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

Kushiro Public University of Economics

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Hokkaido, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2017
Accreditation Status: accredited （Accreditation Period: April.01.2018 – March.31.2025）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Kushiro Public University of Economics
Overview
Kushiro Public University of Economics (hereafter, the University) was founded in1988 by the union of 10 local governments in the Kushiro area. It was set up as asingle faculty university with the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics.
Later, the Department of Business Administration was added in 1996, resulting in thepresent organization of one faculty and two departments. With its campus in Kushiro
City in Hokkaido, the University conducts education and research activities based on
its founding principles of community-oriented approach, international outlook andbalance between theory and practice.
After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(JUAA) in 2010, the University has been formulating its degree award policy,curriculum policy, admission policy and various other policies regarding the operationsof the university and undertaking reforms and improvements in a wide range of areas.
It carried out immediate improvements in areas regarding which it received suggestionin the previous review, such as providing learning support for low-scoring students,
creating sequences and systems in specialized subjects, using a uniform syllabus
format, building a mechanism to prevent harassment and establishing a training system
for administrative staff. Moreover, it has also undertaken new initiatives, such assystematic training of faculty by establishing a permanent FD committee, introductionof new curriculum and GPA system, and setting up a career center.
Of the various initiatives started by the University, the efforts of its ResearchCenter for Regional Economics to collaborate with and contribute to society arecommendable for its special nature. The University has built this center as a research
network base for internal and external researchers, and the center has developed
enough to contribute to integrating its research outcomes in policy matters of local
governments.
On the other hand, the University needs to work further on implementing
periodic self-study and creating as well as executing an internal quality assurancesystem. The University is expected to build a continuous self-study system andleverage its special characteristics for making further improvements.

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Notable Strengths
Social Cooperation and Contribution
The Joint Research Project being conducted by the Research Center for Regional
Economics focuses on community-based research in collaboration with local
governments and other external organizations. Apart from actively spreading
information about the research outcomes, the Center also supports their integrationin regional policies by organizing reporting sessions or making presentations to theKushiro city administration. Furthermore, the project also aids human resource
development in the region through its visiting researcher system of inviting
participation from many people belonging to public and private sectors. This
project is commendable as an effort toward realizing the University’s founding
principle of community-oriented approach.

Suggestions for Improvement
Internal Quality Assurance
Although the University is carrying out self-study under a self-study committee as
required by regulations, its efforts are limited to the suggestions made by theaccreditation review and the university as whole cannot be said to have been
carrying out periodic self-study. It should conduct periodic self-study and create aswell as implement an internal quality assurance system to connect the results tofuture improvements.