<History and Now>
Meiji University was founded in January 1881 as the Meiji Law School by a group of young lawyers barely in their 30’s: Tatsuo Kishimoto, Kozo Miyagi, and Misao Yashiro. It was an era characterized by Japan’s urgent need to develop as a modern independent nation. The three founded the Meiji Law School in their fervent hope to “foster bright capable youths who would lead a modern civil society in Japan”.
Although confronted with countless obstacles and hardships along the way, Meiji University was born as a site for learning and education. Continuing its growth without ever ceasing to ring the chimes of liberty, Meiji University has expanded as one of the prominent private universities of Japan, celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2011. With Rights, Liberty, Independence and Self-government as its guiding principles, Meiji University is committed to fostering students who satisfy the requirements of “austerity and sturdiness”, “creation of new intellect” and “needs of the times”. Having sent out approximately 500,000 graduates into the world to date, it has contributed vastly to the progress of society. The achievements of the university’s numerous alumni actively engaged in key roles in various walks of life are highly reputed.
<Campus>
We have four campuses: Surugadai Campus, the Izumi Campus, Ikuta Science Campus and the newly opened Nakano campus, which are all located in or in the vicinity from the heart of Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Good access from the center of Japan to whatever places students wish to visit guarantees to spend fruitful campus life that they carry out their research and study effectively and efficiently toward the successful accomplishment.
<Strategy toward the global society>
We are ranked solidly among the best universities in Japan, currently consisting of 10 undergraduate schools, 3 professional graduate schools, 12 graduate schools and a law school. With the wide range of fields offered by the university, students can make the best used of the advantage that interdisciplinary approaches can be taken at their own preference.
Today, with the rapid progression of globalization, the way nations position themselves is changing, and with this as a backdrop it is plain to see that Japan’s universities are also changing. Ways of thinking are changing as things are seen through an international light, and it is now seen as a matter of urgency to produce graduates who can be active on the world stage. Here at Meiji University, we are aiming to be one of the top universities in this global society, and we are making great strides in innovating education and research at the University. In addition to that, with the founding spirits of "rights, liberty, independence and autonomy", Meiji University is considering the importance of the university social responsibility, especially contributions to the international community.
Meiji University is one of the thirteen universities selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for its “Global 30” Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization aiming for universities to become competitive in the international society and provide education for global citizens. MEXT provides grants for five years to universities selected as core schools for educating international students through courses taught in English. The universities are expected to accelerate their globalization efforts and enhance the academic structure for international students studying or commencing research in Japan.
From Government to Governance: Toward a New Ideal of Society Based on Collaboration among Diverse Individuals and Organizations
The Graduate School of Governance Studies is located on Meiji University’s Surugadai Campus. This location and the range of available resources provide an ideal study environment for professionals in government and public administration.
The goal of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, “Governance Research”, is to develop students into skilled professionals with a high degree of specialist knowledge and abroad, international perspective, to leverage the benefits generated by public policy education and research programs to support policy creation by local communities and governments, and to develop students into professionals with a high degree of specialist knowledge and an international outlook. The course is aimed at people involved in local politics and administration as well as international cooperation-heads of local government, elected assembly members, public officials, NPO and NGO staff and even corporate employees-as well as universities graduates seeking to enter the civil service and who have an interest in these areas of public policy.
The English track offers courses totally in English for international students, including those on government scholarships or whose studies are otherwise funded by the government, as well as long-term government development aid trainees. Under the English track, three programs, namely “Public Policy Program”. “International Development Policy Program” and “Community Planning and Management Program” are provided, so that students can selectively study most relevant subjects to their own research interests. (See 3. Features of the Program for more details).
Generally speaking, a holder of a MA Degree in Public Policy refers to professionals who can be part of the creation of public policy incorporating a study of relevant materials and thorough analysis of policy issues in Japan and overseas. This is indeed a complex processing involving in-depth reviews of the policy-making process from planning through to finalization; consideration of how the process can be revised and streamlined to better meet its objectives (e.g., by having members of the community participate); simulation of how policies will play out in practice to gauge their feasibility in terms of meeting objectives; use of experimental policies to identify potential obstacles and their root causes; and policy revisions. Finally, or at least inter-annually, the results of the policy are collated and assessed.
The goals of the Graduate School of Governance course are to establish a new realm in the science of public policy, a comprehensive science that integrates the three existing major fields of study (politics and administration, economics and finance, and law), and to develop students into highly specialized educators armed with practical and technical knowledge.
