Initiatives for Attractive Education in Graduate Schools

International Contribution Effective Graduate Education for International Students Program Report


Program Outline

Program Outline (International Course for Oral Life Science)

In order to meet the needs of contemporary society it becomes imperative to reinforce post-graduate education in order to train motivated and creative young researchers. It was with this in mind that in 2005 MEXT (the Ministry of Education, Sports, Science, Culture, and Technology, Japan) implemented a program called Initiatives for Attractive Education in Graduate Schools.

In 2005, the Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Department of Oral Life Science headed by Prof. Yoshiaki Yamada, in an effort to increase the effectiveness of International Student Education and fulfill Japan's role in Asia by making meaningful contribution to the regional community, initiated the International Course for Oral Life Science. It was selected under the “International Contribution through Effective Post-Graduate Education for International Students” category of the Initiatives for Attractive Education in Graduate Schools program. Upon selection, the university began preparations for accepting students, the first of which entered the program in April of this year.

As was showcased in the Niigata Nippo newspaper on October 30th of last year, this program was one of 19 programs to be selected out of the 70 national, public, and private medical programs that applied. Niigata University joined Kyushu University as being the only 2 dental programs to be picked overall.

This publication will outline the background and aims of the International Course for Oral Life Science, as well as point out some of the course's unique attributes and progress so far.

Background & Objectives

We at the Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Department of Oral Life Science have accepted many international students, mostly from Asia, since the time when we were still known as the Faculty of Dentistry. Our primary objective has been to cultivate creative researchers who can meet the health needs of a modern aging society.

From 2000 to 2004 our faculty accepted 28 degree students, and 9 non-degree students, mostly from Asia. Out of these 25 received Japanese government scholarships while 12 came as privately-financed international students. The program, which lasts an average of 4 years, can place a huge financial burden on privately financed international students.

In addition, because Asia is home to a multitude of oral diseases while adequate dental research facilities are rare, many of the International Students who earned degrees in Niigata University are not able to fully utilize their knowledge and technical skill-set. Opinions were raised that a course should be made that not only lessened the financial burden of getting a Japanese Dental Education, but also allowed past graduates an opportunity to fully put their abilities to use.

It was with this motive to contribute to the Asian community while nurturing future researchers in a way to suit their home-country's unique circumstances, that the International Course for Oral Life Science was established.

Background & Objectives

Summary-International Course for Oral Life Science (See diagram)

Two institutions with whom Niigata University had past relations; the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, and Naresuan University in Thailand, were chosen to be Core Universitys. Through cooperation with these schools, the following plan was compiled with the aim of increasing effectiveness in post-graduate education.

  • Enrolled students will undergo primary education at Niigata University for the first year of the course. They will then return to their home country where they will continue to earn course credits through a program of e-Learning. In addition, the primary education offered during the first year will comprise of a system of coursework that covers multiple subjects.
  • A faculty member from the Department of Oral Life Science will, for a short period, travel to the Core University and oversea the improvement of the research environment, re-educate the assisting faculty of the Core University and give guidance to students enrolled in the International Course for Oral Life Science.
  • In order for the assisting faculty of the Core University to remain familiar with up-to-date research, they will be invited for a short period of time to engage in joint research with a post-graduate student in the Oral Life Science Course.

Summary-International Course for Oral Life Science

Curriculum Components

The Curriculum for the International Course for Oral Life Science will be composed in the following way:

  • Completion Requirements will follow those of existing courses. After the completion of 30 credits of coursework, candidates will have to submit a doctoral thesis for review.
  • After passing a Board of Review at the candidate's Core University, the thesis will be forwarded for screening by a Board of Review comprised of academic faculty members of Niigata University.
  • In order to meet the requirements for submittal to the Board of Review the dissertation must be published in an international recognized academic journal.
  • After passing above requirements, the applicant will be awarded the degree at the Core University by the head of the Graduate Faculty or the University President.

Coursework

Coursework will follow the standards prescribed in 2005 Central Education Council publication entitled “Post-Graduate Education for a New Era: Working towards Attractive Internationalized Education in Graduate Schools”.

Curriculum Components

Model Course, Example of Coursework

Taking into consideration the multitude and variety of oral diseases present in the Asia, below is a model course based on an Oral Pathology path. Also shown is an example of a systematically conceived coursework plan that covers multiple subject areas.

Through hands-on experience via coursework, students will gain experience recognizing and analyzing clinical conditions. It is hoped that this education will prove useful for program graduates, allowing them to meet the unique circumstances of their various home countries while leading the discovery and exploration of new research topics.

Model Course, Example of Coursework

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