Activity Report of Committee for Personnel
Exchange between Japan and Russia- Competency building approach and Network form introduction -Hirofumi KATO
Chair of Committee forPersonnel Exchange

Vision for the Committee for Personnel Exchanges
Purposes(1) Support for student exchanges to develop individuals who can contribute to the expansion and development 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* With the aim to draft a proposal on future Japanese and Russian higher education systems for the governments of bothstates in 5 years.
(3) Promotion of exchanges between Japanese and Russian universities in collaboration with the Association of Institutions ofHigher Education of the Russian Federation and Japan
Activities(1) Sharing and promotion of Good Practice know-how for student exchanges between Japan and Russia(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 UnionStructure
The Committee for Personnel Exchanges between Japan and Russia

Organizing Committee members*Specific examinations are conducted by Organizing Committee members

JapanRussia

RussiaJapan*Teaching staff of member schools of the Association of Institutions of Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Japan

The Fifth Core Member Meeting and Online Meeting held in Nov. 2020 The Fifth Core Member Meeting
Date: November 5 Format: Online
Participants: 38 faculty and staff members
from Japanese universities
Agenda:- Guidelines for credit transfer between
Russia and Japan- Russian educational system (FSES,network form etc.)

 Online meeting: “Implementation of joint educational programs by Japan and Russia
in the age of COVID-19”
Date: November 20 Format: Online
Participants: 130 faculty and staff members from Japanese and Russian
universities
Objective: To share experience and know-how of developing online
alternatives to face-to-face communication in international education
activities in the age of COVID-19 and approaches to the “new normal” ofjoint educational activities by Japan and Russia.

Survey Results of Certification of Credit between Japan and Russia (1)Q1. Certification of Credit
between Japan and Russia

6■ certificated12

Q2. Students whose credits
are certificated■ only Japanese students■ Not certificated21■ both of the Japaneseand Russian students

18

Q3. Credits earned by Japanesestudents in Russia

Q4 Credit certification methodin the Japanese university

2■ Earned

6■ Not earned

15■ other14■ Prior agreement regarding credit
certification between the Japaneseand Russian universities

2■ Certificated courses andnumbers of credits areregistered beforehand in Japan■ The decision of credit
certification is made in Japanafter the student returns

Survey Results of Certification of Credit between Japan and Russia (2)Q5. Replacement of course names■ Russian course name are converted toexisting Japanese courses

4110■ Russian courses name are converted to apart of existing Japanese courses■ Credits are certificated byname4Russian course■ Other

1

Q6. Method of credit certification

2142■ Using an international credit exchange
scheme such as the ECTS
■ Based on credit exchange agreement
between the Russian and Japaneseuniversities■ Make a determination separately for eachcourse■OtherSurvey Results of Certification of Credit between Japan and Russia (3)Q7 If the answer to Q6was "Decide for each course," what was used asa basis for recognizing credits?

2The way to certificate thecredit

2131211

The numberof University

■＋■

1■＋■

1■＋■＋■

6■＋■＋■

1■＋■＋■＋■

1■＋■

2■＋■

1■

1

■ Grade report issued at the destination university■ Syllabus■ A document that details all course hours■ A document that details all studying hours outside of courses■ Other

Same in Russia?

Survey Results of Certification of Credit between Japan and Russia (4)Obstacles to credit exchange and the development of collaborative
academic programs between Japan and Russia
1. Difference in the number of credit hours
2. Difference in the number of credits required for graduation
3. Difference in the syllabi between Japanese and Russian universities
4. Few courses offered in English
Survey of the develop the credit exchange system between Japan and Russia

4%■ It is desirable to develop the credit exchange system between Japan andRussia, and our university would like to adopt and utilize this system.

11%■ It is desirable to develop the credit exchange system between Japan andRussia, but our university will leave the issue of its adoption to the discretion ofits subdivisions in each particular case.

30%
7%■ It is desirable to develop the credit exchange system between Japan andRussia, and our university would like to consider its adoption in future.

