University Accreditation Results (Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for university) Kobe Shoin Women's University
(Accreditation Period: April.01.2016 – March.31.2023)

Overview
Kobe Shoin University (hereafter, the University) has its origin in Shoin School for Girls, which was established in 1892 by missionaries from the Church of England to teach English and sewing ( wasai, Japanese-style sewing). In 1966, the school became Shoin Women's University, established as a college with a single faculty, the Faculty of Letters. In 1995, Shoin Women's University changed its name to Kobe Shoin Women's University, and has since set up new departments and reorganized existing ones. Now, the University consists of two faculties with seven departments, along with one graduate school with four programs (three master’s and one doctoral). Its campus is located in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and it has developed its education and research activities based on its founding spirit of "the Christian spirit of compassion for others" and its educational missions of “the Christian spirit,” “liberal and practical arts,” and “career education." The University has focused on both liberal arts education (in particular, English) and practical skills (sewing) from its beginnings, while aiming at integrating foreign and Japanese cultures at the same time. After its accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA) in 2009, the University has made efforts towards quality assurance. Notably, the University has focused on creating an annual action plan in which the University’s missions and purposes are offered in concrete terms and presenting it t o all faculty members each year. In 2011, the University reorganized the departments in the Faculty of Letters. During this accreditation process, it has been shown that, in the area of education content and methods, the University has made efforts to improve the faculty’s teaching through "Faculty Development (FD) Week," in which classes are open to teachers, staff and observed for one week. However, the University still has several issues to address. A shortage of enrolled students has continued in the Faculty of Letters even after the reorganization. Some programs in the Graduate School of Letters have not created research instruction plans that clarify the methods and content of research instruction. JUAA expects that the University will examine these matters and make improvements.
Notable Strengths
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome ● It is commendable that the University’s faculty development (FD) activities are deeply established. In particular, during the one-week open class period (FD Week), all faculty members are (in principle) requested to open their classes to teachers and staff. Every year, many faculty members observe each other’s classes and afterward share with each other comments about the classes. In addition, the results of the questionnaire administered during the open classes are distributed in the FD workshop. Social Cooperation and Contribution ● It is commendable that the University has, based on its principles, embarked on activities to cooperate with and contribute to the local community. In particular, the University has vigorously taken part in community cooperation activities involving its students, such as the KIZUNĂ seminar and the Kobe NISANGAROKU project. Moreover, responding to requests made by the community, the University has offered intensive French language courses to nurture practical French skills for more than thirty years.
Suggestion for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome ● The Japanese Language and Literature program in the Graduate School of Letters, does not sufficiently inform students about research instruction plans. This should be improved.
Area of Serious Concern
Enrollment ● In the Faculty of Letters, the averages of the ratios of the last five years of enrolled freshmen to the freshman admission cap and the ratio of enrolled students to the student enrollment cap are low at 0.74 and 0.77, respectively. In the Department of English in the Faculty of Letters, these ratios are also low at 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. In the Department of Japanese Language and Culture in the same Faculty, these ratios are also low at 0.78 and 0.75. In the Department of English in the same Faculty, these ratios are again low at 0.72 and 0.75, respectively. This situation must be corrected.