Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

Updated on Jun 02 2023

Goals of the Institute
  The single most urgent issue for society and the students entering (or wishing to enter) private universities right now can be said to be the extent to which those universities make use of their unique strengths to enhance the quality of education they offer.  
  Kokugakuin University is now faced with the expectations that it will train students in the basic and fundamental skills that will allow a wide range of diverse students to enjoy a smooth educational experience, provide “added value” to students in line with their desires and demands, and send out into the world talented human resources that possess the basic capabilities expected of any member of society, all based on the University’s efforts to strengthen and enhance education through its policies, including its founding spirit.  
  Put another way, there are now strong expectations that the universities once widely recognized as “research” institutions will do more to be recognized as “educational” institutions. The world is looking to Kokugakuin University for innovation that will enable each member of the University to fully expend their efforts for education, and that will allow for the further development of the capabilities of our educators as they work to meet the new expectations of society.
  The Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning was established in order to advance work to improve the educational capabilities of the University, encourage organization-wide initiatives, and meet demands for the creation of organizations that can take charge of promoting the development of curricula.

Current Situation of the University 
  The following all-university issues are currently recognized by the university and being worked on.

  • First year education (introductory education)
  • Learning that includes consideration for the basic and fundamental proficiencies needed by members of society
  • The formulation of curricula that incorporates the founding spirit of Kokugakuin University

There is a need to quickly create programs for these issues, and reflect the work being done on them in curricula. The necessity for this has been discussed by the University’s Board of Directors. There is the expectation that the above issues will be consistently researched, and that organizational initiatives will be carried out to create programs on them.  
  In addition, it is vital that there be a division created that can take responsibility for matters such as required FD activities, learning consultations (which frequently require more and more detailed responses), and the fostering of human resources that can be successful in an international setting.  
  A wide range of data was collected and analyzed last year on education. It has been pointed out that there is a need for an organization that can establish collaborations, centering on the tenants of Education IR that are being reflected in University policies, between those working on “enrollment management,” which is a comprehensive student support policy that offers support based on the analysis of data on trends from the point at which prospective students say they want to enter the University to the point at which they graduate and find work, and those working on educational support. There is also the need for this organization to work on initiatives for University-wide educational development promotion support from the perspective of the need to foster human resources that can meet the expectations that society has had in recent years related to work in the international community.

Organization and Structure

  • Managing Committee
  • Committees in Each Center

  In order to realize the above goals, this Institute has established a Managing Committee comprised of the Faculty Deans, the University President, and the Vice-deans of each faculty, with the Director of this Institute as its Chair. This Committee in turn has created Centers that work to advance specific projects.
The committee has established five centers: 1) The Educational Development Center, which advances FD activities, support for education and skills development, and Educational IR; 2) The Common Educational Center, which conducts studies related to learning, develops, establishes, and executes curricula, considers and establishes first-year (introductory) educational programs, and establishes, operates, and evaluates qualification courses; 3) The Study Support Center, which conducts support sessions for students about their studies, supports the education of students with disabilities, and conducts remedial education development programs; 4) The Language Learning Center (LLC), which promotes support related to the independent study of foreign languages, including foreign language learning support, which is set up to facilitate plans for extra-curricular foreign language classes and study abroad programs. 5) The Teachers’ Center, which provides comprehensive support related to education and job searches for students hoping to become educatorsThe committee members of each of these centers are selected from the faculties and offices that work with them. These committee members plan and discuss the projects that each center carries out.

Organizational Structure of the Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

Institute Director
Educational Development Center Chair
Teachers’ Center Chair, Prof. Kazuo Shibasaki

Institute Deputy Directors
Study Support Center Chair Associate Prof. Kouichi Shouji

Common Educational Center Prof. Keiko Ohkubo

Language Learning Center Prof. Hidemi Higuchi

・Full-time Professors Collaborative Professors
 Currently, teachers from each faculty who have been involved for many years in the academic management of the University, including educational and FD activities, student support, and international exchanges, have been assigned to positions as the heads of each organization and center. They fulfill these duties concomitantly with their teaching duties. More than 10 young and middle-aged researchers have been dispatched through this system as associate professors, who are working to effectively promote the projects of this Institute and each center.
 These teachers collaborate and cooperate with relevant offices, and based on that, promote and implement project plans drawn up by the Managing Committees and the committees of each center related to matters such as the support of educational development and learning. Through such efforts, they work to establish an educational system that further realizes the founding spirit of Kokugakuin University.

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