Educational Goals, Policy (3 Policies)

Educational Policy of the Faculty of Medicine

Fundamental Educational Goals

The Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, aims to provide education that enhances the training of excellent clinicians and medical researchers as its most important mission. Building on the steady research achievements accumulated over many years, the faculty fosters students’ ability to actively acquire scientific thinking methods and advanced medical knowledge and skills. Through close dialogue and discussions with fellow students and faculty, as well as lifelong learning, the faculty supports the development of rich humanity, ensuring each individual adheres to medical ethics and earns social trust. Additionally, the faculty aims to cultivate individuals with high comprehensive abilities and character who can play a central role in various fields both domestically and internationally.

Exemplary Students

The Faculty of Medicine, under the fundamental educational goals of Okayama University Medical School, identifies the “ability of students to actively acquire scientific thinking methods and advanced medical knowledge and skills,” “commitment to medical ethics,” “high comprehensive ability,” and “high character,” respectively as “implementation ability,” “inquiry ability,” “communication ability,” “specialized ability,” and “liberal arts ability.” The faculty aims to cultivate pioneering practitioners in the field of medicine who can continuously grow and flexibly apply their specialized knowledge and skills with a high sense of ethics to protect and promote the well-being of people.

Pioneering practitioners in the fields of medicine who can flexibly and continuously grow, applying their specialized knowledge and skills accurately with a high sense of ethics to protect and promote the well-being of people.

We will foster individuals to develop the following five abilities:

Implementation Ability: The ability to connect with others and tackle medical and healthcare challenges.
Inquiry Ability: The ability to perceive life and phenomena as they are and identify medical and healthcare issues.
Communication Ability: The ability to connect with others and learn collaboratively in the field of medicine and healthcare.
Specialized Ability: The specialized ability to acquire the fundamental and systematic expertise required by regional and global medical and healthcare.
Liberal Arts Ability: The ability to maintain an interest in medicine, healthcare, and society, and to make learning a habitual practice.

Policy for Graduation Certification and Degree Awarding (Degree Policy)

The Faculty of Medicine, Okayama Univesity Medical School, awards degrees to students who have studied for the prescribed period of time, acquired the following competences and earned the credits required for graduation in order to develop exemplary students.

Abilities that can be acquired: Implementation Ability, Inquiry Ability, Communication Ability, Specialized Ability, Liberal Arts Ability

【Implementation Abilitys】The implementation ability to connect with others and tackle medical and healthcare challenges.

The ability to act proactively with a high sense of ethics to address diverse medical challenges in the region and the world as healthcare professionals and medical researchers.

【Inquiry Ability】The inquiry ability to perceive life and phenomena as they are and identify medical and healthcare issues.

The ability to constantly examine and address issues from academic and multifaceted perspectives to continuously improve the quality of healthcare as healthcare professionals and medical researchers.

【Communication Ability】The communication ability to connect with others and learn together in the field of medicine and healthcare.

The ability to enhance each other across differences through empathetic dialogue and active listening, using various appropriate methods as healthcare professionals and medical researchers..

【Specialized Ability】The specialized ability to acquire the fundamental and systematic expertise required by regional and global medical and healthcare.

The ability to acquire and flexibly apply foundational knowledge and skills in their specialized field at a high level, and extend them as necessary as healthcare professionals and medical researchers..

【Liberal Arts Ability】The ability to maintain an interest in medicine, healthcare, and society, and to make learning a habit.

The ability to maintain a constant curiosity and continue learning to develop a rich humanity and deep culture, with an interest in diverse medical challenges in the region and the world as healthcare professionals and medical researchers.

Policy for Curriculum Design and Implementation (Curriculum Policy)

In order to develop individuals who have mastered the abilities set out in the Policy for Graduation Certification and Degree Awarding (Degree Policy), the Faculty of Medicine organizes and implements curricula based on the following educational policies and principles.

Education Implementation Policy

To provide education that helps students develop the ability to continue to learn independently in order to implement sustainable societies.

Education Principles

From the perspective of proactive and interactive deep learning in medicine and healthcare, the following educational content is provided, emphasizing what students have become able to do, rather than what has been taught.

【General Education】
We provide general education that aims to develop general knowledge and skills, offering practical activities for learning with other students while maturing and creating together. The curriculum equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable interaction and collaboration with people whose ideas differ from their own.

【Specialized Education】
We provide specialized education that offers students opportunities to gain a deep understanding through systematically provided diverse medical educational content and to integrate knowledge from different specialty areas while creating through collaboration. We also provide a curriculum that equips students with knowledge and skills in various fields to enrich their thinking, as well as systematic and foundational specialized knowledge and skills to build their own expertise while learning from one another.

【Language Education】
We provide language education to enhance the English skills necessary for thriving as medical professionals and researchers in a global society. We ensure that students have opportunities to study English and develop integrated language skills in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. These skills are applied in introductory foreign language courses for cross-cultural understanding as well as in specialized medical courses. Additionally, we create opportunities for students to learn medical English both within the regular curriculum and through extracurricular activities.

Educational Methods

The aforementioned educational content is provided in the following ways.

（１）Educational methods are used to help students proactively expand their potential.

General education, specialized education, and language education are provided in ways that enable students to expand their potential by understanding others and learning from one another.

（２）An educational system is offered that takes full advantage of the unique features of the university.

