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

Kochi University of Technology
Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Kochi, Japan

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

Related Links
Kochi University of Technology: http://www.kochi-tech.ac.jp/kut_E/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 Kochi University of Technology
Notable Strengths
Faculty and faculty organization

It is commendable that the Kochi University of Technology has implemented aFaculty Evaluation System with clearly defined evaluation criteria. In particular, theevaluation system has helped the university to build a culture in which faculty
members pursue research and contribute to society under their own volition. It has
also incorporated viewpoints from various educational evaluations, leading tooverall improvement in the educational dimension of the university.

Enrollment
It is commendable that the university discloses its examination criteria to applicants.
For example, the Entrance Examination Guide, which is given to prospective
undergraduate applicants, includes entrance examination questions from theprevious year with explanations of the intent of the questions for each subject. The
guide also discloses content of entrance examinations in theadmission-on-recommendation procedure for all Schools, with a clear indication ofscreening criteria.

Education and research environment
It is commendable that the university has proven results in promoting research. For
example, hiring postdoctoral fellows as research assistant professors devoting
themselves to research has enhanced the university’s research capabilities.
Establishing the Research Development Coordinator Office and hiring contractual
instructors have also attracted abundant external funding.

It is commendable that the university encourages faculty research. For example,
when individual faculty acquired grant-in-aid for scientific research, the university
provides 50% of the value (not including that allotted to other institutions) of the
grant in the following year (within the limit of JPY 5 million per person). Making
the most of the quarter system, it has created a sabbatical quarter, enabling faculty
to focus on their research and professional development by providing time forfaculty to devote themselves exclusively to their studies.

Social cooperation and contribution
It is commendable that the university has made efforts to contribute to the localcommunity. For example, in 2011, the university established the Kochi Universityof Technology Earthquake Tsunami Disaster Prevention Study Group, which uses
supercomputers to simulate possible earthquake (and other) damages with extreme
precision so as to provide advice to local governments. This has contributed to local
government efforts to forecast the effectiveness of disaster prevention plans forhuge earthquakes such as the predicted Nankai Trough Earthquake.

It is commendable that the university has been actively supporting research. For
example, the Center for Research Collaboration in the Research Organization for
Regional Alliances has six research groups, each proceeding with their own specificacademia-industry-government cooperation projects. Such projects, including joint

3and contract research, have led to external funding and the development of systems
for practical use with visible results. Research groups that have achieved
meritorious results are rewarded with research support grants from the President’s
Discretionary Fund.
Suggestions for Improvement
Educational content, methods, and outcome

The policies for granting degrees have not been stipulated in each School andGraduate School, and the principles for curriculum design and implementation toachieve such educational goals have not been specified. The university should
formulate these policies and publicize them to the student body and the public.

The level of detail varies in syllabi for each School and Graduate School. Some do
not include a weekly schedule or criteria for grading. This should be improved.

In the master’s and doctoral programs of the Graduate School of Engineering,
criteria for examining theses and dissertations have not been specified. Criteria
should be specifically indicated in the Student Handbook (and other handbooks)
and made available to students.

In the doctoral program of the Graduate School of Engineering, some students
complete all the requirements except the dissertation, and leave the university
before completing the dissertation requirement within the time limit set by theuniversity. Later, when these students submit their dissertations, even though theydo not have enrollment status, they are granted doctoral degrees in the same manneras those students continuously enrolled. This is an inappropriate use of the system.
The university should modify the way it addresses these cases and, in accordancewith the purpose of a course-based doctoral program, should create measures toencourage degree completion.

Enrollment
The university has general admission policies; however, each School, Faculty, andGraduate School does not have its own policies. Each academic unit should clarify
and publicize them.

Internal quality assurance
A body that discusses and decides matters related to each School, Faculty, andGraduate School has not been defined. The university conducts self-studies throughcouncils and departmental faculty meetings held at the discretion of each group.
These entities are not defined by regulations, and their relationship with otheroffices (such as the Council for Self-studies and Evaluations) is not clear. Thus, theJapan University Accreditation Association cannot conclude that a system ofinternal self-study exists. This needs to be improved.