The Okayama University School of Medicine has undergone its second round of accreditation review by the Japan Accreditation Council for Medical Education (JACME) and has once again been granted accreditation.

To align Japan’s medical education with the international standards set by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), the Japan Accreditation Council for Medical Education (JACME) began conducting accreditation reviews of medical schools based on these international standards starting in the 2013 academic year. Universities that receive this accreditation are recognized for meeting global standards in medical education, and their graduates become eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

The Okayama University School of Medicine underwent its first round of accreditation review in 2016, during which it was confirmed that the school met international standards. As the first accreditation period was set to expire on March 31, 2024, the school underwent its second-round review in the 2023 academic year. After conducting a self-assessment, the university was visited by a team of seven evaluators from JACME between May 16 and May 19, 2023, based on the self-assessment report previously submitted to JACME. Following the review of the self-assessment report and the on-site evaluation, Okayama University School of Medicine was officially recognized as meeting international standards in medical education, with the certification issued on January 19, 2024.

The purpose of the accreditation review process is to enable each medical school to reflect on its educational programs, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the quality of education based on external evaluations. Continuous self-assessment and improvement are essential. Moving forward, the Okayama University School of Medicine will build upon the strengths highlighted in the evaluation report and address the recommendations and suggestions for improvement.

 

Field-Specific Evaluation of Medical Education Based on International Standards
(Past Initiatives)

【 First Round of Accreditation Review】
– **April 2016**: Submitted the “2016 Self-Assessment Evaluation Report” to the Japan Accreditation Council for Medical Education (JACME)
– **June 2016**: Conducted on-site evaluation based on the “2016 Self-Assessment Evaluation Report”
– **March 2017**: JACME recognized as an accrediting body by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
– **2018**: Submitted an “Improvement Report” to JACME for reevaluation, detailing the progress made since the 2016 on-site evaluation, following JACME’s recognition by WFME
– **January 2020**: Officially accredited, receiving an “Evaluation Report” and a certificate (in both Japanese and English) from JACME
(Accreditation period: April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2024)
– Submitted annual progress reports to JACME each year, addressing areas for improvement highlighted in the “Evaluation Report”
– **December 2020**: Submitted the “2020 Annual Progress Report”
– **August 2021**: Submitted the “2021 Annual Progress Report”
– **August 2022**: Submitted the “2022 Annual Progress Report”

【Second Round of Accreditation Review】
– **March 2023**: Submitted the “2023 Self-Assessment Evaluation Report” to JACME
– **May 2023**: Conducted on-site evaluation based on the “2023 Self-Assessment Evaluation Report”
– **January 2024**: Officially accredited, receiving an “Evaluation Report” and a certificate (in both Japanese and English) from JACME
(Accreditation period: February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2031)
– Submitted annual progress reports to JACME each year, addressing areas for improvement highlighted in the “Evaluation Report”
– **August 2024**: Submitted the “2024 Annual Progress Report” to confirm and report on progress
– Continuous self-evaluation and improvement efforts will be maintained in the future

Responsible Department:

Instruction and Student Section Okayama University Medical School