Russia: Transfer Credit Evaluation & the EducationUSA Connection

Transcription

1 Presenters: Russia: Transfer Credit Evaluation & the EducationUSA Connection Gunnar Vaht Head of the Estonian ENIC/NARIC, Archimedes Foundation, Estonia Web: Gunnar Vaht has been Head of the Estonian Academic Recognition Information Centre (the Estonian ENIC/NARIC) since An active member and leader of the ENIC (European Network of Information Centres on Academic Recognition and Mobility), Gunnar has also served as President of the ENIC Network and First Vice President of the Lisbon Recognition Convention. He is a member of several international and national working parties, commissions and committees of the Bologna process, higher education developments, internationalization strategies and recognition policies. He worked with the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research on the creation of the legal framework for the credential recognition system in Estonia. As a foreign credential evaluator, Gunnar specializes in the countries of former the Soviet Union (Russian Federation, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus). He has organized several international training courses on the higher education systems of these countries and has been a speaker at a number of international seminars and conferences. Gunnar is an active member of the European Association for International Education (EAIE). He was a board member of the EAIE professional section ACE (Admission Officers and Credential Evaluators) and was Chair of the Board in Since 2005 he has been a member of the EAIE Training Committee. Nataliya Aulchenko American Councils for International Education ACTR/ACCELS Regional Office Director EducationUSA Senior Advisor [email protected], [email protected] Web: Nataliya (known familiarly as Natasha) Aulchenko is the Senior Educational Adviser at the American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS) Education Information Center in Novosibirsk, Russia. She has been working there for more than 15 years. American Councils considers her one of their most valuable assets, upon whom they rely for her knowledge and expertise in promoting U.S. education in the Siberian region. Novosibirsk, specifically Akademgorodok, where the advising center is located, is an important academic and research center in Russia. Ms. Aulchenko is the only adviser there and a vital resource for outstanding researchers, professors and graduate students seeking opportunities for international experiences. She initiated International Education Day, an annual joint event of educational agencies of different countries represented in Novosibirsk, which has now taken place seven times. Other Siberian cities started to join the project in 2006, and since 2008 International Education Days have been held in Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Biysk, Barnaul and Krasnoyarsk. Natalia is a graduate of Novosibirsk State University, having earned her Diplom Specialista from the Department of Applied Mathematics in 1994 and a degree in Human Resource Management in Ann M. Koenig AACRAO International Education Services, Southwest Regional Director, Scottsdale AZ [email protected] or [email protected], Web: Ann M. Koenig s career in international education spans 23 years, including international credential evaluation in private evaluation services, and campus-based work in international admissions, student records management and academic advising, at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, a University of Maryland University College campus program in Germany, Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley. She holds a degree in music from Alverno College, Milwaukee, as well as a BA and MA in German from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ann is a specialist in evaluating credentials from the Eurasia region, and the region of eastern, central and southeastern Europe. She has written or contributed to evaluation resources on many countries in her region of specialization, and given numerous workshop and conference presentations on country educational systems, best practices in international admission and credential evaluation, and academic credential fraud, for AACRAO, NAFSA, EAIE and other US and European organizations. Ann has served on the AACRAO International Education Committee and the NAFSA National ADSEC committee. Known for her informative and interactive presentation style, she also has a reputation for detailed analysis of foreign educational records, commitment to service, and generosity in helping colleagues. 1

