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Takahiro Akita
Dean and Professor
Graduate School of International Relations |
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The world economy in the last two decades has changed dramatically through
the increasing interdependence and globalization of production, trade,
finance, and capital flows. These changes have occurred in the context
of rapid transportation and information technology development. The financial
crises of the East and Southeast Asian economies are a reminder of the
need to analyze, understand, and properly harness the growing interdependent
structure of these economies and the world as a whole. However, one of
the dramatic changes in the world economy is that inequality among nations
has increased at an alarming rate. While most East Asian economies have
achieved relatively high economic growth, a larger number of countries
have stagnated or even experienced negative growth. Poverty and inequality
in income and opportunities are still widespread, and there is much instability
and uncertainty in the world. We have fears of terrorism and violence.
There are deep intellectual and emotional divisions among the nations of
the world. While economic growth has served as an effective solution to
poverty and terrorism, it has led in some cases to the depletion of natural
resources and a resulting negative impact on the global environment. The
world's resource base is limited and connected to a complex and
interrelated array of ecosystems. One of the pressing issues facing the
current generation is whether the world economy can sustain growth without
undermining the natural environment and threatening the livelihoods of
future generations.
The Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR), which was established in 1982 as the first professional school in Japan, is intended to equip students with political, economic, and management skills, as well as historical and cultural perspectives, so that they may become specialists who understand and analyze the above and other related issues in international relations. The school, utilizing the experiences of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, examines these issues within a broad and coherent theoretical framework. The GSIR is designed to also help students acquire a long-term vision of the rapidly changing world, appreciate diverse perspectives of global and local contexts, and enhance their level of knowledge and problem-solving capabilities in contemporary international affairs.
The GSIR has a highly qualified international faculty and advanced facilities, including an efficient campus-wide Local Area Network (LAN) that is linked
24 hours a day to the global Internet for collecting information from all
over the world. Our current student body is also very diverse, representing
more than 40 countries around the world. Because of this, the student body
itself is one of the most valuable sources of information for learning
about and analyzing various international issues. The variety of professional
and cultural backgrounds that our students bring is one of the most important
assets at our school. At our university, all course work and official communications
are conducted in English. Thus, it is not necessary to speak Japanese.
The school offers an excellent Japanese language program for students even without any prior knowledge of Japanese, and its English language program provides useful support to students who need it.
To facilitate the objectives of the GSIR, three separate but interrelated
graduate professional programs are offered: the International Development Program (IDP) , the International Relations Program (IRP), and the International Peace Studies Program (IPSP). In addition, in order to meet the changing needs of the students, the GSIR will start a new two-year MA program in 2010, the Public Management and Policy Analysis Program (PMPP).
The IDP is designed for students who desire to contribute to improving the lives of the world's people, especially in developing countries, through the design and implementation of effective and sustainable development policies. The IDP is designed not only for students who wish to pursue careers in the public sector, international aid agencies, or international organizations, but also for those who wish to work in consulting firms, research institutes, financial institutions, and other public sector companies. Graduates receive a Master of Arts degree in International Development.
The IRP is designed to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of major trends in contemporary international politics, economics, and society. The IRP has proved useful for those who either work in, or who intend to take up careers in the public sector, international organizations, or in the media. Graduates receive a Master of Arts degree in International Relations.
The IPSP is designed for individuals who wish to contribute to creating the conditions for peace, eliminating poverty and enhancing the human security of the people of the world. It enables individuals to acquire the basic skills and knowledge necessary to design, implement and evaluate public policies for achieving peace and protecting human security. Graduates receive a Master of Arts degree in International Peace Studies.
Finally, the PMPP is designed to meet the needs of good governance required to implement, administer and evaluate policies that effectively solve diverse public problems in the areas of environmental management, health care, education, and national and regional development. Like IDP, it is designed not only for students who wish to pursue careers in the public sector, international aid agencies, or international organizations, but also for those who wish to work in consulting firms, research institutes, and other public sector companies. Graduates receive a Master of Arts degree in Public Management.
These programs also offer a valuable stepping stone to those who wish to pursue further studies in a Ph.D. program and enter the academic world.
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