SPECIAL COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION STUDIES
FOR
JAPANESE GRANT AID FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP (JDS)
AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Master’s Degree
2007-2008
IDEC (Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation)
Hiroshima University
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
1. Pursuit of peace.
To develop intellectual attitudes which always seek peaceful solutions to the problems affecting society and the world at large.
2. Creation of new forms of knowledge.
To evolve new systems of study which surpass existing frontiers of knowledge and encourage intellectual innovation.
3. Nurturing of well-rounded human beings.
To train graduates with well-developed and multifaceted personalities by means of an education which has breadth as well as depth.
4. Collaboration with the local, regional and international community.
To create a university with a strong international awareness which can efficiently disseminate knowledge on a worldwide scale, in collaboration with local and regional communities.
5. Continuous self-development.
To maintain a constant readiness to re-examine established ways of acting, and a constant openness to improvement and innovation.
HISTORY OF HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
Under The National School Establishment Law, Hiroshima University was established on May 31, 1949. After World War II, the school system in Japan was entirely reformed and each of the institutions of higher education under the pre-war system was reorganized. As a general rule, one national university was established in each prefecture, and Hiroshima University became a national university under the new system by combining the various pre-war higher educational institutions in Hiroshima Prefecture.
The new university combined eight component institutions: Hiroshima University of Literature and Science, Hiroshima School of Secondary Education, Hiroshima School of Education, Hiroshima Women’s School of Secondary Education, Hiroshima School of Education for Youth, Hiroshima Higher School, Hiroshima Higher Technical School, and Hiroshima Municipal Higher Technical School. Later in 1953, the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical College was also added to the new Hiroshima University.
Some of these educational institutions already had brilliant traditions and histories of their own. Above all, Hiroshima School of Secondary Education, founded in 1902, had a distinguished place as one of the nation’s two centers for training middle school teachers. The Hiroshima University of Literature and Science was founded in 1929 as one of the national universities, and in combination with the Hiroshima School of Secondary Education which was formerly affiliated to it, reigned over the Japanese world of education.
The present Hiroshima University, which was created from these two institutions as well as three other «old-system» training institutions for teachers, continues to hold an important position among the universities and colleges of education in Japan. Also, Hiroshima Higher Technical School, which has introduced a large number of talented people into the world of Japanese industry was founded in 1920 and was promoted to a Technical College (Senmon Gakko) in 1944. Hiroshima Higher School was founded in 1923 as one of the pre-war higher schools which prepared students for Imperial Universities and other government-supported universities. 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 Hiroshima University. In addition, Graduate Schools were established in 1953. The new Hiroshima University has risen from the ruins of war like a phoenix, which is in fact the University’s symbol.
At present, Hiroshima University has the following ten Faculties: the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Letters, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Applied Biological Science, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry.
There are ten Graduate Schools with master’s and/or doctoral degree courses: the Graduate School of Letters, the Graduate School of Education, the Graduate School of Social Sciences, the Graduate School of Science, the Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, the Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Graduate School of Dental Science, the Graduate School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Biosphere Science and the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC).
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION OF IDEC
Message from Dean:
The Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University, was established in 1994 with the goal of developing expertise in various issues facing developing countries through research and education, and with an overarching focus on promoting international cooperation. The majority of the global population is concentrated in developing countries, and such countries face a variety of directly development-related problems such as poverty, disease, poor education, and poor environment. IDEC’s mission is to conduct interdisciplinary research and education on the problems facing developing countries.
When conducting research and providing education on today’s global issues, the significance of this type of interdisciplinary organization is enormous. This is because a comprehensive approach is the most essential consideration when tackling complex global issues. In the 21st century, our greatest challenge is to tackle global-scale issues and create a sustainable and thoroughly collaborative society outside of restrictions reinforced by traditional divisions such as nation or academic area.
IDEC is devoted to accomplishing this goal through a specific three-pillared approach: international environmental cooperation; international educational cooperation; and international peace cooperation. These three areas are intertwined, and it is virtually impossible to separate them. In order to create a sustainable society, overcoming poverty, protecting social and natural environments, providing education for society’s healthy growth, ensuring people’s security, and maintaining peace must all be constant goals. A society can grow only when peace is secure and adequate education is available and accessible. Our three pillars sum up IDEC’s approach to these critically important considerations.
IDEC currently conducts the 21st Century COE program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and its related projects. IDEC has also established a collaborative relationship between research/aid institutions through partnerships with the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), World Bank, JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) and other similar organizations. IDEC provides its students with internship opportunities within all of these organizations. The World Bank offers TV lectures to IDEC students, given by experts from Washington D.C., US. Thus, IDEC provides unique educational opportunities to help its students develop their abilities to independently work toward solving global development issues and creating sustainable societies.
