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

Kyoto Seika University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Kyoto, Japan

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

2

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kyoto Seika University
Overview
Kyoto Seika University (hereafter, the University) succeeded Kyoto Seika Junior College,
which was founded in 1968, with two departments, the Department of English and theDepartment of Art. The University was established in 1979 with a single faculty, theFaculty of Art. The University has its main campus in Kyoto City with five uniquefaculties (the Faculty of Art, the Faculty of Design, the Faculty of Manga, the Faculty ofPopular Culture, and the Faculty of Humanities) and four graduate schools (the Graduate
School of Art, the Graduate School of Design, the Graduate School of Manga, and theGraduate School of Humanities). The University has engaged in education and research
activities based on its founding spirit and as reflected in such documents as theMemorandum on the Basic Policy of Education, the Mission of the University, and theBasic Concept of the University.
After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(JUAA) in 2008, the University has developed a mechanism for improvement throughthe Self-Study Committee and has improved the contents of syllabi as well as its research
environment by establishing a new research-support body, Kyoto Seika University
Research Laboratory. This time, JUAA has found in its second review that the University
has created effective facilities to help produce activities for students and has made avariety of efforts to promote social cooperation and contributions to society. However,
several issues must be addressed, including inadequacies in administration (such asinconsistencies among several regulations) and insufficient student enrollment.
Notable Strengths
Student Support

It is commendable that the University makes contentious efforts, through constantreviews and improvements, to stimulate students’ motivation to realize their goals
and encourages them to develop their own careers proactively. In particular, “ThePresentation Tour in Tokyo” began in 2009 as part of the career support for students
pursuing careers in creative fields, or more specifically, “one who is engaged inexpressive activity aiming to make a debut as a creator.” This event gives students
opportunities to visit creative firms and gain practical experience in presenting theirown portfolios and receiving comments. Both students and firms who participated inthis initiative were highly satisfied with their experiences, and the students were able
to recognize the skills that are required in business and what they need to accomplish
in order to realize their goals.

Education and Research Environment
Each of the students in the four faculties that require skill training is assigned atraining space called a “homeroom.” The University also has placed students’ studios
closer to their homerooms to ensure that they have sufficient space and anenvironment that helps them concentrate on their creative work. It is commendable
that, by making efficient use of these facilities, the University helps produce
activities of students.

3

Social Cooperation and Contribution

It is commendable that the University has made efforts to realize sustainable andexpansive social contributions as well as provide students with opportunities to show
their achievements in the larger society. The University and affiliate organizations
make substantial efforts to achieve social collaboration and contribution. Theirefforts include exhibitions of their works at “kara-S of Kyoto Seika University” andGALLERY FLEUR; collection development and maintenance, and exhibition ofmanga at Kyoto International Manga Museum; conducting research on and holding
events related to manga culture by Kyoto Seika University International Manga
Research Center; and conducting collaborative works with the Industrial Tourism
Department and the Internationalization Office of Kyoto City.

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Method, and Outcome
While questionnaire surveys of classes are conducted as a part of faculty
development (FD) activities, practical FD activities for educational improvement
such as workshops, have not been carried out. In addition, FD activities specific tograduate school education have not been sufficiently practiced. This situation shouldbe improved.

In the doctoral programs in Art and Manga, some students complete all therequirements except the dissertation, but leave the university before completing theirdissertation requirement within the time limit set by the University. Later, whenthese students submit their dissertations, even though they do not have enrollment
status, they are granted doctoral degrees in the same manner as those students whocontinuously enrolled. This is an inappropriate use of the system that should becorrected. In accordance with the purpose of having doctoral program, the University
should create measure to enhance degree completion within the required time frame.

Enrollment


The ratio of enrolled students to the student enrollment cap is low at 0.37 in themaster’s program in the Graduate School of Design. This number should beimproved.

Administration and FinanceInconsistencies and redundancies among the University Regulations and otherregulations, and inconsistencies between regulations and practices are often observed.
For example, the class-taking regulation for undergraduate students is no longer in
use and is not included in the Class-Taking Guidelines and Regulations Book, butsome descriptions referring to the regulation incorrectly remain in the UniversityRegulations. In addition, the University has insufficiently reflected the content of therevised School Education Act in the regulations. Therefore, the University should
thoroughly review all regulations and make appropriate and prompt efforts to abolish,revise, and develop regulations.

The University has not accomplished a goal set in the midterm and long-term
financial plan from 2007, as it had been processed without any sufficient examination.
Therefore, when implementing the midterm financial plan that begins in the 2015

4and after, the University should carry it out by carefully examining the consistencies
between the financial plan and the business plan and should assure theaccomplishment of the goals.
Internal Quality Assurance
The University has set up the Self-Study Management Committee as the major
initiative of self-study, as well as its subordinate body, the Self-StudyImplementation Committee. However, they have mainly dealt with the accreditation
process, and do not make self -study according to their own regulations. Therefore,
the University should make efforts to develop and implement an internal quality
assurance system to help realize sustainable self-study.

Area of Serious Concern
Enrollment
The last five-year average of the ratios of enrolled freshmen to the freshman
admission cap and the ratio of enrolled students to the student enrollment cap are low
at 0.79 and 0.78 respectively across the entire university, at 0.67 and 0.58respectively in the Department of Material Expression Ceramics in the Faculty of Art,
at 0.72 and 0.66 respectively in the Department of Architecture in the Faculty ofDesign, at 0.88 and 0.85 respectively in the entire Faculty of Art, and at 0.54 and 0.52
respectively in the Department of Liberal Arts in the Faculty of Humanities. Thesenumbers must be improved.