Welcome to GraSPP. Also, let me express my heartfelt congratulations on being admitted to GraSPP. Our admission has been and continues to be very competitive, and it was not easy to get in. You should be proud of yourself for being selected. On behalf of our faculty and staff, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you.
Many students from a diverse set of countries are about to join GraSPP. Sixty-seven students are entering the MPP/IP program this year, including thirteen double-degree students from our partner schools. Also, fifteen students have come here in various exchange programs. Furthermore, three students are joining the Doctoral program in various capacities. In total, we have seventy new students, and they represent twenty-six countries, including our neighboring countries and some far-flung places.
Like other countries, Japan suffered greatly from the COVID pandemic. Most of our courses have been offered online over the past few years. Now that the Japanese government has lifted all COVID-related restrictions, we are back to normal.
I regret to say that the sense of community was lost at GraSPP during the pandemic. And now we are also trying to build back that sense of community. So, please help us do that by making many new friends while you are here.
Our faculty members are more than happy to help you assimilate into this new environment. We look forward to seeing you in class.
October 2023
Keisuke Iida, Dean
Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo