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

Josai University

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: Private

Location: Saitama, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2023
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2031）

Josai University

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Josai University

Overview
Josai University, founded on the spirit of “character building through learning,” defines
its principle as “to cultivate talented human resources for society and contribute to thedevelopment of human culture.” The University sets forth the educational and research
purpose “to teach and research knowledge and specialized arts and sciences, and tocultivate human resources who can contribute to the local and international communities
in an active and cooperative way a broad range of knowledge, in-depth expertise, andskills by fostering intellectual and moral abilities.” Based on its founding spirit, theuniversity corporation formulated the Josai University Educational Corporation MediumTerm Plan (2020-2024) (hereafter “Midterm Plan”) in 2020 with the mission of fostering
independent-minded human resources who respect diverse values. Under this plan, theUniversity has laid out its Midterm Plan with ten specific targets that include “Enhancingof Education and Research” and “strengthening regional contribution.” Moreover, theUniversity formulates its annual activity plan and strives to enhance its educational andresearch activities by presenting the key items to focus on during the year for each target
in the Midterm Plan.
To undertake the above educational and research activities, all faculties andgraduate schools have appropriately designed their curricula based on the diploma andcurriculum policies. Lectures, seminars, and practical training are adopted according to
the types of subjects as appropriate lesson methods of teaching the knowledge and skills
students should acquire by the time of course completion, as stated in the educational andresearch objectives. Active learning, problem-based learning, and other approaches arealso used to encourage students’ active participation. In terms of community cooperation,
the University has presented its activity plans through the Josai Collaborative Learning
and Innovation Project (J-CLIP) with the aim of making community-engaged educational,
research, and social contributions. Major community challenges are classified into six
projects based on past activities, and relevant subjects are newly established asCommunity-Engaged Learning Subjects for all students to learn about community issues
in specific ways. This is a commendable initiative leading to fostering human resources
who can contribute to the local community as stated in the educational and research
purpose and the medium-term plan.

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Josai University

Regarding the University’s internal quality assurance, a new internal quality
assurance system was developed and began operating in AY2023, with the UniversityWide Inspection and Assessment Committee (hereafter “University-Wide Committee”)
and the Teaching and Learning Management Meeting positioned as organizations
responsible for promoting the university-wide internal quality assurance. However, theJosai University Self-Inspection and Assessment Regulations does not stipulate theposition and role of the Teaching and Learning Management Meeting. The roles andcoordination of the University-Wide Committee and the University Management Meeting,which is tasked with reflecting the inspection and assessment results in the University’sannual and medium- to long-term plans, are unclear as well. The University should
address this situation by reviewing the policies and procedures pertaining to internal
quality assurance, clarifying the roles of the organizations responsible for promotinginternal quality assurance, and improving the internal quality assurance system thatorganically coordinates with the faculties, graduate schools, and other organizations.
There are several other areas of improvement the University should address.
First, measures to ensure credit validity are ineffective in some faculties. Some
departments and graduate schools have low ratios of student enrollment to the student
enrollment cap, while certain departments have low average ratios of freshmanenrollment to the freshman enrollment cap over the past five years. Efforts should bemade to fulfill the student enrollment quotas. In terms of education and research
environment, the University should develop a system and mechanism for securing
research hours for faculty members based on the Education and Research Environment
Development Policy. As for faculty organization, the required number of full-time
professors fell below the Standards for Establishment of Universities in some academicyears, with similar cases pointed out in JUAA’s previous certified evaluation andaccreditation results. The University is expected to explore well-planned personnel
recruitment and promotion from a medium- to long-term perspective.
In the years ahead, the University should make efforts under the newly
developed internal quality assurance system to address the issues identified in the selfstudy results as well as items pointed out in JUAA’s latest university evaluation. The
University is expected to resolve these problems and further enhance its distinctive
initiatives.
Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution

2Josai University The University has long engaged in community contribution activities to overcome
challenges in cooperation with local governments and businesses, and advanced its
past initiatives as the Josai Collaborative Learning and Innovation Project (J-CLIP).
J-CLIP newly positions seminars and other sessions involving collaboration between
students and community members as Community-Engaged Learning Subjects. It iscommendable that the University creates opportunities for students to be involved incommunity challenges before graduation in an effort to cultivate human resources
who can contribute to the community in an active, collaborative way as stated in theeducational and research purpose.

Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance The University has conducted inspections and assessments under a new internal
quality assurance system since AY2023, with the Teaching and Learning
Management Meeting positioned as an organization in charge of internal quality
assurance. However, the Josai University Self-Inspection and Assessment
Regulations does not stipulate the meeting body’s position and role. The roles andcoordination of the University Management Meeting and the University-WideCommittee, both playing a key part in promoting internal quality assurance, areunclear as well. The University should review the policies and procedures pertaining
to internal quality assurance, clarify the roles of the organizations responsible forpromoting internal quality assurance, and improve the internal quality assurance
system that organically coordinates with the faculties, graduate schools, and otherorganizations.
Educational Program and Learning Outcomes The maximum number of credits students can register for in a year is specified, but
the Faculty of Science permits students to register for credits exceeding the upper
limit when taking free elective subjects related to qualifications, resulting in many
students taking courses that surpass the credit cap. Faculty members in charge of freeelective subjects instruct these students to study outside of class hours, but this3Josai University

measure insufficiently ensures credit validity. This issue should be addressed in lightof the purpose of the credit system.
Student Enrollment
 The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.84 in theDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, 0.89 in the School of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and 0.82 in the Department ofClinical Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy and PharmaceuticalSciences. The average ratios of freshman enrollment to the freshman enrollment cap
over the past five years are also low at 0.88 in the School of Pharmacy, Faculty ofPharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and 0.81 in the Department of Clinical
Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
These ratios should be improved with the faculties’ student quotas thoroughlymanaged.
 The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.43 in theMaster’s Program in the Graduate School of Science and 0.29 in the Doctoral
Program in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. These ratios should beimproved with the graduate schools’ student quotas thoroughly managed.
Education and Research Environment
The system and mechanism for securing research hours for faculty members are
inadequately developed. Efforts should be made based on the Education andResearch Environment Development Policy to create an environment that facilitates
their educational and research activities.

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