Self-monitoring and self-evaluation, and education and research vis-àvis university archives

Abstract

In recent years, university archives have been established at national universities in Japan. The predecessors of such university archives were the editorial offices responsible for the publication of university histories. In 1991, the official requirements for the establishment of a university were amended to provide for “self-monitoring and self-evaluation”. At that time, it was stated, “compilation of university histories is an aspect of self-monitoring and self-evaluation, and in order to achieve those two objectives, it is necessary to establish university archives”. In this paper, I reflect upon that remark. Furthermore, I argue that university archives should accumulate “educational and research”materials and information. Lastly, I endeavour to define the institutional characteristics of university archives.