Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior College

Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PulicLocation: Oita, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2016
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2017 – March.31.2024）

2

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture
Overview
Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture (hereafter, the College) was established as Oita
Prefectural College of Arts in 1961. After the addition of departments in 1992, the College
currently contains the departments of Art and Design, Music, Global Studies, andCommunication and Information Studies, as well as the Advanced Course of Art and Design,and the Advanced Course of Music in the city of Oita, Oita Prefecture. In 2006, the College wasincorporated as a public college.
In 2010, an accreditation review performed by the National Institution for AcademicDegrees and University Evaluation (presently, the National Institution for Academic Degrees andQuality Enhancement of Higher Education) noted the dilapidation of the College buildings. The
College has appropriately implemented measures to resolve this issue, such as formulation of abasic campus improvement project concerning construction or renovation of main facilities.
In this accreditation review, Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA) has
confirmed that the College has achieved noteworthy results in each field of education,
research, and social contribution establishing five educational policies based on its purpose,and setting a specific educational policy for each department and advanced course. In
particular, it is commendable that the College pursued social contribution as one of its basic
goals, and, in accordance with its policy on social cooperation and social contribution,
promoted local contribution activities (which also have an educational component forstudents) that draw on the strengths of each department and utilized the cooperation of faculty
members and students. In addition to these efforts, the College has conducted educational
activities focusing on cooperation with the local community, with each department drawing
on its unique advantages. These continuous efforts have fulfilled its educational policies ofenhancing “Reliable Expertise,” nurturing “Basic Skills of the Business-person,” andcultivating the “Attitude of Taking Advantage of Oneself,” and can be regarded as a
distinctive feature of the College. It is also commendable that the College has continuously
initiated new efforts through the review of each activity, such as redesigning departments andthe course system, using portfolios for individual assessment, making improvements in the
feedback system for class evaluations through the “Messages from Faculty Members” system,
and attempting to enhance cooperation between faculty and staff through faculty and staff
development activities.
The College is also working to communicate to faculty members and students thepurpose and meaning of the policy or effort for each activity. JUAA hopes that by taking
advantage of the campus rebuild, the College, through a College-wide agreement withexecutives led by the president, will make consistent efforts that will result in significantachievements. JUAA also hopes that the College will achieve additional results by developing
a comprehensive system for making efforts as a united College with the cooperation of thelocal government and the local community.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
It is commendable that the College has not only presented the research achievements butalso engaged in problem-solving activities with the local community, which have been
covered by the local media and have been highly evaluated by the community. For
example, in accordance with its policies of social cooperation and social contribution, theCollege held Open College, or open lectures that present the research achievements offaculty members. Furthermore, the College has focused on the relevance of educational
activities by promoting arts and culture, as well as solving local issues in the prefecturewith the cooperation of students, faculty, and staff. The College has arranged local

3contribution activities (which can be learning opportunities for the students) such asexhibitions, concerts, and service learning initiatives.
Suggestions for Improvement
Education and Research Environment
The library has not hired a librarian or the other staff with expert knowledge as a regularstaff. The College should improve this issue.