Hiroshima University (HU) was established by combining eight existing institutions in May 1949 under the National School Establishment Law. Later in 1953, the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical College was also added to the new HU. Some of these higher educational institutions already had brilliant traditions and histories of their own. Although these educational institutions suffered a great deal of damage due to the atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, they were reconstructed and combined to become the new HU. In addition, Graduate Schools were established in 1953. The new HU has risen from the ruins of war like a phoenix, which is in fact the University's symbol.
HU has a long history of accepting international students. This commenced before World War II. As of May 2019, HU has over 15,000 students including nearly 1,900 international students from different 72 countries.

The Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC) was established in April 1994. Our goal is to train experts who can address various pivotal issues for the international society. In particular, IDEC has worked on various challenging issues faced by developing countries through international environmental cooperation, international educational cooperation, and international peace cooperation. These three areas are mutually interrelated, and complement each other.
To achieve our goal, IDEC has been accepting many international students. Most of them come from Asian and African countries. As of March 2019, IDEC has 2,215 alumni from 73 countries.

Key Features of Education
(1)  Education Programs in English
We believe it is important to develop international professionals capable of writing academic articles and reports, communicating and conversing in English. Therefore, almost all lectures and seminars are provided in English.

(2) Systematic and Interdisciplinary Curriculum
IDEC offers a systematic and interdisciplinary curriculum to produce specialists who can contribute to international development and cooperation in ways that cut across established academic disciplines. IDEC offers integrated education and research programs in economic development, international affairs, cultural dynamics, engineering, biology, peace studies, educational development, regional studies, Asian cultures and interdisciplinary programs to develop global perspectives.

Special Education Programs
IDEC offers special education programs designed to improve the qualifications and skills of students who plan to work in the field of international cooperation. The main features of these programs are as follows.

(1) Global Environmental Leaders Special Education Program
GELs special education program has been implemented in IDEC to foster young leaders who are capable of identifying problems and formulating strategic solutions at the national or local level through interdisciplinary and international perspectives. The needs for global environmental leader are increasing against recent complex environmental issues. The GELs program has two core courses: International Environmental Cooperation Studies for expanding interdisciplinary view and Practical Seminar on International Cooperation Project for developing communication skills with experts in different field. We also provide several trainings such as summer course where students can acquire practical technology and knowledge so that they can swiftly respond to the needs and trend of international society. Certificate of completion is conferred upon satisfying the requirements of the program.
To date, more than 100 students have joined this program. They are now taking a leading role in government, academia and research institutions and private companies all over the world.
For more details, go to
https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/idec/education/special_education/courses/gels

(2) Formation of a Strategic Center for Global Internship (G.ecbo)
From 2010 the "Global Internship Program Office" was placed under the authority of the International Center as a university-wide organization, and IDEC is continuing to promote the G.ecbo Educational Program. G.ecbo is a practical education program that includes pre- and post-internship training designed to achieve viable outcomes from student internships. The following types of internships are available:

• (1) overseas internships, in which students go to a university or organization outside Japan.
• (2) domestic internships, in which foreign students go to a Japanese company or organization.
• (3) third-country internships, in which students from developing countries go to institutions in other developing countries.
• (4) follow-up research internships, in which students in doctoral programs go back to countries where they have previously worked.

For more details, go to http://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/en-gecbo/

Developing countries today are facing various difficulties, including rapid population growth, regional conflicts, deteriorating standard of living and environmental problems. Insufficient social infrastructure, particularly in education and medical conditions and technological level, impedes socioeconomic development in developing countries.

Therefore, it is of the utmost urgency that we nurture young researchers and planners who are experts in their specialized areas and have willingness to contribute to international cooperation. Through its innovative educational program, IDEC aims to provide educational opportunities for students to learn about the interdisciplinary and practical subjects necessary for international development and cooperation, including economics, environmental science, engineering, ecology, agricultural science, pedagogy, sociology, international politics and peace science. The school as a gathering with international characters offers a special place where the students with different expertise from various countries with different cultural, social, educational, political, and economical backgrounds are able to foster closer ties each other and share the common agenda and goals in international development and cooperation.
JDS Fellows will belong to Educational Development Course in the Division of Educational Development and Cultural and Regional Studies.

Division of Educational Development and Cultural and Regional Studies
This division takes an interdisciplinary approach to study issues of educational development and regional cultures in Asian and African countries, focusing on the various regional cultural characteristics and the dynamics of educational development. Along with historical and cultural relations and methods of interaction between people from different cultures, this division studies the development of educational systems that promote sustainable cultural and educational development. These diverse topics are studied from the perspective of international educational and cultural cooperation.