1) Curriculum Structure
The English degree track is designed to accept both international and Japanese students. While refining the approach of various specialized disciplines to global problems, we aim to study issues of governance-essentially, how governments, corporations, and citizens should be involved in the management of society-based on case analyses of economic development, political and administrative reforms, and related areas in Japan and other countries, with an emphasis on the postwar period.
2) The Three Programs
The three programs that form the degree track are both global and local in scope. Their cores consist of, respectively, Public Policy, International Development Policy, and Community Planning and Management. From these standpoints, they take up major topics of immediate relevance to contemporary world issues, including decentralization, “good enough governance,” citizen participation, sustainable development, economic development cooperation, regional development, and poverty reduction.
(1) Public Policy Program
The program is designed to learn about public policy processes, from identifying issues to formulating, implementing, and evaluating policy options. The knowledge and expertise in policy processes, including expertise in political science, public administration studies, and efficient organizational management are growing their importance in the field of public policy.
(2) International Development Policy Program
Drawing on disciplines concerned with international economics and the environment, this program is designed to enable students to analyze global issues of sustainable development and poverty from multiple perspectives on social systems. While market-driven economic development has brought about wealth to many societies, it has also exacerbated global problems such as environmental degradation and income disparity.
(3) Community Planning and Management Program
Community is the field of practice where governance comes most closely in contact with people's lives. The program is organized around the process of making, implementing, and evaluating policies for resolving global issues from local perspectives. It also focuses on crisis management and the role of the community in responding to natural disasters and terrorism, which have been increasing in recent years.
3) Thesis Guidance
Research Method: In these seminar courses with consultation with their advisor, students choose a governance-related topic, conduct their own research from perspectives including theoretical studies and policy analysis after reviewing the relevant literature, and consider the appropriateness of their definition of the topic.
Research Paper: These seminar courses focus on the writing of academic papers. Students can learn how to construct a theory and employ research methods, data analysis techniques, and related skills in writing actual papers on their own research topics.
4) Special program for JDS Fellows
Since the carrier of most of the JDS Fellows are administrative officers playing important roles in their respective countries, actual site visits to governmental organizations both at the central and local level are specially arranged for the students. Special lectures by distinguished invited lecturers in Japan and abroad are also arranged several times a year to help students deepen their understanding of practical management methods they have adopted.
In addition, our students can take special classes designed for non-native English speakers. It is expected that they can develop their ability in academic English and acquire adequate skills before going into writing a MA thesis through these courses.
The Graduate School of Governance Studies at Meiji University offers various courses in the three programs described above. Most of the courses are relevant to the students' research interests and organized by adopting "active learning" approaches. A number of fieldwork opportunities for learning from the practice in Japan are offered.
In addition, Practical Seminars are offered for improving student's thesis writing and presentation skills in the academic fields.
Subject offered in English are listed as below.
| Public Policy Program | Governance Studies Intergovernmental Relations Urban Spatial Policy Introduction to Public Policy Analysis Public Financial Management Public Policy Policy Evaluation Evaluation Theory and Practice Japanese Foreign and Development Policy Comparative Public Administration Comparative Study of Corruption Comparative Local Government Global Governance (Theory) Global Governance (Institutions) Public Finance TQM in Public Sector Spatial Planning Negotiation in the Public Sector Current Development in Public Policy and Management Public Finance Tax Policy and Tax Administration Civil Service Systems in Japan and Abroad Human Resources Development in Local Government Japanese Local Government (Finance) Japanese Politics and Society Japanese Economic Policy |
| International Development Policy Program | Macroeconomics A/B Microeconomics A/B International Economics and Finance Private Sector Development Government and Politics in Developing Countries Politics and Economics in East Asia Political Economy of Development Theories and Experience of the Developmental State Japanese Economy in International Environment Economic System and Environment Business, Policy and Environment |
| Community Planning and Management Program | Social Policy Human Resource Management Social Development NGO/NPO Policy NGO/NPO Management Crisis Management for Natural Disasters Crisis Management and Public Administration Leadership Theory and Practice QM in Japanese Public Sector Consensus Building in the Public Sector Community Engagement and Facilitation Education for Crisis and Contingency Management Urban Management and Environment Environmental Governance Environmental Management Environmental Assessment Introducing Spatial Planning in Tokyo Comparative and International Education Japanese Education in Comparative Perspective Urban Design Crisis Management and Civil Society Urban and Regional Development Planning |
We have 12 professors who are able to supervise international students in English. Advisers are assigned at the faculty meeting before the arrival of JDS Fellows, considering their proposed research plan and expertise of advisers.
