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I am a GraSPP/Australian National University (ANU) double degree student and spent my second academic year at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, where I pursued a specialization in environment. I first discovered the double degree program between ANU and GraSPP while searching for master’s programs. As a person interested in environmental policy issues, particularly marine environment issues in the Asia-Pacific region, being able to study in two countries located in the area was an opportunity that I could not miss. I applied to GraSPP in the hope of applying for the ANU double degree program for my second year. After spending a year in both Tokyo and Canberra, I can say that being at both places brought unique experiences that allowed me to dive into the world of policymaking for the environment and development.
My first year in Tokyo started with a blast, where I was able to lay strong foundations in public policy while being exposed to various opportunities outside of the classroom. Within the classroom, I became part of the University of Tokyo Ocean Alliance, which allowed me to learn about various marine governance issues. Outside of the classroom, I had the privilege to participate and represent GraSPP with my teammates at the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) Conference in Sao Paulo, where we created policy proposals and competed with representatives from the world’s leading universities in the policy field, such as the Columbia University and the London School of Economics. The GraSPP community was also very diverse, warm, and welcoming, which made me feel at home and even a bit hesitant to leave Tokyo.
In contrast to that initial hesitance, studying at ANU was eye-opening to me in both academic and personal ways.
Academically, I became exposed to various environment-related policy issues and learned how to analyze them using relevant cutting-edge theories and toolkits. From energy policy to indigenous-led land and sea management, pursuing an environment specialization at ANU allowed me to think about so many environmental policy issues that exist today in the world. I also became exposed to useful new toolkits, such as post-structural policy analysis methods, that allowed me to look at environmental issues more carefully.
One highlight in my academic journey at ANU was participating in a research component in the second semester, where I was able to work with my supervisor, who has done extensive research on coastal communities in Southeast Asia. As a person interested in marine policy issues in the Asia-Pacific, this was my academic dream come true. I enjoyed seeing my supervisor every time we had a meeting, and he gave me rich insights into creating a research proposal to study the livelihood effects of dive tourism on remote coastal communities in Indonesia.
Outside of academics, I was blessed to be part of the tight-knit ANU Crawford community. When I first came to Canberra, I was surprised at how closely the students interacted with each other in classes, dormitories, and outside of the classrooms. Even though it was my first time living abroad by myself and I was the only Japanese national in my cohort, it was very easy for me to make friends from various backgrounds. I soon found myself in a few communities where I could talk about personal matters and/or engage in long academic conversations.
A special mention goes to my dorm, Toad Hall, for shaping my time in Canberra. It was by no means a five-star hotel, with the 50-year-old building having occasional technical failures and the shared kitchen being congested at times. However, my block in Toad Hall had a sense of community where I could casually walk up to my neighbors, share food, and have hours-long conversations about academics, life, history, politics, and almost everything. The same goes for my classmates at Crawford, where we often studied, practiced our presentations, and discussed various topics until late at night at the Hancock Library. When we were not busy with academics, we often went out of the city to explore places in Australia like Sydney, the Snowy Mountains, and the coastal town of Narooma, where I could swim with seals. I truly cherish all of these memories and hope to keep in touch with the friends that I have made here.
Enriched by this experience through GraSPP and ANU, I am set to start a career in the development sector after my graduation. I think it would have been impossible for me to set foot on this if it were not for the opportunities and the people that I have met through my experience at both universities. As I leave GraSPP and ANU with a heart full of gratitude, I would like to invite future students to also participate in this exciting double degree journey.
Related link
Australian National University | Double degree challenges strengthen our Japanese graduate