For all courses in the Faculty of Medicine, an educational system is provided that enables students to, while respecting their own specialties, collaborate with others in different specialized fields to think, take action, and create something new, while learning from each other.

（３）Practical educational programs which are tailored to the development of the students are provided.

Throughout the undergraduate program, students are offered practical learning experiences such as internships, practicums, and research opportunities, both domestically and internationally, in medical settings connected to their region and the world.

Academic performance evaluation policy

The academic performance of each student is strictly evaluated.In the Faculty of Medicine, the standards and methods for evaluating course performance are clearly specified in the syllabus in advance, and academic achievements are assessed based on these criteria.

Extracurricular Education Policy

Students are provided with extracurricular activities to enable them to understand their personal development beyond classroom learning.

Policy for Acceptance of Students (Admission Policy)

The Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, seeks students equipped with the following abilities:

Profile of Prospective Students

Prospective students should have:

the ability to integrate acquired knowledge to approach challenges with practical skills.
the ability to derive multifaceted perspectives on issues with inquiry skills.
the ability to clearly express their questions, interests, and thoughts in diverse ways.
a high level of knowledge about nature and society including language skills.
an interest in learning itself, with the capability to innovate and create.

Abilities Expected of Prospective Students

Implementation Ability: The ability to use the knowledge acquired through learning to solve an issue.
Inquiry Ability: The ability to formulate their own ideas about issues.
Communication Ability: The ability to explain their own questions, interests, and ideas in an easily understood way.
Specialized Ability: Have basic knowledge of nature and society as well as language skills.
Liberal Arts Ability: Have a strong interest in learning, and be inventive about how to learn.

Screening Policy and Methods for Admission

Screening Policy

To ensure a diverse pool of applicants, several types of examinations will be conducted on different dates.

Screening Methods

Applicants will be examined using one or a combination of tests based on academic ability, an interview, a review of submitted documents, and a paper interview in order to assess their academic ability or aptitude for study at Okayama University.

Screening Process

General Entrance Examination (First Round Schedule)

The General Entrance Examination evaluates candidates through the following:

1. Common Test for University Admissions (6 Subjects, 8 Topics)
– Assesses fundamental academic proficiency at the high school graduation level across a broad range of subjects.

2. Individual Academic Ability Examination
– Subjects: Mathematics, two Science subjects, and Foreign Language (English).
– Purpose: To evaluate the depth of understanding in subjects foundational to medical studies.

3. Interview
– Focus: A comprehensive assessment to comprehensively assess the suitability of applicants as future leaders in the field of medicine and healthcare.

This multi-faceted evaluation ensures the selection of well-rounded individuals equipped with the knowledge and qualities required for medical education.

School Recommendation-Based Selection II (requiring the Common Test for University Admissions)

Applicants will be recruited and selected for the regional quota course. Through document review, including the academic transcript and statement of purpose, as well as an interview, it will be confirmed that the applicants meet the application requirements of each desired prefecture, receive scholarships provided by the respective prefectures, and have a strong intention to engage in medical practice within the prefecture. Their suitability as future leaders in the field of medicine and healthcare will be comprehensively assessed. For the purpose of post-admission studies, applicants will be required to take the Common Test for University Admissions, covering 6 subject areas with 8 subjects, and those who meet the standard score will be selected.

Special Entrance Examination for Privately Financed International Students

Applicants who meet the application requirements set by our institution will undergo document review and take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), which includes Japanese, Mathematics Course 2, Biology, and one additional Science subject. This evaluation will assess the basic academic abilities at the level of Japanese high school graduation. In the Individual Academic Ability Examination, applicants will be tested in Mathematics, two Science subjects, and a Foreign Language (English) to evaluate their understanding of the foundational subjects necessary for studying medicine. Additionally, an interview will be conducted to comprehensively assess their suitability as future leaders in the field of medicine and healthcare.

International Baccalaureate Entrance Examination

Applicants who possess an International Baccalaureate (IB) qualification with a final assessment score of 39/45 or higher, have achieved a score of 4 or higher in Japanese (Language A) or a score of 6 or higher in Language B at the Higher Level (HL), and have completed two Science subjects and Mathematics (with the required grades), will undergo document review. This review will assess their basic academic abilities at the level of Japanese high school graduation and their understanding of the foundational subjects necessary for studying medicine. Additionally, an interview will be conducted to comprehensively assess their suitability as future leaders in the field of medicine and healthcare.

Transfer Admission into the 2nd Year (Bachelor’s Admission)

Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet the application requirements set by our institution will undergo document review (including TOEFL-iBT score reports). For those who pass the document review, a biology test will be conducted to evaluate their understanding of the foundational subjects necessary for studying medicine. Additionally, an essay will be used to assess problem-solving ability, intellectual curiosity, and creativity. An interview will also be conducted to comprehensively assess their suitability as future leaders in the field of medicine and healthcare.

Relationship Between Admissions Selection and the Three Elements of Academic Ability

Content Expected to Be Learned Before Admission

In high school, it is necessary to develop logical thinking skills, write coherent essays, and acquire basic knowledge and thinking methods in the natural sciences. For post-enrollment studies, it is desirable to have acquired knowledge in the following subjects in high school:

Japanese Language
Foreign Languages
Geography and History
Civics
Mathematics
Science
Information Technology