FY2003 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [1.2.3(2)]

The recommendations referred to earlier were based on the fact that in major advanced countries, university evaluation has been positioned as an important part of the reform effort. In response to this, from FY2004, in all national, public and private universities, a system for undergoing periodic evaluation of the state of education and research activities in the university by a third-party evaluation organization (certified evaluation organization), which has been certified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, will be introduced. Under this system, the evaluation organizations publicly disclose the evaluation results and this encourages universities to undergo evaluation by society and make their own improvements based on the evaluation results. The system aims to improve the quality of university education and research.

This evaluation consists of two types. Beginning in FY2004, it will be necessary for all universities to undergo evaluation by an institution as in 1) below, and it will be necessary for universities establishing a professional graduate school to undergo the professional graduate school evaluation in 2) below, in addition to evaluation by the institution.

Evaluation carried out concerning the general state of universities, such as their education and research, organization and management, facilities and equipment, and other aspects, in light of the philosophies and targets of each university.

2) Professional graduate school evaluation (evaluation concerning the state of education and research activities of professional graduate schools, carried out as evaluation by academic field)

Evaluation of the state of curriculum, educator organization and other education and research activities in professional graduate schools carrying out practical education to train human resources possessing advanced specialized professional skills, in light of their establishment aims. It is implemented within every five years.

The third-party evaluation organization that implements this evaluation (a certified evaluation organization that has received certification from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) is an institution that implements evaluation based on evaluation standards it stipulates itself, and institutions trying to receive certification can receive certification if they meet the following conditions:

a) The evaluation standards and evaluation methods stipulated by the evaluation organization itself can be used to carry out appropriate and accurate evaluation based on this system.
b) The necessary structures have been prepared to ensure fair, appropriate and accurate implementation of evaluation.
c) An opportunity is given for universities to state their opinion concerning the results of the certified evaluation before public disclosure of the evaluation results.
d) The institution must be a corporation, etc. possessing the accounting basis necessary to carry out evaluation appropriately, accurately and smoothly.
e) If certification has been revoked, at least two years must have passed from the date of revocation.
f) There are no other concerns that fair, appropriate and accurate implementation of certified evaluation will be impeded.

Evaluation based on this system does not require the carrying out of certification of eligibility, namely, certification of whether specific standards stipulated by the evaluation organization have been achieved, as is carried out in the United States. It is necessary for each evaluation organization to take into account the best form of evaluation to promote the building of universities of radiant individuality, based sufficiently on the fact that the philosophies and distinctiveness of universities are diverse. At the same time, it is important to allow universities to undergo evaluation from an evaluation organization they choose themselves, as required by their own activities, by having the various third-party evaluation organizations make the most of their own special qualities to implement evaluation.


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