Practical Workshop on UCTS and ECTS

Taiji Hotta, Ph.DVice-Executive of International Affairs,

Associate Professor, Hiroshima University, Japan hotta@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

All opinions in this presentation are solely my own view and do not represent any policy of the Japanese government

UMAP Workshop on Student Mobility and Credit Transfer ImplementationGreat Ballroom, 3rd Floor, Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2012,

The Importance of “Permeable” Framework in Asian Higher Education

UMAP-UCTS Important Components

UMAP Information Package with UMAP Credit Transfer Scheme (UCTS)

UMAP Study Plan with UCTS

UMAP Transcript with UCTS Grading Scale

How to calculate current UCTS for your university

Simple Steps• Ｓｔｅｐ１：　 Put the total number of credits needed

for a bachelor's degree (e.g., 120 credits & 136 credits for 4 years programs in Thailand)

• Step 2: Calculate the average amount of credits per year (120/ 4years=30 credits/year & 136 credits/4 years=34 credits/year)

• Step 3: Calculate UCTS point with average number of credits at your institutions: 60 UCTS÷30= 2.0UCTS & 60UCTS÷34= 1.88UCTS)

• For any foreign credit, if you know the number or ECTS or UCTS you can cut it into a (roughly) half. (e.g., 6 ECTS or UCTS = roughly 3-3.5 credits in Thailand),

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Conversion of Foreign Credits

For example• USA and many Asian universities tend to have a similar

number of credits (120-150credits = 2.0-1.6 UCTS). So, it may be fine to transfer 1 credit to 1 credit each other.

• All European credits of countries under the Bologna Process are 1 ECTS = 1 UCTS

HOWEVER,• A typical British University: 1 UK credit =0.5ECTS/ UCTS.

Thus, one British class, e.g., 20 UK credits will be equivalent to 10 UCTS (approx. 5-6.25 credits in Asia)

• Some unique system, like a univ. in Canada, has 1 “half course (0.5)” credit =6 UCTS. (20 full course credits/4 years)

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Summary of Calculating UCTS

[Asian universities] one credit =2.0-1.7 UCTS

(1) 120-140 credits/4 years → 30-35 credits/year

(2) 60 UCTS ÷ 30-35credits=2.0-1.7 UCTS [Let’s calculate your own UCTS]①# of credits for 4 year program (a)_____ credits;②# of credits/year= (b)_____ credits [(a)÷ ４ ]

③60 UCTS ÷(b)_____ credits = ______ UCTS Thus, your own 1 credit = _______ UCTS.

UMAP new Study Plan

Please see the attached sheet. Let’s fill in some of its study plan by yourself.

UCTS Grading Policy (with Hiroshima Univ.’s case)

UMAP Transcript

Great Opportunities with UCTS !

Mutual DEVELOPMENT of higher education in Asia & Pacific

INCREASE the number of (incoming) exchanges ! Give your students opportunities to study in (expensive) overseas education very cheaply

Make your institution more FAMOUS Internationally with TRUST !

Your institution will SURVIVE in the 21st Century’s international competition

What you need to do next

1. Make a small scale short-term language and cultural study program for summer and each semester or a student exchange program.

2. Provide information package with UCTS

3. Ask students to fill in the UMAP Study Plan

4. Give UMAP Transcript with UCTS for students who completed the program at your institution.

5. Be cooperative with other institutions’ UMAP forms as much as you can.

Please Join the UMAP-USCO project with UCTS !

Thank you