2 Evaluating Foreign Credentials for Undergraduate Transfer Credit: Guidelines for Best Practice Be knowledgeable about your institution s policies and procedures for domestic transfer credit evaluation; apply those same principles to the evaluation of all foreign credentials. Review the applicant s bio information and educational history. Assemble the applicant s documentation, and compare it with the biodata and educational history. Read and review each document carefully. Check the accuracy of English translations, if needed. Using reliable resources on the country s educational system, determine and confirm the following factors: Institution (name, location, level, type, recognition status in the country) Credential awarded (program completed, if any, and name of credential) Level of education in the country (secondary, university, non-university higher education, etc.) Type of education in the country (academic, occupational/applied, professional, vocational, etc.) Curriculum content (similarity to programs offered at your institution) Course content (similarity to individual courses offered at your institution) Quality of performance (grades, other types of assessment) and interpretation in US terms Quantitative units shown on documents (hours, credits, co-efficients, etc.) and interpretation in US terms Resources to Help You Confirm This Information In the Russian Educational System National Information Centre on Academic Recognition and Mobility, Russian Ministry of Education ENIC: - Content: See lower left area of side bar for links to information on Russian education: General Information, Diagram, Diploma Samples, Directory of Recognized Higher Education Institutions. Contact person Mr. Valery Mitrofanov: [email protected] Russia in AACRAO EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education): Subscription required. Content: Overview, Educational Ladder, Grading System, Credentials with comparability recommendations, Institutions, Resources, Author background, Glossary. Moscow EducationUSA Advising Center, Information about Russian Education for US Representatives: Content: Structure of Russian Education, National Examinations, Transcripts, Accreditation and Licensing, Latest Trends & Statistics, Useful Links, Fair in Moscow. The Educational System of the Russian Federation, AACRAO, 2008 Table of Contents and Introduction: Includes sections on transfer credit and Russian academic document fraud. The System of Education in Russia, Nordic Recognition Network (NORRIC), 2005, in the series of country educational system reports on the NORRIC Web site, based on country visits by NORRIC study teams: Special feature: section on how to authenticate Russian documents. Higher Education Institutions in Russia: Lists and databases Russian NIC ARM (English, alpha by name in translation): Russian National Accreditation Agency: English version: (Popular Pages, left side bar) Searchable database in Russian with pull-down menu: Curriculum and course content resource: Russian State Educational Standards ( on the Russian Education Federal Portal (in Russian): For curriculum and course content, view the higher education specialties (majors) with standards (content) and study plan (curriculum) for each program, all in Russian: (See sample in this handout.) Institutional Web sites (some) 2

3 th Russia: Transfer Credit Evaluation & The EducationUSA Connection AACRAO 97 Annual Meeting March 2011 Seattle Resources for Reading Russian Transliteration from Cyrillic to Latin/Roman Alphabet: Printed letters and handwritten letters: Chart on left: American Library Association & Library of Congress Romanization Tables (transliteration guide) From Indiana University Web site: Chart on right: from English-Russian, Russian-English Dictionary by Kenneth Katzer, John Wiley & Sons, Russian Apps for Android: Google translator and other online translators and language tools Attestat o srednem (polnom) obshchem obrazovanii (Certificate of secondary (complete) general education) Diplom (Diploma) Prilozhenie k diploma (Addendum to the diploma) bakalavra (bachelor) magistra (of master) kvalifikatsiya ekonomist (qualification of economist) Akademicheskaya spravka (Academic certificate; transcript for an incomplete program) Diplom o nepolnom vysshem obrazovanii (Diploma of incomplete higher education) Gosudarstvennyj obrazovatel noe uchrezhdennie vysshego professional nogo obrazovaniya Taganrogskij Gosudarstvennyj Radiotekhicheskij Universitet (State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education Taganrog State Radioengineering University ) 3

4 Structure of the Russian Educational System Diagram from the Russian ENIC Web site in English: Other diagrams of the Russian educational system: Russian NIC ARM diagram (above) in Russian: Russia in AACRAO EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education): The Educational System of the Russian Federation, AACRAO, 2008 Structure of Russian Education (textual overview), Moscow EducationUSA Advising Center: 4

