Dean's Message Archive
Message from Dean Morita
October 2005
Dean Akira Morita
Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) will have a first commencement next March. For first graduates attending this commencement, summer semester started in April 2005 was for job hunting. Many of them received job offers from national ministries and agencies, international institutions, mass media, think tanks, and financial institutions.
For the past two years, thanks to the students' passion, support both from inside and outside, endeavor of teachers and staff, GraSPP's presence has become quite visible. We will continue to try our best to meet the expectation a lot of people showed and to reflect the comments they made to us.
We are currently working on the following issues.
1) Research Project
It is of utmost importance that students shall receive guidance from the professional who work on the front line to utilize the cutting edge knowledge obtained from their working experiences. Also, it is extreme important that students have some sort of on the job training. In order to achieve this, they need to be exposed to researches in each field of public policy and try to experiment themselves.
As one of these efforts, Japan Civil Aviation Promotion Foundation commissioned a research to start up International Transport Policy Research Unit (ITPU) project. The project started on October 1, 2005. We hope that the project will attract one of the best researchers to do the cutting edge study in the field, and that it will also take an active role in training students.
There are some plans going on about a few courses to be funded by private corporations as well. These kinds of research activities will greatly benefit in acquiring human resources and financial resources as well as in researches.
2) International Cooperation with Schools Abroad
We aim to strengthen international cooperation with foreign schools. The agreement with Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) will be concluded very soon (although it was a little behind the schedule), aiming particularly for student exchange. Student exchange program will start next year. We also had a lot of discussions with faculty and staff of departments and schools of public policy of foreign universities on issues like cooperation and exchange between their schools and our school. You can browse examples on “International Exchange” section on GraSPP's website.
3) Curriculum
For two years after starting GraSPP, it was required to be in accordance with the school establishment plan. However, prerequisites have changed and various comments and feedback from faculty, students, and society have been gathered. We are now in the process of reviewing the curriculum and educational system based on the feedbacks we received. The process includes review of required courses and case studies, establishment of mid-career course for professionals, additional foreign language classes, and one-year course. Some of them are long-term agenda, but we will try out best to reflect as much as what was requested.
We will continue to expand “public policy seminar” series; experts from various areas will be invited for the seminars to talk about important issues.
Main facilities and functions have moved to the Administration Bureau Building No.2 this May. Some students complain that the facilities are too far from classrooms, but, to be honest, given the current situation of Hongo campus, it is quite impossible for the time being to have a building of our own. However, students are able to use study room at the Administrative Bureau Building No.2 and more computers are to be furnished. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize these facilities.
You see that our school is steadily growing to expand. It is regrettable that we are currently not able to meet student's request about facilities, but we ask for your understanding that we are trying our very best to respond to their needs. We are very glad to hear that some students have formed independent study groups, and others suggest that they establish an alumni association. I am sure that this school is going to be an excellent school whose students will flourish at international arenas.