The Third Japan Russia Industry, Academia andGovernment Working-level Conference(IAG Conference)

Credit transfer experienceof Niigata University
applied to the Double Degree Program
27th January, 2021

Shihoko YAMAKAWA, Associate professor, Headquarters for International Affairs

1Multitiered Program in Medical school
Medical Student Exchange(undergraduate)〜Motivation for International Medicine, friendship between two countries, clinical training
Program

TermOutline

1 Summer exchange program

10 days

2nd~4th year students, lectures,seminars

2 Medical research training
program

2 months

3rd year students, basic "medicalresearch training

3 Clinical Clerkship program

1 month

5-6th year students, Clinicaltraining

Credit transfer〇××

Graduate Student Exchange ,〜 Substantial stage for Japan-Russia medical professionals training
Program

TermOutline

4

Double Degree program

4 years

Degree seeking program

5Regular PhD Program

Up to 1 year

Medical research training

Credit transfer〇〇

Official language：English

2Credit system and completion requirements
In Russia
The Ministry of Health is in charge of medical universities, and the Ministry ofEducation is in charge of medical faculties in federal universities. Educationalstandards are generally the same, but learning content, rules, and interpretations
differ from university to university.
Concept of credit

NiigataUniversity
Russianuniversities

90min.×15times=
2 credits
45min.×36times=
1 creditCompletion
requirements

Standard training
period30 credits

4 years

180 credits

3 years

The number of hours per credit, the number of credits earned, the total
period of study, dissertation format, etc.
Overcoming differences in credit systems and completion requirements inJapan and Russia

3Credit transfer system establishment
Arrangements for credit transfer

１．Conclusion of agreement (memorandum)

２．Compatibility of evaluation and management
３．Confirmation of syllabus

４．Identification of subjects of possible transfer
５．Credit transfer procedure
Credit recognition
Attendance ofthe necessarylectures

Writing reportor testRelative
evaluation
A〜E

Credits are
given ifevaluation is morethan D4

Credit transfer
Compulsory subjects

Specialized subjects

History of science
Philosophy
Specialized subject
Foreign language

Lectures and*1st - 2nd year students

Transfer 10 credits
from “specializedsubject”

practical training*Up to 15 credits from November 2020

The amount of learning per unit is greater in Russia⇒transfer credits earned in Russia with applicable courses at Niigata University.

Curriculum and hours vary greatly depending on the field of specialization.
Order of the document that describes the courses student has taken and theclass hours (number of credits) （рабочий учебный план）, compare them withstudent’s report card and choose the courses that can be transferred.
Expertise is required to understand Russian syllabus. Individual consideration isrequired for each person.

5Challenges of Double Degree Program
1st -2nd year

3rd year（Niigata University）

Studyingin Russia

Lectures・Experiments・Research

Lectures・Experiments・ResearchIntermediate presentation

Presentation at int. conference
Submission of first and second author
papers・Additional experiments・Publication
Thesis paper・Public hearing・Final exam

(progress confirmation)

Graduation examination in Russia

4th year（Niigata university）（Chief examiners・Vice examiners and Russian
Steering Committee）

Since the doctoral program in Russia lasts 3 years, it is necessary to return to Russia
once (period up to 3 months) for graduation examination and necessary procedures.
Schedule adjustment is difficult in fields involving research experiments⇒A detailed research plan from the Russian side is requiredDifferences in dissertation format and examinations
It is extremely difficult to write a medical research paper in two years

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