Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results forProfessional Graduate Business School

The Management of Technology Program, the Graduate Schoolfor Management of Technology, Niigata University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: NationalLocation: Niigata, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2015
Accreditation Status: Accredited（Accreditation Period: April.01.2016 – March.31.2021）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Results
for the Management of Technology Program,the Graduate School for Management of Technology, Niigata University
The Management of Technology Program (hereafter, the Program) in the Graduate
School for Management of Technology, Niigata University, defines its mission as “tomake continuous contribution to local development by providing middle-level engineers,managers, and successors who are the driving force in restructuring local industries with
opportunities for reeducation by the use of Management of Technology to cultivate
abilities to grasp and administer technology and management synthetically, and for
education to qualify for a career up to high-level technical administrator or high-level
managerial administrator.” Under this mission, the Program states its particular purpose
as “to train highly specialized professionals who have skills and abilities to improve thequality of management continuously and innovatively, and who can solve the issues ofindustries in Niigata from the perspective of integrated management based on thesynthesis of technology and management.” A notable strength of the Program is the clear
statement of its particular purpose as contributing to development of the specific local
area by focusing on the management issues major industries face there.
To achieve this purpose, the Program defines five abilities for professional
knowledge and for continuous development of local industries as: (1) the ability to formand structure an organization in order to best utilize that organization’s knowledge andexpertise; (2) the ability to reform the organization so that it takes risks; (3) the ability toplan and execute an effective distribution of resources; (4) the ability to successfully
develop ideas; and (5) the ability to improve competitiveness through communication
with the market. The Program clearly states in the policy on degree award that mastering
these abilities is required. Also, in order to have students master these abilities, theinstructors practice educational methods that bridge the theory and practice. One exampleof these educational methods, Technical Visits, or study tours of companies, wherestudents visit companies to inquire about and discuss issues of technology andmanagement, is highly effective educationally in helping students understand thesubstance of business management. This method is hopeful to be developed further.
While it is commendable that the Program has made contributions by training
talented persons who can lead development of the local economy, some issues remain toguarantee its consistency and sustainability as a professional degree program and assure
the quality of education.
First, the Program should formulate a mid- and long-term vision concerning thedistribution of resources and organizational capability into the future. While theProgram’s future plan and implementation policy are formulated by the Future Plan
Committee, which consists of five faculty members including the head of the Program,the content does not indicate the direction of the Program as a whole. In the future, during
the process of formulating the third midterm objectives and midterm plan, the Committee
should pay more careful attention to these points.
Also, in regard to the curriculum design policy, the Program should clarify thecorresponding relationship between the policy and the actual curriculum, make it moreconcrete, and demonstrate it in the regulations, in the brochure, and on the web page ofthe Program.
In addition, the Scheme of the Educational Program, which offers the standard
for formulating the Program’s curriculum, is weak concerning training talented persons
with a global perspective. The Program should improve this point.
In regard to the educational method, while notable efforts have been made, thecontent of the syllabi should be consistent among courses. Also, in regard to assessmentof academic achievement, the present situation, in which most students are given the best
grade, should be changed. The Program should administer a thorough, fair, and strict

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assessment by setting appropriate criteria to evaluate the degree of learning.
With regard to the faculty organization, a disproportionate number of faculty
members are between sixty and seventy years old because the goal has been to employ
faculty with rich practical experience. This means that many faculty members will soon
reach retirement age. To prepare for this problem, the Program should formulate mid- andlong-term personnel affairs plans, including a faculty employment plan. Moreover, there
are presently no female full-time faculty members, and thus the Program should pay
attention to gender parity in formulating the faculty organization.
The Program underwent the review of the Certified Evaluation andAccreditation by Japan University Accreditation Association (hereafter, JUAA) in 2010.
While JUAA accredited the Program at that time, it pointed out three serious issues andten items for consideration. Subsequently, after examining the Improvement Reportsubmitted in July 2013, JUAA has observed improvements in those three serious issues,
but some items for consideration were expected to be improved. Therefore, JUAA
examined those items again in this accreditation review. It became clear that thecounterplans are insufficient in terms of formulation of the midterm vision, considerationof the direction for globalization, and introduction of sabbatical leave, and therefore theProgram still needs to work on improving those issues.
JUAA believes that by properly responding to those issues, the Program will beable to develop its educational program to pursue its distinct purpose and make furthercontributions to the growth of local industries.
Finally, it is regrettable that the Program expressed its intention to stop recruiting
students after 2016. JUAA strongly recommends that the Program continue to improve its
education and research activities considering the result of this accreditation and makeefforts to maintain and improve the educational level for current students.