TWAEA RESEARCH FELLOW KAZUYO HARA SHARES INSIGHTS ON AUTONOMOUS QUALITY ASSURANCE AT SPOD FORUM 2026

2026-09-15

SPOD Forum 2026, jointly organized by Shikoku Professional and Organizational Development in Higher Education (SPOD) and Ehime University, was held in Japan from August 26 to 28, 2026. Under the theme “The Future of Higher Education Transformed by Digital Technology,” the Forum featured keynote presentations, workshops, and interactive sessions. These sessions explored how rapidly evolving digital technologies are reshaping higher education, as well as how university faculty and staff can adapt to these changes while continuing to strengthen their professional capabilities and enhance teaching and administrative quality.

SPOD has long been committed to supporting the professional development of university faculty and staff through a wide range of Faculty Development (FD) and Staff Development (SD) programs, providing a platform for cross-institutional and interdisciplinary learning and professional exchange. This year’s Forum expanded participation to include students, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders. Their diverse perspectives enriched discussions on how digital transformation impacts campuses, curricula, pedagogy, and institutional structures, while highlighting the core competencies higher education professionals will need in the future.

At this year’s Forum, Kazuyo Hara, Research Fellow at the Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA), was invited to speak at the Top Leader Seminar, where she delivered a presentation entitled “Toward Autonomous Quality Assurance.” Drawing on global quality assurance trends and practical evaluation experience, Ms. Hara examined the shift from compliance-driven external evaluation toward internal quality assurance. She highlighted how empowering institutions to develop their own internal quality assurance systems allows them to better align quality assurance with their distinct missions, unique strengths, and strategic goals. She focused on the importance of institutional autonomy and continuous improvement, emphasizing that quality assurance can serve not only as a means of meeting external expectations, but also as a tool for institutional reflection, improvement, and long-term development.

　

The Forum covered a wide range of topics, including the use of generative AI in higher education, institutional evaluation and quality enhancement, assessment of student learning outcomes, professional development for faculty and staff, and digital transformation. Together, these discussions highlighted some of the emerging challenges and opportunities facing higher education in teaching, governance, and quality assurance amid rapid technological change. During the Forum, Ms. Hara also exchanged perspectives with experts, scholars, and higher education practitioners from various fields, sharing experiences in quality assurance and exploring new approaches to continuous improvement and innovation.

SPOD Forum 2026 offered valuable insights into professional development and quality assurance practices in Japanese higher education, while also providing fresh perspectives for future international exchange. As digital transformation reshapes higher education, bridging external quality assurance with institutional autonomy remains a vital priority. Deeply embedding quality assurance into university governance and everyday practice will continue to be an important area for ongoing international dialogue.

Looking ahead, TWAEA will continue to strengthen its engagement with international higher education and quality assurance partners. Through professional exchange, knowledge sharing, and cross-border dialogue, TWAEA seeks to further develop its quality assurance expertise and work with partners to explore new approaches to quality enhancement and sustainable development in a rapidly changing higher education environment.