2018/5/19

Expansion of people-to-people exchanges
between institutions of higher educationin Russia and Japan-Toward the Establishment of the Committee for Personnel Exchanges
between Japan and Russia-

Hirofumi KATO
Hokkaido University

Current Status of Exchanges between Japan and Russia
Student exchange
Number of Japanese students studying in Russia: 581
Number of Russian students studying in Japan: 701

Researcher Exchange
Number of Russian researchers hosted in Japan: 622

Number of Japanese researchers hosted in Russia: 1,293
Inter-University Agreements
Number of inter-university agreements

between Japan and Russia: 344(national, public and private universities)
Sources: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and surveys by the Japan Student Services Organization

112018/5/19

Number of Japanese Students studying Abroad
Number of Japanese Students Studying Abroad andDuration of Study Abroad>1 year
6 to 12 months* Data from Japan Student Services Organization

3 -6 months
1-3 months<1 month

No.

state2015

2016

1USA

18,676

20,1592

Australia

8,080

9,472

3

Canada

8,189

8,875

4

S. Korea

4,657

6,457

5

UK

6,281

5,827

6

China

5,072

5,782

7

Thai

3,183

4,271

8

Taiwan3,487

4,2373,212

9Philippines

2,692

10

Germany

2,822

2,882-

Others21,31725,46784,456

96,641

Total

2

Number of International Students in Japan
Total Number of International Students in Japan2016

2017

１

China

115,302

122,929２

Vietnam

49,70861,994

3

S. Korea

17,56818,276

4

Taiwan9,971

11,4895

Indonesia

5,359

6,443

6

Sri Lankan

3,976

6,607

7

Indonesia

3,226

5,727

8

Thai

4,865

5,186

9

USA

4,290

4,612

10

Malaysia

3,587

4,576

Others31,63435,915

Total

265,524

299,742

Number of International Students in Japanese Institution ofHigher Education2016* Data from Japan Student Services Organization （２０１７）
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/ryugaku/__icsFiles/afieldfile/
2017/12/27/1345878_01.pdf

Number of International Students in Japanese Institution ofJapanese Language

2017

2016

2017

１

China

85,28887,532

１

China30,01435,397２

Vietnam

23,27230,971

２

Vietnam

26,43631,023

3

Nepal

9,835

14,432

3

Nepal

9,809

8,163

4

S. Korea

14,612

14,957

4

S. Korea

2,956

3,319

5

Taiwan

7,330

8,442

5

Taiwan

2,641

3,047

6

Indonesia

4,282

4,883

6

Indonesia

1,077

1,560

7

Thai

4,027

4,245

7

Sri Lankan

1,846

1,560

8USA

3,962

4,202

8

Thai838941

9

Myanmar

1,996

2,371

9USA

328

941

10

Sri Lankan

1,480

2,368

10

Myanmar

1,591

2,205

Others

26,05428,730

Others

5,580

7,185

Total

182,138

203,133

Total

83,60983,11632

2018/5/19

Student Exchange between Japan and Russia
Inter-University Exchange Project (Supported by Japanese Government)
UniversityProject

Hokkaido University

East Russia-Japan Expert Education Program

Tohoku University

Creation of innovative leader for new Japan-Russia relations

University of Tsukuba

Global Education Program for Developing Multilingual Human Resources inJapan, NIS and Baltic countries

Niigata University

Construction of the global framework promoting the collaborative education andcareer development for young medical students in Japan and Russia

Chiba University

Future Agricultural with Far east Russia Pre- Master to PhD Program

Tokyo University ofForeign Studies

TUFS Japan-Russia Student Mobility Program: Creating Business Networksand Fostering Human Interaction

Tokyo Institute ofTechnology

Nurturing leader scientists and engineers for healthcare, medical, nuclear power,and energy industries between Japan and Russia

Kanazawa University Training Program for Russia-Japan Innovative Leaders of Tomorrow
Nagasaki University(and Fukushima
Medical University)

Japan-Russia Intercollegiate Cooperative Project for Nurturing Leaders in Disasterand Radiation Health Sciences

Tokai University

Fostering Bridge Personnel between Russia and Japan on Life Care for Economic
Development in Russian Far East

Kindai University

Human Resource Program for monodukuri Engineer in Japan and Russia*Only projects involving member universities of the Association of Institutions of Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Japan are listed.

