東京大学公共政策大学院 | GraSPP / Graduate School of Public Policy | The university of Tokyo

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本日5/31の授業は教室が通常と異なります。 国際学術総合研究棟4階SMBCホールで行いますのでご注意ください。

Whenever I interact with students, I encourage them to take an interest in real-world issues and form their own opinions. My personal experience shows that it is challenging to fully understand theories just by reading textbooks and writing papers, as theory is the condensed essence of reality. Conversely, the recommended approach can stimulate research underpinned by genuine motivation with real-world relevance. GraSPP offers an excellent opportunity to spend time with a broad range of people, as its atmosphere represents a microcosm of the global community. We need aspiring public policy professionals who can bridge the gap between theory and practice to address challenges facing us worldwide and in local communities. When I started thinking about my ideal future career path as an undergraduate 40 years ago, I was attracted by the idea of seeking a career where I would move back and forth between international organizations and academia. My dream was to become a diplomat or international civil servant. I earned my first bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and then enrolled in the Faculty of Economics at The University of Tokyo for a second bachelor’s degree to broaden my knowledge. I was fortunate to encounter a seminar group run by a renowned economics professor Hirofumi Uzawa, where my peers and the professor inspired me academically and personally. However, the sheer brilliance of the professor and some of my peers overwhelmed me and convinced me to stop pursuing an academic career. Giving up on academia, I decided to look for a job in international finance. Eventually, I joined the Export-Import Bank of Japan (reorganized as JBIC afterward). Ironically, for the first three years, my job was doing research at the bank’s research department. After a while, I received the bank's sponsorship for a graduate degree. I spent a year in the United States earning a master’s degree in economics after taking first-year courses in the doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My second professional assignment was lending operations for Sub-Saharan African countries. Then, in 1990, just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, I was assigned unexpectedly to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be involved in diplomatic work to deal with multilateral development banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), for almost three years. This assignment began a series of job assignments at various organizations. Following a one-year engagement in Central Asia as a loan officer back in the bank, I was offered another fixed-term assignment for three years as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with debt issues in developing countries. Unexpectedly again, I moved from the IMF to the World Bank in 1998 as an advisor on private participation in infrastructure, nowadays called Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), to work with government officials in Vietnam and the Philippines. [gallery link="none" size="medium" columns="2" ids="42683,42684,42682,42689"] Following my return to Japan in late 1999, I worked at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) with counterparts in Asian countries in various managerial capacities in country risk assessment, financing, and research. My close ties with professionals in many Asian countries have been maintained since those years. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="none" ids="42690,42685,42687,42688"] Now, serving as one of the professors of practice at GraSPP, I have unexpectedly fulfilled my original ambition to work at international organizations and academia. I started teaching at GraSPP as a visiting lecturer in 2010 before becoming a full-time professor in 2013 while maintaining my engagement in policy research and dialogue activities outside academia. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="medium" ids="42692,42681"] Whenever I interact with students at GraSPP, I encourage them to take an interest in real-world issues and form their own opinions. My experience as a student in the old days shows that it is not easy to fully understand theories just by reading textbooks and writing papers, as theory is the condensed essence of reality. Conversely, the recommended approach can stimulate research underpinned by genuine motivation with real-world relevance. I hope that GraSPPers will gain in-depth academic knowledge backed by a sense of realism. There is also an excellent opportunity to spend time with a broad range of people, as GraSPP is a microcosm of the global community. We need aspiring public policy professionals who can bridge the gap between theory and practice to address challenges facing us worldwide and in local communities. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="medium" ids="42679,42686"]

Classroom for this course has been set to Faculty of Law & Letters Bldg.1 Room No.19.

UNU-IAS* Intensive Core Courses 2023 *UNU-IAS: United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability UNU-IAS has announced its Intensive Core Courses in September. Course Information Under the exchange agreement between GraSPP and UNU-IAS, full-time students in either Master’s Program or Ph.D Program at GraSPP are able to register courses without paying tuition. If you wish to take courses, please submit the following documents to the GraSPP Graduate School Office via email by NOON on Friday, June 9. 1 Form1: Application Form(Excel, 44KB) 2 Form2: Statement of Purpose (Word, 32KB) * When submitting, please convert this form to PDF. 3 A copy of the latest transcript in English issued by GraSPP* * For first-year students who spend their first semester at GraSPP now, please submit the transcript by the institution in which in you were enrolled before GraSPP. 4 A copy of TOEFL or IELTS score report (if any) * You may be exempted from submitting this document.　Please refer to the conditions on the UNU-IAS web page. Note: – Courses credits taken at UNU-IAS may be transferable to GraSPP as elective credits. Those who wish to transfer credits are required to contact the GraSPP Graduate School Office after UNU-IAS courses start.

