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

Tama Art University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Tokyo, Japan

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

Tama Art University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Tama Art University
Overview
Tama Art University sets forth the educational philosophy of “Freedom and Will”
and defines its purpose as “teaching and researching advanced academic skills in all
aspects of art and design; cultivating individuals who can engage with theinternational community with a broad range of knowledge; and training superior
artists, designers, educators, and researchers who can contribute to a contemporarysociety.” Based on this purpose, the University has formulated the Medium- to Longterm Plan for the five-year period from AY2020 to foster globally competitive humanresources capable of actively shaping the future rooted in art in an increasingly
diverse and complex society. The plan lays out nine basic medium- to long-termplans, including “educational reform through reorganization aimed at integrating
specialization and comprehensiveness” and “communication and dissemination of art
university education and research content to society.” The University engages in
educational and research activities based on this plan with specific goals andtimeframes.
In AY2021, the University established the Internal Quality Assurance
Regulations and positioned the Kyoiku Jujitsu Kento Committee as an organization
promoting internal quality assurance. Subcommittees, working groups (WG) andproject teams (PT), formed under the committee, are tasked with operating the PDCA
(Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle in coordination with the faculty and administrativeorganizations. However, the departments, subcommittees, and other bodies
frequently undertake improvement efforts at their own discretion. This situation
indicates that improvement and enhancement measures are not fully supported by theKyoiku Jujitsu Kento Committee. In addition, there are issues with the University’s
internal quality assurance system regarding data management for institutional
research (IR) and other aspects. Efforts should be made to ensure that the committee
fulfills its role as an organization promoting the effective operation of the internal
quality assurance system.
As for the University’s education, the General Education Center wasrestructured into the Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences in AY2022 to implement“educational reform through reorganization aimed at integrating specialization andcomprehensiveness” as stated in the Medium- to Long-term Plan. The University is1

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working on the management of general education subjects for the faculty, with more
activities and outcomes expected. The faculty, departments, graduate school
programs, and majors have established diploma policies and created the evaluation
criteria based on the policies to evaluate the outcomes of graduation or course
completion projects and research. Student learning outcomes are monitored andevaluated by faculty members using these criteria in critique sessions where faculty
and students exchange views on the outcomes of projects and research.
The University has undertaken several outstanding initiatives. In responseto the coronavirus outbreak in AY2020, the Promotion Committee for New Normal(PNN Committee) was organized to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff
as well as student learning opportunities during the pandemic. It is commendable thatthe PNN Committee has helped realize the early resumption of in-person lessons andthe reopening of on-campus facilities under the guidance of doctors and other experts
to continue art education that places importance on practical skills. In addition, theUniversity takes advantage of its distinctives features to conduct educational andresearch activities, and has established affiliated progressive institutions to support
art education, such as the Art Archives Center, which stores specialized materials,
and the CMTEL materials research facility. The University also offers a variety oflifelong learning programs and has instituted the Tama Art University Bureau (TUB)
and Akibatamabi 21 as art facilities for students and graduates to exhibit their works
and present their research. It is highly commendable that the University is actively
disseminating its educational and research outcomes to society.
However, there are several more issues the University needs to address, inaddition to the above issues pertaining to internal quality assurance. The doctoral
program in the Graduate School of Art and Design has not formulated and publishedthe screening criteria for dissertations, and this situation must be corrected. The
faculty has failed to take sufficient steps to ensure credit validity, and inadequacies
were found in its student quota management. The graduate school has not conducted
its own faculty development (FD) activities related to graduate school education.
These issues should be addressed.
In the coming years, the University should improve and effectively operate
its internal quality assurance system to deal with these issues. The University isexpected to make further progress by organizing and utilizing on-campus data to
examine the appropriateness of its initiatives, enhancing its distinctive activities thatinclude lifelong learning programs and “Triennale” art festivals, and exploring ways
to organically manage its organizations.

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Notable Strengths
Education and Research Environment
The PNN Committee consisting of faculty and staff specializing in art as well as
nurses and school physicians was organized in AY2020 in response to thecoronavirus pandemic. The committee has helped realize the early reopening of
in-person lessons and on-campus facilities with anti-infection measures put inplace following on-site inspections conducted by school physicians and other
healthcare professionals with expertise in infectious diseases. With practicalskills education in an in-person setting considered important for art and designuniversities, the University’s swift and appropriate response is commendable not
only as an effective anti-coronavirus measure, but also as a positive approach toadjusting to a “new normal” after the pandemic.

The Art Archives Center was established in AY2018 as the culmination of yearsof collecting and accumulating art resources. In addition to storing, studying, andpublicly exhibiting collection materials, the center promotes creative activities,
with synergistic effects expected by combining the art material archives with thecreative works and research by students, faculty, and staff. The CMTEL materials
research facility not only conducts think-tank activities focused on materials, butalso works with international research institutes to study resource materials andtrends. It is commendable that the University utilizes its distinctive features andresources to operate its art facilities as leading-edge research hubs.

Social Cooperation and Contribution
The Lifelong Learning Center has introduced “Takuhaibin Asobi Jutsu,” a new
course for elementary school students using home delivery and the internet, inresponse to the feedback. The course attracts participants from both inside andoutside the Kanto region, where the University’s campuses are located. Inaddition, The TUB, as a hub for promoting design and art in collaboration withbusinesses and other organizations, offers Tama Design University as a virtual
course on the cutting-edge design field and social themes. The Akibatamabi 21
art space provides young artists with opportunities to exhibit their works to thepublic. It is commendable that the University constantly disseminates the appeal3

Tama Art Universityof art and design widely to society.
Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance
The Kyoiku Jujitsu Kento Committee, positioned as an organization promotinginternal quality assurance, undertakes improvement and enhancement efforts byorganizing subcommittees, WGs, and PTs in response to various issues. However,the departments, subcommittees, and other bodies frequently address particularconcerns at their own discretion. This situation indicates that improvement andenhancement measures are not fully supported by the committee. This issue
should be addressed by reviewing the committee’s role in promoting internalquality assurance, while incorporating the results of external evaluations tooperate the internal quality assurance system more effectively to assure andenhance the quality of education.

Educational Program and Learning Outcomes
The undergraduate program has not specified the maximum number of credits
students can register for in a year, but recommends taking up to 50 credits, withmeasures and guidance provided to prevent credit overload. However, many
students take more than 50 credits in certain school years and some register foran excessive number of credits. The University has specified advancement
requirements and students’ study time outside of class hours, but these measures
are inadequate for ensuring credit validity. This issue should be addressed in lightof the purpose of the credit system.

Student Enrollment
The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are high at 1.23 in
the Department of Art Studies and 1.20 in the Department of Information Design.
These ratios should be lowered with the faculty’s student quotas thoroughlymanaged.

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Faculty and Faculty Organization
The graduate school’s own FD activities for educational improvements have notbeen implemented. This issue should be addressed.

Recommendation
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes

The doctoral program in the Graduate School of Art and Design has notformulated and published the screening criteria for dissertations. This situationmust be corrected.

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