5 Quality Control: State Educational Standards and Institutional Accreditation The Ministry of Education and Science [министерство образования и науки / ministerstvo obrazovaniya i nauki] regulates education at all levels. Regional, local and municipal governments and other ministries may also be involved. Curriculum and academic credential documentation: The State Educational Standards outline the norms for curricula, including program hours and subject content, and issuing of official documentation at all levels: (on the Russian Education Federal Portal, in Russian). Higher education bachelor and master programs, by specialty (major): Institutions: Quality control is overseen by the National Accreditation Agency [Национальнное Аккредитационное Агентство / Natsionalnoe Akkreditatsionnoe Agentstvo]. Process of institutional reviews for licensing (approval to operate as an educational institution) leading to accreditation (certification valid for five years, with continuous assessment) begun in Accreditation can be revoked. National Accreditation Agency home page in English: - searchable database in English of higher education institutions: Types and Levels of Education and Institutions Nomenclature: Education reform in the early 1990 s created a new organization of education in Russia, including new nomenclature for the types and levels of education. All education was divided into two types: general and professional. The sector of professional education was divided into three levels: basic or initial professional, secondary or intermediate professional, and higher professional. General Education (Общее образование / Obshchee Obrazovanie) Two Levels: 1 Years 1 through 9: Basic General Education (Основное образование / Osnovnoe Obrazovanie) 2 Years 10 & 11: Secondary (Complete) General Education (Среднeе (Полное) Общее образование/obshchee (Polnoe) Obshchee Obrazovanie) School Types: General education secondary school [средняя общеобразовательная школa / obshcheobrazovatelnaya shkola]: Offers years 1 through 11. About 80% of schools are general schools. General education secondary school with intensive instruction in specific areas (languages, science, sports, dance, music) Gymnasium [гимназия / gymnasia]: Often emphasizes humanities; may offer all levels of education. Lyceum [лицей / litsej]: Focuses on scientific/technical subjects; may offer all levels of education. Professional Education (профессиональное образование / Professionalnoe Obrazovanie) Three Levels: 1 Initial Professional Education (начальное профессиональное образование / nachalnoe professionalnoe obrazovanie) after Basic General Education or Secondary (Complete) General Education; admission after year 9 or 11. Inst. Types: After year 9: Technical school [техническое училище / tekhnicheskoe uchilishche]; After year 11: Technical or professional lyceum [технический лицей / tekhnicheskij litsej] or [профессиональный лицей/professionalnyj litsej] 2 Intermediate Professional Education (среднeе профессиональное образование / srednee professionalnoe obrazovanie) - after Basic General Education, Initial Professional Education or Secondary (Complete) General Education referred to in Russia as tertiary non-university level education Inst. Types: technical school [техникум / tekhnikum], uchilishche (училище / uchilishche), and college [колледж /kolledzh] 3 Higher Professional Education (высшее профессиональное образование / vysshee professionalnoe obrazovanie) after Secondary (Complete) General Education or Intermediate Professional Education referred to in Russia as tertiary university level education Inst. Types: university [университет / universitet], academy [академия / akademiia], institute [институт / institut], conservatory [консерватория / konservatoriia] Russian Grading Russian Transliterated Numeric Handwritten English U.S. Comparability отлично otlichno 5 excellent A хорошо khorosho 4 good B удовлетворительно udovletvoritel no 3 satisfactory C Notes on grading in higher education: A Diploma with excellence [Диплом с отличием / Diplom s otlichiem] is given when at least 75% of the grades are отлично with no grades of удовлетворительно, and the grades on the final paper and all state examinations are отлично. зачет / zachet (ungraded pass) is used only in higher education and represents successful completion of a subject which does not have a final examination, as determined by the study plan (curriculum) for the specialty (major). 5

