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

Kansai Gaidai University
Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PrivateLocation: Osaka, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2012
Accreditation Status: accredited (Accreditation Period: April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2020)

Related Links
Kansai Gaidai University: http://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/(in Japanese)

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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Accreditation Resultsfor Kansai Gaidai University
Notable Strengths
Educational content, methods, and outcome

It is commendable that Kansai Gaidai University has made efforts to develop andenrich foreign language education to actualize the university’s founding mission
and educational purposes. For example, the university offers intensive language
courses in the freshman and sophomore years to help students improve their foreign
language ability and to nurture talented persons who can contribute to globalsociety. Moreover, the College of International Professional Development, twoSchools in the College of Foreign Studies (i.e., the School of English Language andCommunication and the School of Spanish Language and Communication), and theCollege of International Language and Communication offer specialized courses
with instruction in only English or Spanish.

It is commendable that the university has launched initiatives to realize thefounding mission of nurturing talented persons who can contribute to global society.
For example, the annually held Faculty Development (FD) Training Abroad
Program was established in 2005 with the purpose of increasing the number ofcourses offered in English not only by foreign but also by Japanese facultymembers. As a result, the number of courses offered in English has increased from
4 courses offered in English in 2010, to 23 in 2011, and 24 in 2012.

It is highly commendable that the university has devised measures to promotestudents’ studying abroad. For example, the university has actively promoted shortand long term study abroad programs by enhancing students’ advanced
communication abilities and promoting intercultural awareness based on students’learning at the university. Moreover, the university has established a system to givefinancial support to students studying abroad. The university has also developed its
study abroad support program, which includes a four-month preparatory programfor sophomore or junior students who participate in study abroad programs for longterm or exchange programs. In addition, students are exempted from paying tuition
to host institutions. Together, these generous avenues of support have enabledapproximately 1,700 students to study abroad each year.

Suggestions for Improvement
Faculty and faculty organization
The selection process and criteria for faculty appointments in the graduate school
have not been stipulated in the regulations. The criteria and procedures should beclarified to assure fairness and transparency in the screening process.

Educational content, methods, and outcome

The policies for awarding degrees that clarify learning outcomes at the time ofprogram completion have not been stipulated by each College or Graduate School.
Policies for designing and implementing curricula have not been clarified. In
accordance with the educational purposes of each academic unit, these policies
should be clearly stated and made public.

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In the College of Foreign Studies and the Graduate School, undergraduate andgraduate students can sometimes take the same classes with the same syllabi andgrading criteria. However, this should be revised in accordance with the differencein purposes of the undergraduate and graduate programs.

In the doctoral program of the Graduate School, the curriculum has not beenclarified in accordance with the purpose of the course-based graduate school
program. Educational content appropriate for that program is not offered. Thisshould be improved.

In the Graduate School, the criteria for examining degree-seeking dissertations havenot been clarified. These should be clarified and stipulated in the Student Handbook(and other handbooks) to inform students.

In the doctoral program of the Graduate School, some students complete all therequirements except the dissertation, and leave the university before completing thedissertation 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
continuously enrolled. This is inappropriate and should be corrected. The university
should modify the ways it has addressed this problem, and, in accordance with thepurpose of having course-based doctoral programs, should create measures toencourage degree completion within the required time frame.

Enrollment
In the School of Spanish Language and Communication in the College of Foreign
Studies, the ratio of transfer students to the transfer student admission cap is low at
0.22. This should be improved.

Administration and finance
The power and authority of the Chairs in each College and Graduate School has notbeen defined. Each committee has a list of members, but no description of the role
it is expected to play. The power, authority, and responsibilities of individualcommittee should be clarified in order for each to function effectively.

Internal quality assuranceMinutes have been compiled for only a limited number of meetings and committees.
As a result, little evidence exists to show quality of their diverse activities, so it isdifficult to say that the internal system for quality assurance is functioning.
Measures to improve the objectivity and validity of internal quality assurance
should be considered, so that the internal quality assurance system functions
appropriately.

Area of Serious ConcernAdministration and financeMinutes exist for only the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Meeting, and the Graduate
School Committee. Transparency of management is insufficient, which must beimproved.