Educational Development Course
Educating next generation in the society takes one of the essential parts of achieving sustainable development in the developing world. In specific terms, some of the most urgent imperatives include developing　effective curriculum and instruction, building a functioning educational system and training human who can manage the system, and education both current and future teachers. The Educational Development Course is actively working toward educational development in developing countries through theoretical and practical research in the field of human resource development, educational system and curriculum development, etc.

Since we had some experiences in some JICA projects in ASEAN Countries, we can provide practical and effective problem solving method in terms of the educational development for the future ASEAN through the research guidance.  Since we have rich experience in JICA project and accepting students, we will be able to conduct pin-point lecture and research for the JDS students.

To obtain a Master’s degree, JDS Fellows need to satisfy the following requirements:

Minimum of 30 credits through course work;
Submission of a master’s thesis.

All students need to decide research topic and supervisors (one head-supervisor and two sub-supervisors) at the beginning of the first semester. Under the head-supervisor’s advice, students will choose subjects to enroll and start preparations for a master’s thesis.

List of subjects offered in 2019 academic year is attached. Students will choose subjects mainly from “Educational Development Course” but also can select some subjects offered by other 4 courses (Development Policy Course, Development Technology, Peace and Coexistence Course, and Cultural and Regional Studies Course) as free electives. (URL:https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/idec/current_students/syllabus_timetable)

List of subjects offered in 2019 academic year (Reference)

Students need to decide their research topic and supervisors (one head-supervisor and two sub-supervisors) at the beginning of the first semester. Under the head-supervisor’s advice, students will choose subjects to enroll and start preparations for their master’s thesis.

Professors who will cease regular teaching within the standard completion period of the thesis.

(Reference)

Fall Semester (October 1 - March 31)

October 1

Entrance Ceremony, Orientation

October 2 - February 6

Classes

Early October

International Student Orientation (University-wide)

Mid October

Deadline of Class Registration

November 5

University Anniversary Day

December 26 - January 5

Winter Vacation

February 7 - March 31

End-of- Academic-Year Holidays

Spring Semester (April 1 - September 30)

April 1 - April 7

Spring Vacation

April 8 - August 7

Classes

Mid April

Deadline of Class Registration

End of July

Thesis Submission (IDEC)

Mid-August

Thesis Defense (IDEC)

August 8 - September 30

Summer Vacation

September 20

Graduation Ceremony

Dormitories
“Ikenoue Dormitory” (approx. 180 rooms for international students) and “International House” (60 single, 10 family units) located on the Higashi-Hiroshima campus are available for international students. The majority of students, however, live in privately-owned apartments.

Library
IDEC library has nearly a collection of 30,000 titles of books and journals. Our collection is mainly focused on economics of development, education development, international relations and Asia regional culture development.
"World Bank Information Kiosk" is placed for the purpose of introducing active discussions in academic area about the policy and actions of the World Bank. Students can access to "World Development Indicators Online" in IDEC library. Flag ship publications, project reports, brochures and publications from the World Bank Tokyo Office are also available.
JDS fellows have full access to 5 other libraries on campus which has approximately 3,300,000 materials in its collection. Holding a huge collection of books and electronic journals, with a total combined area of 29,000 square meters, Hiroshima University Library System comprised of 5 libraries is one of the largest in the country.

Other facilities
Within the campus, we have welfare facilities such as various cafeteria, a travel agency office, stores, book shops, a drug store and a barber shop. Hiroshima University also has a post office, a university health service center, and a dental clinic in the campus. The International Center provides mental counseling service to international students in English.

From University:

Educational Development course of IDEC provide with broad interdisciplinary courses and develop high problem solving skills on the practical problem. Firstly, the faculty members of IDEC have been involved many international cooperation projects for educational development.  It allows for us to accumulate a lot of experiences and knowledge and to identify the practical needs of the developing countries.  Some professors have been involved for the mathematics and science education project in Bangladesh since 2004.  Since 2008, three of the faculty members were involved another science education project (STEPSAM 2) for Cambodia as consultants.  In some other science and mathematics projects, such as SMASSE in Kenya, several professors were worked as consultants. Professors from Center for the Study of International Cooperation in Education (CICE) are also conducting some cooperation projects and research projects.  Therefore, the IDEC has a lot of experiences and knowledge to how to develop the education in developing countries.

The educational development course has been accepted many Myanmar students from upper secondary school, teacher training college, and ministries. The successful applicants are as follows:
1) High English language proficiency
2) Clear reason for study in Hiroshima, or Japan. (We strongly suggest previous investigation about research theme in our program, and the applicants can explain why they cannot study in any other places).
3) Logical and empirical thinking.