30%
18%

■ Other (positive opinion to development the credit exchange system between
Japan and Russia,■ It is desirable to develop the credit exchange system between Japan andRussia,and our university would like to adopt and utilize this system.
■ Other

It is desirable to develop the credit
exchange system between Japan andRussia

66%For Development of the Credit Exchange System?
Focus point: Competency building approach Network form
What is competency (competence)?
 It involves a system to ensure the quality of education in Europe.
 It is what students acquire as a comprehensive achievement of studying under an educationalprogram.
 It is the systematic linkage of knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities.
 It includes not only technical knowledge, but also the abilities all students should acquire—theso-called general skills (= a benchmark combining expertise and generalities).

Curricula of educational program of Russian university are formulated by FSES
based on competency building approach.

Education System in Russia – FSES (1)The FSES (Federal State Education Standard) have been formulated by the Ministry of Education of Russia.
(Some of leading universities have own Educational Standard.)■ Federal State Education Standard (FSES) in 2015 [Master/Philosophy]:
3. OVERVIEW OF SUBJECT AREA
3.3 Time limit for completing Master’s Programme: is 2 years within full time mode including holiday after Final State
Examination disregarding educational technologies. The workload of full time Master’s Programme is 60 ECTS-credits
per year;
5. REQUIREMENTS FOR LEARNING OUTCOMES
5.1 Upon completing Master’s Programme Master’s Student must have general cultural, general professional, andprofessional competences.
Common to all master’s programs

5.2 Graduates must have the following general cultural competences:
Common to the programs inthe same subject area
・ ability for abstract thinking, analysis and synthesis (GC-1);・・・・[GPC 1-3]
5.3 Graduates must have the following general professional competences:・ in-depth knowledge of current issues in philosophy, readiness to suggest solutions and substantiate them (GPC1); ・・・・[GPC 1-5]
5.4 Graduates must have professional competences relevant to the type (types) of professional activity Master’s
Programme is oriented to:science and research:・ ability to independently formulate and achieve research goals and objectives (PC-1); ・・・・[PC1-5]

Education System in Russia – FSES (2)6. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STRUCTURE OF MASTER’S PROGRAMME
6.2 Master’s Programme consists of the following modules:
Module 1 ‘Disciplines (Modules)’ includes the disciplines (modules) related to the basic part of Master’s
Programme and disciplines (modules) related to the optional part.
Module 2 ‘Practical Trainings Including Research Project’ which entirely belongs to the optional part of theProgramme.
Module 3 ‘Final State Examination’ is entirely included into the basic part of the Programme and is competed byawarding the qualification specified by the List of Specialties and Subject Areas in Higher Education approved by
the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
MasterSubject area A

Subject area B

Notes
Equivalent to course work inJapanese universities

Module 1

Disciplines (Modules)54-60
credits

66-69
credits

Module 2

Practical Trainings

51-60
credits45
credits

Module 3

Final State Examination

6-9
credits

6-9
credits120 credits

120 credits

TotalDifference between Russia and Japan (1)Master’sprogram

RussiaJapan

Term of Study

2 years

2 years

Credits forCompletion

120 ECTS-credits

30 credits (Japan)[ 3 modules][No modules specified]ResearchActivities

Counted as credits
in Module 2 (Practical

Not all activities counted
as credits*

In Japan, research activities suchas collaboration research work,participation in academic
conferences, etc. are uncounted.

Diploma Policy
Curriculum Policy
Assessment Policy[Teacher-centered
Learning ]The curriculum policy of each
Japanese university addresses
only policy, and not competence.

Training)

Standard

Competency(referred in FSES)[Student-centeredLearning ]Supplementary note forsystem in Japan
In Japan, research & thesiswriting activities are worth about
10 credits.

General requirements in Japan (for completing the master‘s degree) :: having attended the graduate school for two years: having earned thirty credits or more; and after receiving the necessary Research Guidance, having passed thereview and the examination on the thesis for master's degree or the achievement of research on the specific theme,depending on the aims of the relevant master's degree program.