4

Exchange Statistics in Inter-University Exchange Project
Number of students
from Russia to Japan

Number of students
from Japan to Russia
400350350300300250

250

200200150
150

100
10050
50002014
2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Inter-University Exchange Project started,

2014
2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

53

2018/5/19

Comparison of Higher Education in Japan and Russia
RussiaJapan• Population: 144 million• Population: 127 million• Number of Students: 4.76
million• Number of Students: 2.89
million• Number of Universities: 896(State: 530; non-state: 366)•

• University advancement rate:
76.14%• University advancement rate:
54.7%

Number of Universities: 780(National: 86; Public: 89;Private: 604)

(Specialized training colleges: 16.2%)

6Differences in Higher Education between Japan and Russia
In Russia, higher education is provided at universities, colleges and academies to those whohave completed upper-secondary education. Terms are from two to six years depending on
the program. Bachelor’s degrees (four or more years), specialist degrees (five or six years),
master’s degrees (two years), doctoral degrees (first level: three years) or doctoral degrees(second level) are awarded upon graduation.
Highest degrees anddevelopment of leading
researchers:
Candidate of Sciences (PhD)and Doctor of Sciences(Candidate Nauk (PhD) andDoktor Nauk (Higher Doctorate)
Second-level higher education:
Specialist and master’sprogram(Specialitet and Magistratura：
Specialist and Master’sdegrees)First-level higher education:
Bachelor’s program(Bakalavriat: Bachelor’sdegree)

Higher education in Russia

Higher education inJapan

Age

Acquisition of a Doctor of Sciences degree
5 to 15 years of research after acquisition of a
Candidate of Sciences degree
27/28

24

Acquisition of a Candidate of Sciences degree

Acquisition of a doctoral
degreeCandidate of Sciences program
3 years

Doctoral program
3 years

Acquisition of aSpecialist degree

23/24

2218

Specialist program
Specialist degree
5 – 6 years

Acquisition of a master’s degree

Master’s program
Master’s degree
2 years

Acquisition of a master’s degree

Master’s program
2 years

Acquisition of a bachelor’s degree Acquisition of a bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s program
Bachelor’s degree
4 years

Bachelor’s program
4 years74

2018/5/19

Differences in Doctoral Program in Japan and Russia
JapanRussia•

The doctoral program in Russia is divided into two levels.
Candidate of Sciences(Kandidat Nauk)••

Doctor of Sciences(Doctor Nauk)The doctoral program in Japan isdivided into a two-year initial period(master’s program) and a three-year
latter period.
Master’s degree

To acquire a Candidate of Sciences degree, students
must complete an undergraduate-school specialist
program or a master’s program, and then go through athree-year research period in the Candidate of Sciences
program (known as Aspirantura) before undergoing athesis defense and a final test. A Candidate of Sciences
degree in Russia is equivalent to a PhD in Westerncountries.

•To acquire a Doctor of Sciences degree (Doctor Nauk), a
student must engage in research for 5 to 15 years afteracquiring a Candidate of Sciences degree. Individuals
acquiring Doctor of Sciences degrees are generally quitemature.

•Examination committees for thesis defenses by potential
Candidates of Sciences and Doctors of Sciences can beestablished both at university-level higher education
institutions and at research institutions. Suchestablishment requires approval from the Ministry ofEducation and Science.

Doctoral degree•

Doctoral degrees are generally
awarded to students who have studied
for three years after acquiring amaster’s degree and then undergone athesis defense and a final test.

•The establishment of a doctoral
program requires the approval of theMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, which gives
the university the authority to award
academic degrees.

•Academic examination committees are
established at all graduate schools
offering doctoral programs.

8Credit System Differences
RussiaThe Bologna System is used to facilitate
credit transfer with Western universities.
Most universities use ECTS (theEuropean Credit Transfer System).

