Assessing University Performance for Graduation Purposes through Portfolios

This is a study of the usefulness of portfolios in a university setting as an option to assess academic and professional achievements for graduation purposes. It is based on observations made of graduation requirements in the Department of International Liberal Arts at a private Japanese university where the majority of students do not continue in academia after graduation, but some have an interest in finding a career that will allow them opportunities to use English. The paper discusses the process of developing a “Graduation Portfolio” system, the contents of a suggested portfolio and the benefits of using portfolios as an optional assessment tool to fulfill graduation requirements, rather than producing only a graduation research paper. Also discussed is the impact of portfolio assessment on students’ motivation to self-reflect and set goals, and how these activities could be monitored and assessed.