For the first time Japan and EU would institutionalize that one could also have an academic degree from a university in the overseas studying location

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

留学先の大学からも学位もらえます 日本とＥＵ 初の制度化へ

2018年7月4日 20時42分

日本とＥＵの間で、留学した学生に対し、自国だけでなく、留学先の大学からも学位を授与できるようにする制度の新設に向けた最終調整が行われていることがわかりました。

林文部科学大臣は、ＥＵとの人材交流の促進を図るため、現地時間の６日、ハンガリーを訪れ、ＥＵで教育を担当するナブラチチ委員と会談しますが、このほど会談後に発表される共同プレス声明案が明らかになりました。

それによりますと、日本とＥＵに加盟する28か国との間で、留学した学生に対し、自国だけでなく、留学先の大学からも学位を授与できるようにする制度を新設するとしています。

また、双方の国の大学が共同で学位を授与できるようにする制度も新設するとしています。

具体的には、宇宙や医療などの幅広い分野で、日本とＥＵの大学に「共同プログラム」を開発するよう募り、このプログラムに参加した学生が新たな制度の対象になるということで、現在、日本とＥＵの間で合意に向けて最終的な調整を行っています。

留学先の大学からも学位が授与される仕組みは、大学どうしで個別に行っているケースはありますが、日本政府として制度化するのは今回が初めてで、ＥＵが域外の国と行うのも初めてだということです。

Translation

It was found out that a system that an academic degree could also be given from a university in the overseas location of studying, on top of the one from one’s own country, was established between Japan and the EU for students who studied abroad; and final adjustments were being made.

Hayashi the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in order to plan for promoting an exchange of human resources with the EU, visited Hungary on the 6th local time to talk with the Nabula Chi Chi the commissioner who took charge of education in the EU, this was made clear from a mutual press statement plan announced after the meeting.

According to that, between Japan and the 28 countries which joined EU, regarding the student who studied abroad it was supposed that a new system would be established that one could also receive an academic degree from a university in the studying abroad location on top of one’s own country.

It also supposed to establish a system to make sure that both national universities could give the academic degree jointly.

Specifically in the wide field of the universe and the medical treatment etc., "common programs" might be developed with recruitment in universities in Japan and the EU. It was said that the students who participated in this program would be the target of the new system, and now final agreements were being adjusted between Japan and the EU.

While there were cases in which an academic degree was also be given by a university in the overseas studying location, it was being performed independently between universities. This was the  first time that such arrangement was institutionalized by the Japanese Government, and it was said that it was also the first time that EU did this with a country outside its area.

   So, the academic connection between Japan and EU would be further enhanced.