The environment surrounding higher education in Japan has changed considerably with such factors as the spread of globalization, the declining birthrate and structural changes in industry and society. Quality assurance and improvement, and international recognition of higher education are now more important than ever throughout higher education. This is why the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE) was established in 2016. It was established through the merger of the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation and the Center for National University Finance and Management.
To further strengthen its university support functions, NIAD-QE is taking the opportunity presented by this merger to reaffirm its mission and role, and its basic goals. Thus, it has adopted the NIAD-QE Charter as a guideline for all members, and NIAD-QE pledges to live up to society’s expectations.

April 1, 2023

Roles of NIAD-QE

NIAD-QE supports improvements in the quality of higher education in Japan, which contribute to the development of Japanese higher education: the evaluation of universities and colleges, the awarding of academic degrees, cooperation in quality assurance, studies and research on all of these topics, and the provision of loans and grants for facilities at national university corporations. In addition, by providing subsidies, NIAD-QE encourages the expansion of education and research activities in fields where support is deemed particularly necessary in order to cultivate personnel in the medium- to long-term, thereby contributing to the development of Japanese society as a whole.

1. Conducting evaluations with international recognition
   NIAD-QE is a pioneer in the development of evaluation systems in Japan: It is a core third-party evaluation organization that evaluates the status of education and research activities at universities and colleges in Japan. NIAD-QE both develops advanced evaluations with wide international recognition, and conducts those evaluations. NIAD-QE also promotes cooperation with evaluation organizations in Japan and overseas.


2. Providing opportunities to obtain an academic degree based on diverse learning outcomes
   NIAD-QE offers an increasingly diverse array of learners the opportunity to obtain an academic degree: It is Japan’s only non-university body that awards academic degrees. This contributes to the transition to a system of lifelong learning and diverse development of higher education.


3. Cooperating with universities, colleges, and quality assurance organizations
   NIAD-QE, in cooperation with universities, colleges, and quality assurance organizations in Japan and overseas, engages in activities related to quality assurance in higher education with these goals: contributing to improving the quality of education and research at universities and colleges in Japan, reinforcing the management base of national university corporations, assuring the international reputation of higher education and ensuring the international recognition of qualifications related to higher education, including academic degrees.


4. Promoting studies and research
   NIAD-QE promotes primary research for the projects mentioned above, and practical research to verify these projects. NIAD-QE also conducts selective studies, and through its research on policy issues related to quality assurance, it contributes to the enhancement of quality assurance in Japanese higher education.


5. Providing loans and grants for facilities at national university corporations, etc.
   NIAD-QE helps to enhance the education and research environment at national university corporations, etc., aiming to improve finance and management by providing loans and grants for the development of facilities, thereby contributing to the promotion of education and research at national university corporations, etc.


6. Subsidizing for organizational changes at universities and colleges
   NIAD-QE has used a government subsidy to establish a fund from which it provides universities and colleges with subsidies in accordance with basic guidelines prescribed by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and NIAD-QE’s own implementation policy. By providing these subsidies, NIAD-QE encourages the expansion of education and research activities in fields where support is deemed particularly necessary in order to cultivate personnel in the medium- to long-term.

The Management Policy of NIAD-QE

1. Undertaking duties to ensure effective management
   As an incorporated administrative agency, NIAD-QE never forgets that it has been entrusted with its duties by the citizens of Japan, and will carry them out. This will ensure that NIAD-QE achieves its mid-term objectives and mid term plan. In addition, NIAD-QE aims to make improvements and revisions based on ceaseless self-assessment, and it will strive to guarantee, effective management, while also seeking to improve the quality of its operations.


2. Working with Colleagues involved with universities
   NIAD-QE is an organization founded as an inter-university research institute. It cooperates with universities and colleges to undertake projects that universities cannot do alone.


3. Ensuring neutrality, fairness, and transparency
   NIAD-QE ensures neutrality, fairness, and transparency in the execution of its duties, and gains the understanding of those involved in higher education, and other diverse parties. It aims to gain the trust of society. It emphasizes compliance, respect for human rights, and the protection of information. In addition, through proactive dissemination and disclosure of information, NIAD-QE informs society of its activities’ results, always ensuring transparency. In particular, while working closely with universities, colleges, and quality assurance organizations, NIAD-QE maintains neutrality by constantly maintaining awareness of differences in levels of information disclosure.


4. Strengthening internal controls and encouraging closer staff-faculty partnerships
   NIAD-QE seeks to strengthen internal controls under the leadership of its President. In order to carry out its duties, NIAD-QE encourages closer relationships between staff and faculty members, thus maximizing the organization’s combined strength.

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