6 Russian Academic Documents & Consideration of US Transfer Credit See document samples and information online on the Russian ENIC Web site: Russian Credential awarded by a recognized institution: Documentation of Completed Programs: Certificate of Secondary (Complete) General Education [Aттестат о среднем (полном) общем Образовании / Attestat o srednem (polnom) obshchem obrazovanii] Diploma of Basic Professional (Vocational) Education with addendum 2 [диплом о нaчaлном профессиональном образовании / Diplom o nachalnom professionalnom obrazovanii] Diploma of Intermediate Professional (Vocational) Education with addendum 2 [Диплом о среднем профессиональном образовании / Diplom o srednem professionalnom obrazovanii] Transfer in Russia? No No Consider US Credit? 1 No No Maybe 3 Maybe 3 Bachelor diploma [Диплом бакалавра / Diplom bakalavra] with addendum 2 Yes Yes Specialist diploma [Диплом специалиста / Diplom spetsialista] with addendum 2 Yes Yes Master diploma [Диплом магистра / Diplom magistra] with addendum 2 Yes Yes Documentation of Incomplete Higher Education: Academic Certificate [Академическая справка / Akademicheskaya spravka] from a higher education program Diploma of Incomplete Higher Education [Диплом о неполном высшем образовании / Diplom o nepolnom vischem obrazovanii] Credit Booklet [зачетная книжка / zachetnaya knizhka] Yes Yes No; not an official doc Yes Yes No; not an official doc 1 US transfer credit may be considered, based on the receiving institution s policies on transfer of applied/vocational work. 2 Addendum to the diploma [приложегие к диплому / prilozhenie k diplomu] the official transcript for a completed program of vocational/higher education, valid only with the diploma. 3 In Russia, some institutions might offer shortened bachelor or specialist programs for holders of this type of diploma. However, practice is not mandated or regulated and is not uniform across the higher education system. US institutions are advised not to consider transfer credit unless there is evidence that a higher education institution in Russia accepts the holder to a shortened program, and the coursework is appropriate to the student s program of study at the US institution. In such cases, up to 2 years of US lower division credit may be considered. How Higher Education Documents Are Issued in Russia Original Diploma and Addendum: Original Academic Certificate: Official Copies: Documents In transcript Form: The diploma and diploma addendum are issued together, in Russian, and given to graduates at a ceremony that takes place after final state examinations and diploma thesis defense are complete. Only one original diploma and addendum will be issued. No other originals will be issued; all copies issued later are duplicates. The akademicheskaya spravka is issued for students who have not completed the full program of study. It is prepared by the Dean of the Faculty s office after a student officially withdraws from the institution. It is based on records kept by the Dean s office and in the student s credit booklet. Only one original is issued and the student must pick it up in person. Certified copies and documents issued later are considered duplicates. Students can have copies of the original documents certified or attested by the department of their higher education institution, or by an official notary office in Russia. Notaries in Russia are legal functionaries who certify the authenticity of a copy of an official document. Copies certified in Russia can be accepted as official copies. There is no official Russian higher education documentation that is issued in a format similar to a US transcript, with a layout showing subjects semester-by-semester. If a US institution requires a document in this format, Russian students must prepare it themselves, and have it attested by their department. Such a document is not official and should be not accepted without the appropriate official documentation. Documents Students can ask their institutions to seal certified documents in an envelope sealed with the institution s stamp. Mailed to The student must then mail this envelope to the US institution. Russian institutions do not have the means to US institutions: send documents abroad unless the student pre-pays for this type of service (i.e. courier). 6

7 th Russia: Transfer Credit Evaluation & The EducationUSA Connection AACRAO 97 Annual Meeting March 2011 Seattle Sample Transcript for Evaluation: Академическая справка / Akademicheskaya spravka (Academic certificate), front Specialty of Sociology at Moscow Pedagogical State University 3 years of a 5-year program 7

8 th Russia: Transfer Credit Evaluation & The EducationUSA Connection AACRAO 97 Annual Meeting March 2011 Seattle Sample Transcript for Evaluation: Академическая справка / Akademicheskaya spravka (Academic certificate), reverse 8

