Study on Transition of Accreditation System for Architectural Education in Japan

In recent years, architectural education in Asian countries went throughrapid progress in its internationalization. Accreditation system for architecturaleducation programs became further important in order to providevalidity and equivalency. It will also ensure fluidity for students who try topursue one’s professional study in other countries in the region.The purpose of this study is to provide an overall perspective for the architecturaleducation in Asia. It is also aimed to provide useful insights forimprovements of the accreditation system in Japan.First, an overview of architectural education and accreditation system inAsian countries is provided. Secondly, the basic structure of Japanese accreditationsystem and its recent modifications are reported. Thirdly, effortsof Meiji University toward JABEE accreditation including modification of itscurriculum are described. Lastly, notable points to accommodate the mutuallyrecognizable system in architectural education in Asia are considered.The UNESCO-UIA charter for architectural education has set a basic frameworkfor architectural education programs. Countries, such as Singaporeand Hong Kong, used to adopt the RIBA system and are currently modifyingtheir system in order to assure more compatibility. Korea that used tohave 4-year undergraduate programs, changed the system to provide 5-yearB.Arch. programs to accommodate the requirements. Then, more than thirtyB.Arch. programs have been accreditated by KAAB. In 2008, the CanberraAccord is signed by seven accreditation/validation agencies in pan-pacificcountries. It intends to facilitate the portability of educational credentialsbetween the countries that have equivalent accreditation systems. Aforementionedtrend seems to be moving toward a common platform to assureequivalency of architectural education in the region.In Japan, series of actions were already taken to accommodate the requirements.Joint accreditation system for 4-year undergraduate programs and2-year graduate programs has been developed by JABEE that is an accreditationagency in Japan. Since this agency was established in 1999 to examineprograms in engineering education, its system was originally preparedonly for 4-year undergraduate programs. An accreditation system for 2-yeargraduate programs in architectural design was added later in order to accommodatethe recommendation form UIA. In 2008, first three graduateprograms were evaluated and the JABEE’s reviewing procesure was examinedby UIA. JABEE’s accreditation system obtained conditional recognitionfrom UIA and has started the step toward the truly compatible systemin the world. JABEE has revised its criteria effective in 2012 and tries toincrease accreditated programs.Meiji University where one of the authors is teaching develops a new graduateprogram called “International Program in Architecture and Urban Design(IAUD)” that will start in 2013. Its curriculum is prepared to accommodatethe JABEE’s criteria when it is reviewed together with the existing 4-yearundergraduate program. During the preparation process, the unique characteristicsof the architectural education system in Japan were revealed.It is found important to develop 4+2 program based upon the contextualbackground of Japanese education and to improve it effectively in order tomake it compatible to the common system in other countries.

Volume Editors
Martha Thorne & Xavier Costa

ISBN
978-0-935502-83-1