Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior CollegeNakamura Gakuen University Junior College

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2021
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2029）

Nakamura Gakuen University Junior College

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Nakamura Gakuen University Junior College

Overview
Adhering to the founding principles consisting of “base for human education,” “basisof educational practice,” and “basics of education and research,” Nakamura GakuenUniversity Junior College states as its purpose to “contribute to the development ofsociety by conducting education and research and offering the outcomes to society atlarge, in accordance with the Basic Act on Education and School Education Law andin line with the founding principles of Nakamura Gakuen.” In order to achieve its
founding principles and purpose, Nakamura Gakuen University Junior College has
established educational objectives for the junior college and individual departments,
as well as formulating the Nakamura Gakuen 2030 Vision and three-year mediumterm comprehensive plans in an effort to promote initiatives for improving andenhancing educational and research activities, as well as checks and reviews.
As for internal quality assurance, the Nakamura Gakuen University (includingthe Junior College) Advisory Council (hereinafter “Council”) is responsible forinternal quality assurance on a university-wide level. In 2020, the Council
implemented restructuring measures, such as establishment of the Self-Study
Committee, for the purpose of increasing the presence of and strengthening the selfstudy functions that had been incorporated in the FD Center. Under the currentsystem, the Self-Study Committee, which is responsible for self-study, and the FD
Center work together to formulate business plans, as well as conducting checks andreviews and making improvements in accordance with our association’s JuniorCollege Standards. Although the Council supervises this system, it is not involved ininitiatives for improvement, which are implemented through cooperation between
the Self-Study Committee and the FD Center. Therefore, the Council, which is theorganization responsible for the promotion of internal quality assurance, is expected
to play an appropriate role alongside the organizations above to ensure universitywide management of the internal quality system.
Regarding education, the Junior College has set department-specificeducational objectives in line with its purpose and educational objectives, hasestablished department-specific degree award policies (diploma policies) andcurriculum design and implementation policies (curriculum policies) in accordancewith the objectives, and strives to conduct effective education in line with these1

Nakamura Gakuen University Junior Collegepolicies. The Junior College presents the curricula in a coherent and systematicmanner by a course-taking chart and a subject numbering system and by visualizing
the relationship of individual subjects to the degree award policy and curriculum
design and implementation policy. The Junior College has formulated its own new
Assessment Plan for measuring learning outcomes, employing a variety of means
such as on- and off-campus questionnaires and rubric evaluation to this end.
Furthermore, the Junior College plans to improve organizational learning support by
the Transfer Admission Support Committee, among other organizations, for students
who want to transfer to the four-year university, and actively offers support in linewith career trends among students.
The Junior College offers a variety of support programs in accordance with its
policy. At the Learning Support Center, which is an attached facility, former teachers
from the adjacent junior and senior high schools and Japanese language teachers
provide detailed supplementary tuition based on a variety of methods for both
Japanese and international students. Users from the Junior College are increasing andshow a high rate of satisfaction, making it a remarkable endeavor.
In the area of social cooperation and social contribution, the SocialCooperation Promotion Center and the Cooperation Promotion Division, a clericalorganization, support and promote a diverse range of activities based oninteruniversity cooperation, local cooperation, and industry-government-academiacooperation. Of particular note is the N Project, a selection-based local exchange
activity that students plan and manage independently. This initiative connects juniorcollege students’ learning with services to the community, enabling students todevelop an independent attitude and understand the importance of local contribution
activities. This is a highly commendable initiative that is aligned with the JuniorCollege’s social cooperation and social contribution policy.
There are, however, issues that should be considered. The Division of Early
Childhood Care and Education sets a separate limit on the number of credits students
aiming to acquire licenses/qualifications can register for in a year, which has caused
many students to register for almost the maximum number of credits in their firstyear. Although the division provides guidance for taking courses and has revised thenumber of subjects and class periods, the Junior College should continue to take theappropriate measures to ensure credit substantiation.
Going forward, the JUAA hopes the Junior College solves these issues throughinternal quality assurance efforts and accelerates its many distinctive initiatives forfurther development of its program.
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Notable Strengths
Student Support
 The Junior College has established the Learning Support Center as an attachedfacility, in which former teachers from the adjacent junior and senior highschools and Japanese language teachers provide supplementary tuition to both
Japanese and international students. For example, the center offers individual
tuition on specific subjects to students who did not select a subject that isnecessary for acquiring a qualification or study in their department when they
were in high school. The center also offers the following: basic courses on preuniversity subjects, employment examination courses, courses on theexamination for transferring to the four-year university, Japanese study meetingsand exchange events for international students, etc. Learning Support Centerusers from the Junior College have been increasing in recent years, andquestionnaires clearly show that users have a high rate of satisfaction. Thus, theJunior College provides a variety of detailed support programs through theLearning Support Center, which is a remarkable initiative.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
 In the N Project, a selection-based local exchange activity that students plan andmanage independently, students leverage the features of their respective
departments in a range of activities, such as performing plays for local children.
Through participating in the planning and management of the N Project, students
can develop an independent attitude, teamwork skills, and competencies forworking persons and understand the importance of local activities. Moreover,this initiative is aligned with the policy on social cooperation and social
contribution presented in the Policies for Achieving Our Purpose in Line with
Our Principles.

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