9 Sample Transcript for Evaluation: English translation, front Calculating U.S. Credit from a Russian Transcript Given: U.S. Credit: 1 year of full-time enrollment = 30 semester hours of credit Traditional Prilozhenie or Akademicheskaya Spravka showing hours per subject: Step 1: Determine how many years of full-time enrollment the Russian documentation represents. Step 2: Determine the number of US credits that this full-time enrollment represents. (number of FT years in Russia x 30) Step 3: Divide hours in half for practical subjects (for. language, physical ed., military training, etc.). Total up all the Russian hours. Step 4: Divide the total number of Russian hours by the goal number of US credits, to determine a divisor. Step 5: Apply the divisor to the hours for each subject. Round up or down as appropriate. The result is the maximum number of US semester hours of credit that should be considered for the subject. Example transcript shown: Step 1: Transcript represents completion of 3 years of a 5-year program. Step 2: 3 years of full-time enrollment in Russia = 90 semester hours of credit in the US. Step 3: Divide hours for Foreign Language and Physical Education in half, then total up all hours = 4764 Step 4: Divide 4764 by 90 (goal US credit total) to yield a divisor = 52.9 (53) Step 5: Divide the number of hours for each subject by 53 to yield the comparable number of US sem. hrs. of credit for the subject European Diploma Supplement showing ECTS (European Credit Transfer Scheme) Credits: 1 year of full-time enrollment = 60 ECTS; therefore divide ECTS credits in half to yield comparable US sem. hrs. of credit 9

10 Sample Transcript for Evaluation: English translation, reverse 10

11 STATE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS: Study Plan for the Specialist Program in Sociology Web: Word/rtf doc: MINISTRY OF GENERAL AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Specialty Sociology Approved Qualification Sociologist. Teacher of Sociology Academic Management гум/сп Length of studies 5 years Model Curriculum in accordance with State Educational Standards (Appendix No. 2 to Order No. 286) Subject Total Workload (hours) 11 In-class workload (hours) Independent Workload (hours) Sem. Form of final assessment GEN. HUM. & SOC.-ECON. SUBJECTS Philosophy ,2 zachet, exam 2. Economics ,3 zachet, exam 3. Psychology & Pedagogy zachet 4. Political Science exam 5. Foundations of Law zachet 6. Homeland History zachet 7. Cultural Studies exam 8. Russian Language & Speech exam 9. Foreign Language ,2,3,4 3 zach, 1 exam 10. Physical Education ,2,3,4 4 zachet 11. Electives (Logic, Ethics, Aesthetics, Economic ,2,3 3 zachet Geography, etc.) (90,90,90) GEN. MATH. & SCIENCE SUBJECTS Mathematics (Elements of Higher Math, Probability Theory, Mathematical Statistics) ,2,3 exam, zachet exam 2. Informatics (Computer Science) ,2 zachet, exam 3. Concepts of Modern Natural Science ,8 2 zachet 4. Theory of Measurement in Sociology zachet 5. Data Analysis in Sociology exam 6. Math. Methods of Modeling of Social Processes zachet 7. New Information Technologies zachet GEN. PROFESSIONAL (MAJOR) SUBJECTS 2646 Gen. Prof. Subjects (Federal Component) History of Sociology ,4,5 3 exam 2. General Sociology ,3 zachet, exam 3. Methods & Techniques of Sociological Research zachet, exam 4. Demography exam 5. Social Statistics zachet 6. Social Anthropology exam 7. Social Psychology exam 8. Sociology of Labor & Economic Sociology exam 9. Organizational Sociology exam 10. Foundations of Management zachet 11. Social Ecology zachet 12 Sociology of Religion zachet 13. Sociology of Communication exam 14. Sociology of International Relations exam Gen. Prof. Subjects (Regional Component) Ethno-sociology exam 2. Sociolinguistics exam Gen. Prof. Subjects (Electives) 256