Japan
There is no common credit transfer system
in Japan. It is left to each university’s
discretion in deciding how credits are to betransferred. Some use ECTS, some use
UCTS (credit transfer scheme in Asia) andothers follow their own rules.

Credit basics
Each credit requires 36 periods of study(one period: 45 minutes; one credit: 27hours)
The maximum number of study periods
per week is 54, representing 1.5 credits.
Acquisition of academic degrees
Bachelor
Four years of study or acquisition of 240
credits, as well as a thesis defense anda final test
Five or six consecutive years of study orSpecialist
acquisition of 300 credits, as well as athesis defense and a final test
Master ‘s
Two years of study or acquisition of 120
credits, as well as a thesis defense anda final test

Doctoral

One credit requires 45 hours of study,
including time spent on classwork
preparation/review.
Two credits are given for 15 periods ofstudy (one period: 90 – 120 minutes).
Four or more years of study and acquisitionof at least 124 credits

Two or more years of graduate school study
and acquisition of at least 30 credits, aswell as an examination relating to amaster’s thesis or a specific research
project
Five or more years of graduate school
study and acquisition of at least 30 credits,
as well as a thesis defense and a final test95

2018/5/19

Differences in Medical Training
RussiaJapanDentistry

5 years

6 years

Pharmacy

5 years

6 years

Medicine

6 years

6 years

Nursing

4 years

4 years

In order to be admitted to the
medical professions, the holdersof university level HE diplomas
must undertake further in-depth
professional training: a one-year
course programme (called theInternatura) or a two- to four-year
course programme (called theOrdinatura).

To acquire a doctor’s license, students
must earn a bachelor’s degree inmedicine and undergo a nationalexamination.
After acquiring the license, the student
must complete two years of resident
training.
To acquire a dentist’s license, students
must undergo a national examination.
After acquiring the license, the student
must complete a year of clinical study.

Duration of Study

Points10

Vision for the Committee for Personnel Exchanges
Purposes(1) Support for student exchanges to develop individuals who can contribute to the expansion anddevelopment of exchanges between Japanese and Russian universities(2) Research on the adjustment of educational systems between Japanese and Russian
universities, including those related to credit transfer and degree recognition(3) Promotion of exchanges between Japanese and Russian universities in collaboration with theAssociation of Institutions of Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Japan
Activities(1) Sharing and promotion of Good Practice know-how for student exchanges between Japan andRussia(2) Promotion of graduate school-level joint educational programs(3) Comparison of credit transfer and degree recognition systems between universities(4) Support for the Japan-Russia Student Union*Report on activities at the General Assembly of the Association of Institutions of Higher
Education of the Russian Federation and Japan/Rectors' Forum held every 18 months.
The Committee for Personnel Exchanges between Japan and Russia*Teaching staff of member schools of the Association of Institutionsof Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Japan
Organizing Committee members*Specific examinations are conducted byOrganizing Committee members

JapanRussia

RussiaJapan

Structure116

2018/5/19

Road Map-December 2017
Fact-finding information about exchanges between Japan and Russia(Japanese university survey, meeting with representatives of Inter-University Exchange Projects)
January 2018
Preparatory Meeting for the establishment of Personnel Exchange Committee
Participants: 10 Japanese universities and 3 Russian universities
February 2018
Annual Meeting of Universities Adopted for the Inter-University Exchange Project
Attendees: representatives from 13 Universities adopted for the Inter-University Exchange
Project and 7 other universities
May 2018
Establishment of the Committee for Personnel Exchanges

2018Activities to promote student exchanges between Japan and Russia (e.g., consideration ofmeasures to remove barriers to student exchanges, sharing of good practices )・Activities to be mainly implemented by Organizing Committee members (annual Committee
meetings to be held.)・Information on Organizing Committee activities to be shared with members of the Committeefor Personnel Exchanges.
・Information on Committee for Personnel Exchanges activities to be reported at the General
Assembly of the Association of Institutions of Higher Education of the Russian Federation andJapan every 18 months.

The tentative is to recommend an ideal Japan-Russia higher education
system to the Association of Institutions of Higher Education of theRussian and Japan by 2022．

127