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

Osaka University of Economics

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PrivateLocation: Osaka, Japan

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

Osaka University of Economics

Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Osaka University of Economics

Overview
Osaka University of Economics defines its founding philosophy as “freedom andharmony,” and its teaching and learning philosophy as “humanistic practical learning.”
The University conducts educational and research activities with the purpose of“imparting a broad range of knowledge, conducting in-depth specialized academic
teaching and research, and developing intellectual, moral, and applied abilities to produce
the outcomes of practical education with a rich sense of humanity, thereby contributing
to the development of society.” To achieve its principles, purposes (including those of its
faculties and graduate schools), and other objectives, the University formulated “DAIKEI2032” in AY2018 as a medium- to long-term plan and has engaged in educational andresearch reforms.
Regarding internal quality assurance, the University operates two systems foreducation-related aspects and for university management. The University-Wide Internal
Quality Assurance Promotion Meeting (hereafter “Promotion Meeting”) is positioned as
an organization promoting the internal quality assurance of education and other activities,
while the University Management Internal Quality Assurance Promotion Meeting(hereafter “University Management Promotion Meeting”) serves as an organization
promoting the internal quality assurance of university management. The internal quality
assurance of education and other activities handles policies and plans, including three
diploma, curriculum, and admission policies, as well as medium-term plans, and eachdivision conducts a self-study on the status of these initiatives. The internal quality
assurance of university management deals with policies and plans for items related touniversity management in the University Standards and activity plans, and organizations
involved in university management conduct self-studies. The progress status of these selfstudies is reported to the University-Wide Self-Study Committee or the University
Management Self-Study Committee. These committees conduct self-studies from a
university-wide perspective and report to the Promotion Meeting or the University
Management Promotion Meeting. The Promotion Meeting revises the activity plans andinstructs the faculties and graduate schools to make improvements through the next
academic year’s activity plan in an effort to enhance the University’s education.
As for education, all faculties and graduate schools have appropriately designed

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Osaka University of Economics

their curricula based on the diploma and curriculum policies. The faculties haveintroduced curriculum maps with related lesson subjects diagrammed and course charts
clarified for students to take courses in a systematic and sequential way. Many students
sign up for seminar subjects to develop their presentation and communication skills
through practical activities. In terms of extracurricular activities, the University has longorganized the “ZEMI-1 Grand Prix,” a cross-faculty contest in which seminar groupscompete with their presentation skills and research outcomes. During the coronavirus
pandemic the quality of these activities was maintained through various approaches,
including adopting an online format, and the contest has become well-established as amajor event among members of the University. It is commendable that these initiatives
help enhance seminar activities across the university and foster students’ presentation
abilities.
Among the other distinctive initiatives are social contribution activities, suchas “Daikeidai Kids College” and “Daikeidai Classroom,” in which the University’s
students provide sports and study support to local elementary and junior high school
students. (Daikeidai is an abbreviation of the University’s name in Japanese.)
Furthermore, the University collaborates with the Osaka Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprise Management Consultant Association to establish the Registered Management
Consultant Training Course, and the Institute for Research in Economic History of Japancooperates with overseas research institutes and researchers, and holds popular “KokushoJuku” lectures for working people. The University undertakes other social cooperationand contribution activities in conjunction with its educational activities, such as
introducing project-based learning (PBL) to lessons, with the aim of revitalizing the localcommunity.
There is one area of improvement the University should address, however. The
graduate schools have low ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap insome programs, and should appropriately manage their student quotas.
In the years ahead, the University is expected to organically link the results ofvarious student surveys gathered and analyzed by the Teaching and Learning IRPromotion Office to faculty development (FD) activities, as well as the External
Evaluation Committee and other bodies, under the new internal quality assurance system,and to make continued improvements by further enhancing its outstanding and distinctiveinitiatives.

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Osaka University of Economics

Notable Strengths
Student Support
 The University has made continuous efforts to organize the ZEMI-1 Grand Prix, across-faculty presentation contest in which seminar groups compete with theirresearch outcomes. During the coronavirus pandemic the contest was held byadopting an online format and other approaches. This initiative has led to increasing
students’ learning motivation and presentation skills, activating collaborative
learning among students, and representing the University’s forte described as“Daikeidai Known for Seminars.” In addition, the contestants deepen their researchwith opinions presented by local business people participating as contest judges. The
University’s efforts to further enhance its seminar activities are commendable.
Suggestions for Improvement
Student Enrollment
 The ratios of student enrollment to the student enrollment cap in AY2022 are low at0.40 in the master’s degree program in the Graduate School of Economics, 0.20 in
the doctoral degree program in the Graduate School of Economics, and 0.40 in themaster’s degree program in the Graduate School of Business Information System.
These ratios should be improved with the graduate schools’ student quotas
thoroughly managed.

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