12 1. Public Relations exam 2. Theory & Practice of Social Work exam SPECIALIZATION SUBJECTS Sociology of the Family exam 2. Sociology of Culture exam 3. Sociology of Political Processes exam 4. Soc. Problems of Public Opinion Research zachet 5. Sociology of Education zachet 6. Social Forecasting & Planning zachet 7. Social Pedagogy zachet 8. State & Municipal Management exam 9. Management in the Social Sphere zachet SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS (ELECTIVES) 1300 Specialized Courses 5 courses 5,6,7,8,9 5 exams Specialized Seminars 5 courses 4,5,6,7,8 5 zachet Additional types of training (military training, civil defense) 450 hours Electives 450 hours This version of the curriculum is based on the following data: Theoretical Teaching and Examinations Sessions Practical Training Sessions (Production Practice, Pedagogical Practice) Final State Certification [Preparation and defense of final paper/project] Vacations (including post-diploma leave) 180 weeks 18 weeks 14 weeks 48 weeks TOTAL 8950 hours TOTAL 260 weeks Common Gen. Ed. Subject Contents, excerpted from the Russian State Educational Standards (Google translation): Psychology & Pedagogy (General Humanities & Social Sciences-Economics Subject): Psychology: Subject, object and methods of psychology. Place of psychology in the sciences. The history of psychological knowledge and the basic directions in psychology. Individual, person, entity, individuality. Mind and body. Psyche, behavior and activities. The main functions of the psyche. The development of the psyche in the process of ontogeny and phylogeny. Brain and psyche. The structure of the psyche. Value of consciousness and unconsciousness. Basic mental processes. The structure of consciousness. Cognitive processes. Sensation. Perception. Representation. Imagination. Thinking and intelligence. Creativity. Attention. Mnemonic processes. Emotions and feelings. Mental regulation of behavior and activity. Communication and speech. Personality psychology. Interpersonal relationships. Psychology of small groups. Intergroup relations and interactions. Pedagogy: Education, upbringing, training, teaching activities, teacher interaction, educational technology, pedagogical problem. Education as universal values. Education as a sociocultural phenomenon and pedagogical process. Education system of Russia. Objectives, content, structure, continuous education, unity and self-education. Pedagogical process. Educational, pedagogical and develops training functions. Education in the educational process. Common forms of training activities. Lesson, lecture, seminars, practical and laboratory sessions, debates, conferences, test, exam, elective classes, counseling. Methods, techniques, means of organization and management of educational process. The family as a subject of pedagogical interaction and socio-cultural environment of education and personal development. Management of educational systems. Economics (General Humanities & Social Sciences-Economics Subject): Introduction to economic theory. Good. Needs, resources. Economic choice. Economic relations. Economic systems. Key stages in the development of economic theory. Methods of economic theory. Microeconomics. Market. Supply and demand. Consumer preferences and marginal utility. Demand factors. Individual and market demand. Income effect and substitution effect. Elasticity. Proposal and its factors. Law of diminishing marginal productivity. Economies of scale. Types of costs. Firm. Revenues and profits. The principle of maximizing profits. Proposal perfectly competitive firm and industry. Efficiency of competitive markets. Market power. Monopoly. Monopolistic competition. Oligopoly. Antitrust regulation. Demand for factors of production. Labor market. Supply and demand of labor. Wages and employment. Capital market. Interest and investment. Land market. Rent. General equilibrium and welfare. Income distribution. Inequality. Externalities and public goods. The role of the state. Macroeconomics. The national economy as a whole. Circuit income and products. GDP and ways to measure it. National income. Disposable personal income. Price indices. Unemployment and its shape. Inflation and its species. Economic cycles. Macroeconomic balance. Aggregate demand and aggregate supply. Stabilization policy. Equilibrium in the commodity market. Consumption and savings. Investment. Government spending and taxes. Multiplier effect. Fiscal policy. Money and its functions. Equilibrium in the money market. Money multiplier. Banking system. Monetary policy. Economic growth and development. International economic relations. Foreign trade and trade policy. The balance of payments. Exchange rate. Features of the transition economy of Russia. Privatization. Form of ownership. Entrepreneurship. Shadow economy. Labor market. Distribution and revenue. Transformations in the social sphere. Structural shifts in the economy. The formation of an open economy. Mathematics (General Mathematics-Science Subject): Analytical geometry and linear algebra; sequences and series, differential and integral calculus, vector analysis, and elements of field theory, harmonic analysis, differential equations, numerical methods, complex variable, elements of functional analysis, probability and statistics: probability theory, stochastic processes, statistical estimation and testing hypotheses, statistical methods of data processing. 12