On September 24 (Tue.), 2019, the day after the General Assembly Meeting of the Association of Japanese and Russian Universities at Moscow State University, the Third Core Member Meeting of the  Committee for Personnel Exchanges was held at Moscow State University. The meeting was attended by 29 teaching and administrative staff members: 20 from Japanese universities and nine from Russian universities.

At the conference, both Japanese and Russian universities presented their international credit transfer and joint degree programs, and exchanged views. As a result, they agreed on the following points.

○ In order to facilitate student exchanges between Japan and Russia, it is necessary to develop a unified credit transfer system between Russia and Japan.

○ In Russia, the European Bologna Process-based credit system (ECTS) was introduced in 2003. An international unified credit transfer framework may be developed based on ECTS.

○ It is desirable to develop a joint degree program for the master’s rather than in the undergraduate level.

○ As a way to facilitate future discussions, it is necessary for both Japan and Russia to first consider a unified credit transfer framework with reference to ECTS.

○ Japan and Russia should continue to consider the development of a joint degree program premised on the establishment of a common credit transfer system.

○ Not only universities but also government educational agencies in Japan and Russia should join and continue to be involved in the discussions on a joint degree program.

○ Before the General Assembly Meeting of the Association of Japanese and Russian Universities in spring 2021, the sides are planing to conduct two joint Japanese-Russian Core Member Meetings of the Committee for Personnel Exchanges to continue discussions.

The next committee meeting is scheduled for January next year.