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

The University of Shimane
Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Shimane, JapanAccreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2012
Accreditation Status: accredited (Accreditation Period: April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2020)

Related Links
The University of Shimane:
http://u-shimane.web.transer.com/bb_url_ej.php?ctw_=sT,eCR-JE,bF,hT,uaHR0cDovL3d3
dy51LXNoaW1hbmUuYWMuanAv,f20140106163554-0,cdXRmLTg
Full Text of the Accreditation Results (in Japanese):
http://www.juaa.or.jp/accreditation/university/result_2012.html
Accreditation Standards, Process and other related information (in English):http://www.juaa.or.jp/en/accreditation/university.html

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the University of Shimane
Notable Strengths
Educational content, methods, and outcome

It is commendable that the Faculty of Policy Studies at the University of Shimane
makes efforts to realize its mission and purpose of nurturing persons of talent who
can meet the needs of the local community. In particular, among the four programsin the Faculty, the Regional Policy Program approaches the study of contemporarysociety through studying social mechanisms, culture, ideas, and values. Not only
does the program ask students to delve into specialized fields such as thefundamentals of policy and social research methods, but it also offers actual
hands-on experience, such as internships with local governments and civicengagement activities in the local community. The program is conducted on thetheme of “nurturing persons of talent who can identify governance problems andlocal concerns and find solutions for them.” It also cultivates student abilities todiscover and address administrative problems and solutions.

Student support

It is commendable that the university offers numerous scholarships—including atuition waiver for spring and fall semesters—and that many students make use of
these scholarships each year.

It is commendable that the university has devised measures that take into accountthe geographical location of the university together with its size to attain a high rateof students acquiring jobs every year. For example, the university’s Career Support
Program provides wide-ranging, step-by-step support to all enrolled students tohelp them achieve their career goals from the time of their enrollment. “StudentCareer Supporters,” usually seniors who have found employment, offer advice toyounger students. University-sponsored buses take students to joint job fairs held in
nearby cities. The Civil Service Exam Support Room assists those students aspiring
to work in government.

Social cooperation and contribution

It is commendable that the university has produced good results in social
cooperation and contribution. For example, it has run a Regional Cooperation
Center to facilitate cooperation with local communities, has signed acomprehensive agreement with the City of Hamada, and participated in active
exchange with the local community. The university has also established theHamada Campus Support System and the Citizen Researchers’ System at theNorth-East Asian Regional Research Center. Students also contribute to thecommunity, beginning in their freshman year. In 2011, a total of 1,388 students
participated in activities in the local community through the Campus Mileage
Project.

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational content, methods, and outcomeIn the Graduate Schools, the policies for awarding degrees have not been clarified.

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They should be established and publicized.
In the Graduate Schools, constant efforts to improve educational content andmethods (e.g., organizing faculty development activities) are not sufficient. Thissituation should be improved.

In the Graduate Schools, the criteria for examining degree-seeking dissertations
have not been clearly stipulated. These should be clearly stated in the student
handbook (and other handbooks) to make them accessible to students.

In the doctoral program, some students complete all the requirements except thedissertation, and leave the university before completing the dissertation requirement
within the time limit set by the university. Later, when these students submit theirdissertations, even though they are no longer enrolled, they are granted doctoral
degrees in the same manner as continuously enrolled students. This is an
inappropriate use of the system that should be corrected. In accordance with thepurpose of having course-based doctoral programs, the university should create
measures to enhance degree completion within the required time frame.