QAA renews Memorandum of Understanding with National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education, Japan

QAA has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE), the agency responsible for evaluation in Japanese higher education and serving as Japan’s national information centre.

Through the Memorandum of Understanding, QAA and NIAD-QE will continue to share information about each other’s activities and priorities, as well as relevant developments, opportunities and challenges in each other’s higher education systems. The partnership will provide continued high-level intelligence for QAA Members about regulatory developments and opportunities for collaboration in Japanese higher education.

The partnership focuses on shared areas of interest such as academic integrity. It builds upon QAA’s established partnership with NIAD-QE, first cemented in 2007 through the signing of our initial agreement, which led to collaboration across a range of activities including in the development of our Country Report on Japan and accompanying webinar for QAA International Insights Members last year. The agreement is signed by QAA in its capacity supporting the enhancement of higher education internationally, including activity to support QAA Members and collaboration with international partners.

Speaking upon signing the agreement, QAA’s Chief Executive, Vicki Stott said: ‘Building upon our longstanding partnership, QAA is delighted to renew our agreement with NIAD-QE, signalling the continued value of UK-Japan higher education collaboration. We look forward to continuing to work together over the next few years, yielding improved opportunities for the higher education sectors in both our jurisdictions.’

Dr Hideki Fukuda, President of NIAD-QE commented: ‘With this opportunity to renew our Memorandum of Understanding for the 4th period, we at NIAD-QE hope to accelerate information sharing and the staff development, based on the strong partnership with QAA. We must respond to the rapidly changing needs of higher education and the quality assurance sector. Collaboration is the key to overcoming the pandemic. We would like to continue to share expertise, knowledge and good practices with QAA, collaborating to further strengthen higher education both in UK and Japan.’

The Memorandum of Understanding will last for five years, with the potential of an extension upon the agreement of both parties.