As of June 4, 2018
| Course Instructor | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Yuriko Minamoto, Ph.D. (Professor) |
Evaluation Theory and Practice Social Development Current Development in Public Policy and Management Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Hideaki Tanaka, Dr. (Professor) |
Public Financial Management Public Finance Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Makoto Nagahata (Professor) |
NGO/NPO Policy NGO/NPO Management Human Resource Management Community Engagement and Facilitation Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Masahiro Matsuura, Ph.D. (Professor) |
Urban Spatial Policy Introduction to Public Policy Analysis Negotiation in the Public Sector Consensus Building in the Public Sector Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Takafumi Kanemura (Professor) |
Tax Policy and Tax Administration Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Kyoko Ryu (Professor) |
Governance Studies Intergovernmental Relations Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Yuichi Sasaoka , Ph.D (Professor) |
Government and Politics in Developing Countries Global Governance (Theory) Global Governance (Institutions) Japanese Foreign and Development Policy Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Shunsuke Kimura, Ph.D. (Professor) |
Japanese Local Government (Finance) Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| To Be Announced | Comparative Local Government Education for Crisis and Contingency Management Civil Service Systems in Japan and Abroad Human Resources Development in Local Government Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Junro Nishide, Ph.D. (Professor) |
TQM in Public Sector QM in Japanese Public Sector Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Masami Tsuji, Ph.D. (Professor) |
Urban Management and Environment Environmental Governance Environmental Management Environmental Assessment Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Ryuta Ray Kato, Ph.D. (Professor) |
Macroeconomics A,B Microeconomics A,B Research Method 1,2 Research Paper 1,2 |
| Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Professor) |
Spatial Planning Introducing Spatial Planning in Tokyo |
| Akiko Hayashi, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor) |
Comparative and International Education Japanese Education in Comparative Perspective Qualitative Research Methods Masters Thesis Development Analyzing and Writing in Qualitative Research |
| Semester | Class duration | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Period | Fall 2019 | From September 20th 2019 to February 3rd 2020 |
| 2nd Period | Spring 2020 | From April 4th 2020 to July 31st 2020 |
| 3rd Period | Fall 2020 | From September 20th 2020 to February 3rd 2021 |
| The last Period | Spring 2021 | From April 4th 2021 to July 31st 2021 (Reference) *Graduation Ceremony (September 19th) |
* Dates are subject to change each year.
State-of-the-Art Facilities in an Ideal Location in Central Tokyo
The Graduate School of Governance Studies is located on Meiji University’s Surugadai Campus. This location and the range of available resources provide an ideal study environment for professionals in government and public administration.
Comprehensive Central Library with over 1.4 Million VolumesMeiji University may not be able to provide dormitory for international students of Graduate School of Governance Studies.
Japan entered the twenty-first century still suffering the aftereffects of the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. This prolonged slowdown shook the confidence and pride that the Japanese had developed during their postwar era of spectacular growth, while rapid globalization cast doubt on the nation’s ability to compete internationally. Under these pressures, we will without doubt see great changes in the political and administrative environment. In the coming era, people will be more aware of how their own communities are managed by local bodies, and there will be a growing need for cooperation and collaboration between the national and local governments. Japanese companies, having shown signs of recovery, must now withstand a renewed economic downturn, and they are also being called on to contribute more to society. In short, we can no longer rely on solutions that have worked in the past; we are facing new problems, and the responsibility for solving those lies in our own hands. In other words, it is now urgent that we strengthen the capacity of actors at the local level to formulate and implement policy.
Against this background, the objective of the Graduate School of Governance Studies, as a professional graduate school, is to produce graduates capable of meeting the political and administrative needs of the coming era. Our unique program is designed to train professionals with advanced knowledge, vision, and a high level of ability to formulate and carry out policy. The program is entitled “Governance Studies,” rather than “Government Studies,” to reflect the ideal of the political and administrative systems now taking shape. The era we are entering is one of collaboration in which national and local governments, the people of each community, corporate enterprises, NPOs, and NGOs must all join forces in the management of society.
In the Graduate School, highly motivated students consider a wide range of policies while working closely with teachers who have extensive international and practical experience. A major feature of the program is the student-centered curriculum, based on case studies and presentations on ongoing issues. Elected representatives, public officials, corporate employees, NPO and NGO workers, and people who aspire to political or public service careers come together at the Academy Common, and each of them plays a leading role. The program nurtures the individual’s latent ability and commitment in order to produce the future leaders of governance. And even after their two years at the Surugadai Campus have ended, the Graduate School’s alumni can look forward to maintaining a lifelong network as members of the “governance family.”
We are looking forward to receiving your promising candidates to think together for the better future of Viet Nam.
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