Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Professional Graduate Business School Business Studies, Graduate School of Business, Doshisha University
(Accreditation Period: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2029) Accreditation Status: accredited
The unique purpose and mission of Business Studies, Graduate School of Business, Doshisha University (also known as Doshisha Business School, or DBS), are to " To develop leaders who respect human dignity and promote the growth of business organizations based on 'conscience education'— a core value of Doshisha University — and the wisdom of tradition and innovation cultivated in Kyoto."  To fulfill its mission, DBS has prepared and implemented since AY2017 a medium-term plan, a strategic plan, and an action plan for continuous improvement. At present, DBS is executing various initiatives in accordance with the strategic and action plans adopted in AY2023. The Business Studies program strives to impart " conscience education" and " wisdom of tradition and innovation cultivated in Kyoto" as stated in the mission statement, while emphasizing the three learning outcome goals of "R: Responsible management,"  "I: Innovation,"  and "L: Leadership." The program offers a structured curriculum consisting of three subject groups – Common Subject A (a group of basic courses), Common Subject B (a group of courses to build knowledge), and specialized subjects – with each subject group featuring a well-balanced mix of learning content related to the above-described concepts and goals, and the courses organized appropriately according to year level to ensure progressive learning. It is especially notable how DBS ensures that its students are exposed to the concept of "conscience education" from the start by designating Business Management and Conscience as a Common Subject A course. In faculty meetings, teachers share effective ways to teach the concept, and students are encouraged to always pay attention to and consider the meaning of conscience when studying various subjects. The " wisdom of tradition and innovation cultivated in Kyoto" is taught in such courses as Kyoto's Heritage Industry and Cultural Business, Business Creation Management, and Industrial Clusters and Business Location Strategy. These courses include classroom lectures on theory as well as guest speaker events featuring corporate senior management and practitioners from related fields. There are also worksite visits to companies and organizations. This experiential, interactive learning style, made possible not least by the institution being located in Kyoto, is expected to be effective in achieving the goal of training professionals who practice and promote responsible management, innovation, and leadership to build a better society. After having studied these subjects, students proceed to courses such as Introduction to Project Research and Project Research I and II 1 in which they set their own agendas and use the knowledge and concepts previously learned to develop and present concrete solutions in a Solution Report. The strategic structure of DBS's education program, designed to instill the "conscience education" and promote progressive learning, is remarkable. The Business School has various programs and features that support students. For example, class schedules are designed to accommodate working students, and students can enroll in courses both at the home campus and the Osaka Satellite Campus. Libraries and other university facilities are open 24 hours a day. Furthermore, DBS has an extended study policy and offers a wide range of scholarships. There are notable initiatives for the faculty as well, including the faculty council's syllabus and class rubric study sessions, faculty development activities focusing on the "conscience education" and teaching techniques, and the mentor program for new teachers. The mission and learning outcome goals mentioned above are widely shared among teachers and students through daily education activities, which shows that the education program is being delivered effectively. There are several areas of improvement DBS should address, however. The first is the issue of over-enrollment. DBS is reportedly exploring ways to address this problem, including a potential expansion of its capacity in the medium term, but it is advised that remedial action be taken as soon as possible. The second issue is the age distribution of full-time teachers skewed towards older teachers. Faculty members are understandably expected to be highly qualified given that the purpose of the Business Studies Program is to train professionals with advanced expertise and high integrity. From the standpoint of advancing DBS's mission into the future and ensuring further growth of its education program, it is desirable that the Business School actively hire and train younger teachers. Going forward, the Business School is advised to utilize the results of this certified evaluation and accreditation for professional graduate business schools and continue its self-study efforts for improvement, assure and enhance the quality of its education program, and further develop its unique characteristics.