Dean's Message
Aiming to Graduate Students Demanded by the Times
The Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) was founded in April 2004 to offer a graduate school master's degree program (a professional degree program) to train experts in planning, implementing and evaluating public policy. GraSPP is a professional graduate school established for the purpose of fostering policy professionals with both high-level expertise and broad knowledge, engaged in wide-ranging aspects of public policy as public servants, experts at international organizations and research institutions. Over the years, numerous University of Tokyo graduates from the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics and many other faculties have been involved in planning and determining public policy, and have become leaders in their respective fields. With the globalization of society and the economy, however, the abilities and qualities required of individuals involved with the drafting and implementation of public policy are rapidly changing.
As a result of the prolonged weak performance of the Japanese economy with more than a decade of deflation and a declining potential growth rate, the nation has a constant budget deficit and the highest national debt (as a percent of GDP) in the world. It will now be a difficult work to regain the health of the Japanese economy as the population declines. Moreover, the international political developments surrounding Japan, the rise of emerging economies, and in particular China's economic growth and growing presence in the international community demand that Japan should explore new diplomatic strategies.
At GraSPP, the curriculum is designed to train individuals with the abilities to accurately perceive policy issues regarding the Japanese economy and political system, evaluate policies, represent Japan in negotiations with other countries, and form consensus at international consultations.
To those ends, first, GraSPP is reinforcing our internationalization efforts. GraSPP inaugurated an international program (MPP/IP) taught in English from fiscal 2010, is actively seeking enrollment from students overseas. Also, we have launched a double degree program with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore as the first double degree program at the University of Tokyo. GraSPP has since arranged additional double degree programs with the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po). While deepening ties with overseas graduate schools of public policy in this way, GraSPP strives to serve as a focal point for international education.
Second, GraSPP aims to promote exchanges between policymakers and cutting-edge research and education, through pursuit of external funding. The school also enhances advanced and practical research by launching sponsored seminars and joint research in areas such as international transportation, energy and the global environment, capital markets, and ocean policy by linking ourselves to a wide range of policy network throughout society.
I encourage students who want to gain solid expertise and international abilities to become active in the field of public policy to enroll in our program and work together with us for the further development of our graduate school. I would also like to ask for your generous support to GraSPP to help us achieve these goals.