Given the ongoing birthrates declination and the increasing needs for lifelong learning, shift to the adult education is one of the most realistic ways for many HEIs in Japan. However, when it comes to the present situation, there is an unignorable gap in the understandings between HEIs and the society, and this might be an obstacle to the successful lifelong learning. This paper will describe the landscape in Japan and focus on the efforts by the Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA) to bridge HEIs and the society. In its conclusion, this paper will review the results of the efforts and some remaining issues.

The EQA bodies are, in a sense, the “intermediators,” because they evaluate and accredit the HEIs or the programs so that the society could have more clear and adequate pictures of the HEIs. Given this as a core role of the EQA bodies, there might be any other works more for EQA bodies as an “intermediators.” The authors would like to discuss this issue with taking a case in Japan. In so doing the authors aim to find answers or any keys to the answers to the question, “how a quality assurance might contribute to delivering system level policy intent or reform.”

Assistant Director of the Research and Planning Division, Japan University Accreditation Association, Japan.  

She is engaged in planning the accreditation procedures, publishing the journal, and some research activities as a staff.