Difference between Russia and Japan (2)Japan

Graduate school (master’s)

Graduate school (master’s)
Coursework:≒20 credits

Researchwork andThesis:≒10 credits

30 credits(Japan)

Russia【Study activities uncounted as Japanesecredits 】
・Collaboration research work・TA, RA
・Participation in academic conferences,
lecture meetings and workshops
・Participation in sessions to report theprogress of one’s dissertation
・Internships outside the credit system
・Efforts to meet the requirements for
submitting a dissertation*
Should study activities and results becounted as Japanese credit system bycompetency building approach?

120 ECTS
creditsCoursework[Module 1]:≒60 ECTS
credits

ResearchWork[Module 2]:≒51 ECTS
credits
Exam[Module 3]:≒9 ECTS credits*e.g.) Requirements for submitting a dissertation in the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at Hokkaido University:
At least two full papers as lead author, At least one paper published jointly with one’s supervisor

What is “Network form”? (1)■ Federal State Education Standard (FSES) in 2015 [Master/Philosophy]:
3. OVERVIEW OF SUBJECT AREA
3.2 The workload of Master’s Programme is 120 ECTS-credits disregarding the mode of study, educationaltechnologies, networking forms, and individual study plans including accelerated learning.
3.5
Master’s Programme can be delivered with the use of networking.
7. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONDITIONS FOR DELIVERING MASTER’S PROGRAMMES
7.1.3
If Master’s Programme employs networking forms, involved organizations must provide necessary
resources, equipment, and teaching and learning materials.

■ The order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Education dated on Sep.
14, 2020“Procedure of organization and accomplishment of educational activities at implementation of educational
programmes in network form2. Network form provides an opportunity to master an educational program and/or separate academic subjects,
courses, disciplines(modules), practices, and other components provided educational programmes, using resourcesof certain organizations, conducting educational activities, including foreign organizations, and if necessary, using theresources of other organizations.
(continued to the next slide)What is “Network form”? (2)(Continued from the previous slide)
3. Educational activities under an educational program, implemented in network form are carried out throughinteraction between organization in accordance with the Contract on implementation of educational programmes innetwork form.
6. The network educational program in accordance with the Contract on network form is approved by the Baseorganization independently or jointly with the Participating organization(s). (← 4. Several participatingorganizations may be the parties of the Contract.)
12. Mastering a part of the network educational program in the educational Participating organization isaccompanied by current control and interim certification, carried out in the forms determined by the curriculum of thenetwork educational program, and in the manner established by the educational Participating organization.
The result of the interim certification conducted by the educational Participating organization are the result of theinterim certification for the network educational program and do not require credit in the base organization.
14. Persons who have successfully mastered the network educational program and passed the final (state final)
certification are issued by the Base organization documents on education and(or) on qualifications.

Future Possibilities of Collaboration in Network Form(1) Challenges:• Difference of education system(academic calendar, student-centered/teacher-centered learning)• Difficulties in tuning( assessment of learning outcomes/ educational goals
RussiaJapan

Competence’s codes(GC, GPC, PC)

Curriculum Policy?
Syllabus?

Number of Credits(ECTS)
Assessment(interim/ final test/exam?)
CourseCompetences to be obtained

Course 1

GC-1 GPC-3,4

Course 2

GC-2,3 GPC-1,4,5 PC-1,2・・・・・・・・・・・

Need to seek some compromise?
However, it would be possible toestablish the common educational
goal and synchronize the curricula(partially, even if not entirely) throughaggregation of competences.

Number of Credits(Japan)Assessment(exam/ report)

Shifting from “teacher-centered learning” to “student-centeredlearning” and developing curriculum focusing on learning
outcomes by competency building approach will enhance theinternational applicability of curricula of Japanese universities.

Future Possibilities of Collaboration in Network Form(2) Potentials:
 Make use of human, material, technical, informational resources of the partner
institutions⇒ Harmonization of educational program⇒ Improvement of international academic mobility⇒ Raising competitiveness of graduates in the labor market(by emphasizing practical education)

 Future possibilities:
 Integration of online educational program in the post COVID-19 period
 Activation of Double degree/ Joint degree/ Cotutelle program Implementation of Joint professional education program among severalinstitutionsСпасибо за ваше внимание!
We really look forward to promoting
further international collaborations
with Russian institutions.