Field Review

• Report of the Field Review for the International Course for Oral Life Science November, 2005
• International Course for Oral Life Science Education Project Report on Academic Guidance Meeting and Field Reviews Undertaken December 2006
• “Increasing Effectiveness of International Student Graduate Education”: Fact-finding Visits to Three American Universities (International Course for Oral Life Science)
• Official Field Review Report for the International Course for Oral Life Science

Acceptance of International Students

After compiling and posting student application guidelines, the program received a response from one prospective student at the University of Peradeniya. In response, 2 members of the Niigata University academic faculty were sent to Sri Lanka for a follow-up assessment. After a review of the applicant's C.V. and academic transcripts, the professors gave an oral exam that tested both language ability and the applicant's motivations for applying. The examination panel found the applicant to possess the required elements for course participation. The applicant was therefore formally accepted into the program and as of April, 2006 is studying under Prof. Takeyasu Maeda in the Division of Oral Anatomy at Niigata University.

The university waived the entrance fee and tuition for all 4 years, however covering all expenses for a full year in Japan including international travel, room and board remained too high for the school to handle alone. We were lucky to receive the gracious financial support from the Niigata Dental Association, the Mie Dental Association, the Niigata University Dental Alumni Association, the Morita Corporation, Kameda Seika Co., Ltd., Kuriyama Beika Co Ltd, the CG Corporation, and GlaxoSmithKline K.K.

International student B.G.T.L.Nandasena from the University of Peradeniya has been researching in oral anatomy since April, 2006.

Participation in the Joint Forum

MEXT hosted the “Joint Forum on Reform in University Education” from November 12-13, 2006 at the Pacifico Yokohama. This forum was held in order to showcase the university education reform programs that received MEXT support. Niigata University participated in this event; compiling posters and distributing pamphlets while engaging in information exchange with representatives from other universities. In total the programs selected for the 2005, 2006 fiscal years included 75 programs representing the fields of science, engineering, medicine and social science. All 75 programs gave poster presentations. There was also a chance for the exchange of opinions with representatives from many other universities regarding current progress, problem areas, and plans for future development.

Poster Presentation at the Joint Forum on Reform in University Education (Nov. 2006, Pacifico Yokohama)

Pamphlet distributed at the Join Forum on Reform in University Education.