Policy Assessment of Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Abstract

　 The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the nature of policy assessment concerned with “quality assurance” within the framework of the higher education system of Japan. It examines “quality assurance” in higher education from three viewpoints, adding “Contents” (the educational process) to the commonly cited concepts of “Entrance” (admission approval) and “Exit” (Graduation).

　 The deregulation and liberalization of the Japanese higher education system have advanced since the outline of university establishment standards was issued as a formal criterion in 1991. Stimulated by factors such as the occurrence of scandals, etc., the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology carries out periodic reviews, and has moved in the direction of tightening regulation of the admission approval (entrance) procedures. On the other hand, insufficient attention has been paid to cooperation and complementarity between entrance admission systems and accreditation systems (contents). This is a situation in which more thought needs to be given to quality assurance in relation to such matters as “linkage” and “articulation” with other systems (degree from an institution in another country, short-term higher education course, transfer from a high school advanced course, etc.). Achievement of a consensus on such matters as the “outcome of learning” in a concrete content, the methodology of the measurement of study results, and the establishment of standards are indispensable prerequisites for improvement of quality assurance in the higher education system of Japan. A quality assurance policy in higher education cannot be expected to yield results in the absence of cooperation with various adjacent systems.