum number of credits
first-year students can register for has been set at 50, at 56 for secon-year andupper-classmen, with no maximum limit for transfer students. This should beimproved according to the purposes of the credit system.

In the Graduate School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, the criteria for examining
theses are not clearly stated. This should be improved, and the criteria should beclearly stated in the graduate student handbook.

Enrollment
The Graduate School of Sports and Exercise Sciences does not have separate
admission policies for the master’s and doctoral programs. This should be improved.

Administration and Finance
The University has not established a sufficient financial basis, nor has it indicatedconcrete financial objectives. In addition, the situation whereby the financial
imbalance of the affiliated school affects the entire corporation has not improved.
The University should set numerical targets for improvement and formulate midterm
and long-term financial plans in order to work towards restoring financial viability.