UMAP Credit Transfer Scheme
University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) has developed a pilot UMAP Credit Transfer Scheme (UCTS) to facilitate greater student mobility in the region by providing a framework for establishing credit transfer arrangements.[1] UCTS model adopted the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) in order to assist and facilitate the student mobility and create a flexible mean of transferring grades between participating universities, countries/territories and governments.[2]
Objective
The UCTS objective is to ensure effective credit transfer for students undertaking exchange program in universities from UMAP countries/territories and other regions.[3]
UCTS Components
Some of the major components of the UCTS scheme are:
- Staff in home and host universities needs to negotiate and oversee student program
- UCTS credit point scale will be used as a conversion scale to record the student workload in home and host institution [4]
Home University Responsibilities
- Negotiation of the study program in the host university
- Record the approved study program
- Arrange the level of financial support
- Convert UCTS credit points to home university equivalents[4]
Host University Responsibilities
- Negotiation of the study program with the university
- Authorize the approved study program
- Enter the host university credits/grades, and convert them to UCTS credit points
- Ensure that the registrar (or delegate) provides official certification of the Transcript[4]
UCTS Credit Points
UCTS credit points are numerical values (1 to 60) and it is allocated to course units to measure student workload required to finish the course. 60 credit points represent full-time student workload for a full academic year. For one semester exchange student, the credit points would be represented with 30 credit points.
Example: One Semester Study Program in Host University (Host University = 16 Credit point per semester; Home University = 6 credit points per term)
| Course Unit | Host University | UCTS | Home University |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 7.5 | 2.25 |
| B | 4 | 7.5 | 2.25 |
| C | 4 | 7.5 | 2.25 |
| D | 4 | 7.5 | 2.25 |
| Total | 16 | 30.0 | 9.0 |
Conversion from Host University Credit Points to UCTS: 4*30/16[5]
Conversion from UCTS to Home University Credit Points: 7.5*9/30[5]
Converting Credit Points
- Credit points measures student workload, however this does not represent the achievements
- Credit Points should only be awarded to those who successfully completed the requirements of a course unit
- The calculation should be made in terms of minimum and not average[5]
UCTS Grading Scale
The UCTS credit points scale and grading scale are not intended to replace host and home universities scales. It is used solely for the purpose of assisting the conversion.[1]
| UCTS Grade | Successful Students normally achieving grade (%) | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| A | 10 % | EXCELLENT: Outstanding with only minor errors |
| B | 25 % | VERY GOOD: Above average standard but with some errors |
| C | 30 % | GOOD: Generally sound work with a number of notable errors |
| D | 25 % | SATISFACTORY: Fair but with significant shortcomings |
| E | 10 % | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum criteria |
| FX | - | FAIL: Some more work required before the credit can be awarded |
| F | - | FAIL: Considerable further work is required |
The grading scale of universities will vary between countries/territories within UMAP. As in European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), it is necessary to have a common scale for conversion purposes.[6]