Due to system maintenance, UTokyo Wi-Fi in International will be unavailable temporarily during the time below. Wednesday, May 31  from AM3:00 to 4:00 at Faculty of Medicine Bldg.1 Thursday, June 1 from AM3:00 to 4:00 at International Academic Research Bldg. Friday, June 2 from AM3:00 to 4:00 at Akamon General Research Bldg.    

Those who are interested, please refer to the following website and apply directly through UTAS. https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/adm/go-global/ja/program-list-short-U7studentforum2023.html

Those who are interested, please refer to the following website and apply directly through UTAS. https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/adm/go-global/ja/s0501_00071.html

Information session on "Macroeconomic Policy for Practitioners" (5130326, S2)  Remember that "Macroeconomic Policy for Practitioners" (5130326) as an S2 course will start on Tuesday, June 6. Economic policy practitioners and analysts or those seeking careers in international organizations are highly encouraged to take this course. The course approach is practical, not technical or mathematical. Please join the information session on the course from 12:20 to 12:50 on Friday, June 2 in Seminar Room B on the 12th floor of the International Academic Research Building. Feel free to bring your brown bag lunch while listening to the briefing.  The course has no prerequisite in the knowledge of economics, while a basic understanding of undergraduate-level macroeconomics may help. The most critical are common sense, logical thinking, and a genuine interest in today's economic issues. Mr. Jerry Schiff, former Deputy Director of IMF's Asia and Pacific Department, will lead this course to analyze real-world policy questions and country cases. Country case studies and current economic news will also be a starting point for class discussions. The instructor trains students to write a policy memo with policy recommendations and a memo as if employed in a specific economic institution (e.g., a central bank, finance ministry, or international organization).  The one-on-one mock job interview, modeled after job interviews at the IMF and joined by Prof. Nishizawa, will play the role of the final exam.  https://www.pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/faculty/schiff-jerald/ For inquiry: Prof. Toshiro Nishizawa (tnishizawa<at>pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp) Replace <at> with @.

There were three reasons I decided to apply to GraSPP: I wanted to do a master's degree with a practical political orientation, learn more about Japan and East Asia, and study at an internationally well-connected university. GraSPP had an attractive offer with the MPP/IP for this purpose. The master's program also stood out for its high flexibility in the choice of courses as well as the possibility to study at other graduate schools.

I have not regretted the decision to join GraSPP for a single day. Every day I learn—not only in class but also from my fellow students. What makes studying here very special are the people. The students all have very diverse backgrounds. This applies not only to their countries of origin but also to their professions and life phases: recent bachelor's graduates from a wide range of disciplines study together with civil servants, people from the private sector and development workers. In conversations and discussions, my horizon has been greatly broadened by these many different perspectives and backgrounds.

Classes in GraSPP are characterized by their close contact between students and professors. Most courses are small, which encourages interaction and discussion. Many professors have previously worked for ministries, international organizations, or the private sector. They not only bring exciting anecdotes and an extensive network but also have an eye for practical issues. This helps to strongly link the academic to the real-world problems that await policymakers.

  The MPP/IP has also had a significant impact on my personal and professional development. After graduating, I originally wanted to work at the intersection of policy and communications. However, after taking several energy-related subjects at GraSPP, my interest in this field grew stronger. I started working as a teaching assistant for two professors in this area and became more and more involved with the topic in my private life. After graduation, I will now start working for one of the largest European energy companies in the fall. I could not imagine a more exciting job—especially in today's times. Even though it is hard for me to say goodbye to Japan and GraSPP, I am still cheerful. I am returning with a lot of new knowledge and experiences—but most importantly, with many new friendships that I have made within GraSPP. The people I have met here have left a lasting impression on me and will continue to do so in the future. I now know friends in many countries and am already making plans to visit them all. After all, that is also GraSPP: a network of impressive personalities from all over the world.

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S2集中科目として「水道事業の経営管理」（担当：大西淳也教授）が新規に開講されます。 詳細はUTASのシラバスを参照してください。 この科目はCapstone演習として開講され、以下のとおりオンラインで説明会を実施します。 関心のある方はご参加ください。 【日時】 2023年6月7日（水）10:30～11:00 【Zoom ミーティング情報】 https://u-tokyo-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/89628142736?pwd=RC9NZDJNa2d5UE4vaFB4VlBTOFJJZz09  ミーティングID: 896 2814 2736 パスコード: 725026