In addition to its Japanese students, IDEC’s population is made up of students from 27 other (mostly Asian) countries as of 2006. Non-Japanese students comprise approximately 50% of the overall student population, providing a broadly-based international environment. In this rich environment, students with diverse backgrounds and academic interests are studying each other’s cultures and conducting cooperative research. IDEC graduates play active roles in various countries, as government officials, as university instructors, and as private sector consultants. This network of IDEC graduates is rapidly expanding; we hope that you will join our network, and let us help you play active and progressive roles in global society..
TATSUO KIMBARA, Ph. D.
Professor and Dean of IDEC
Aims of IDEC:
Developing countries today are facing various difficulties, including rapid population growth, regional conflicts, deteriorating standard of living and environmental problems. An insufficient social infrastructure, particularly poor education and medical conditions and low 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, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (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.
Features of IDEC:
(1) Integration of Arts and Science
Integrated education and research in social sciences, engineering, biology, and humanities are designed to educate specialists who can contribute to international development and cooperation.
The Importance of research on a) the influence of development on the ecosystem and global environment, b) promotion of education in Asian countries, and c) cultures and intercultural communication is emphasized.
Under the 21st century COE (Center of Excellent) program in the field of Interdisciplinary, Combined Fields, New Disciplines, “COE for Social Capacity Development for Environmental Management and International Cooperation”, the SEMS (Social Environmental Management System) special educational program is provided.
(2) Mutual Understanding of Different Values
Common course lectures pertaining to the cultures and histories as well as economic, social and educational concerns of individual Asian countries are offered, and planned intellectual and human exchange are carried out to advance education and research on the basis of mutual understanding.
(3) Practical Education
In collaboration with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) program of JICA, we provide a special educational program in which while a student of IDEC, both joining the JOCV program and taking the degree are possibly carried out.
(4) Wide Range of Educational Opportunities
Education in English is emphasized, and a degree program in English is available.
Organization:
Division of Development Science
Development Policy
Development Technology (Engineering)
Development Technology (Biology)
Peace and Coexistence
Division of Educational Development and Cultural and Regional Studies
Educational Development Studies
Cultural and Regional Studies
Curriculum in general:
Students of the program are required to complete a total of 30 credits and submit a master thesis. Regular courses meet for two hours a week, require significant preparation time outside of class hours, and gives 2 credits. The courses consist of the common courses (6 credits), the courses specified by the main academic advisor (12 credits), the free electives which each student designs his/her own program (8 credits) and a seminar which is a two semester course, required of all full-time students (4 credits).
(1) Integrated education and research in social sciences, engineering, biology, and humanities are designed to educate specialists who can contribute to international development and cooperation.
(2) The importance of research on a) the influence of development on the ecosystem and global environment, b) promotion of agricultural and rural development, c) promotion of education in Asian countries, and d) cultures and intercultural communication is emphasized.
(3) Common course lectures pertaining to the cultures and histories as well as economic, social, and educational concerns of individual Asian countries are offered, and planned intellectual and human exchanges are carried out to advance education and research on the basis of mutual understanding.
(4) The length of study to acquire degrees may be shortened – a master’s degree in one year for students with outstanding academic achievement.
(5) Education in English is emphasized, and a degree program in English is available.
IDEC Academic Calendar for 2007/2008: Reference
Fall Semester (October 1 – March 31)
October 1 – February 11 Classes
October 3 (tentative) Entrance Ceremony (autumn)
November 5 University Anniversary Day
December 24 – January 7 Winter Vacation
February 12 – March 31 End-of- Academic-Year Holidays
Spring Semester (April 1 – September 30)
April 1 – April 8 Spring Vacation
April 3 (tentative) Entrance Ceremony (spring)
April 9 – July 31 Classes
August 1 – September 30 Summer Vacation
SPECIAL COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION STUDIES FOR JDS PROGRAM
As a member of developed nations, Japan should strive to offer development assistance to developing countries. However, Japan has experienced deep economic recession in these years that leads to the decline of the Japan’s official development assistance (ODA). Hence, the Japan’s ODA is now forced to make a great change in quality up against such serious fiscal deficit, in order to continue to substantially fulfill the international commitments. Under this end, the significance of human capacity building in international cooperation is widely recognized and the role of universities in Japan has become an increasingly important and indispensable.
In response to this, IDEC intends to positively contribute to the Japan’s international cooperation in close cooperation with domestic donor agencies including JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and JBIC (Japan Bank of International Cooperation). We do believe that the contributions to the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program in the last several years should be one of the tangible achievements. IDEC originally has a special course on international cooperation studies for qualified foreign students, through which a master degree can be taken by implementing the course work and master’s thesis-writing in English. The students of JDS program will join this special course and are supposed to take his/her master degree.
IDEC sincerely welcomes those who are willing to develop academic career and going to be researchers, school teachers, academic staffs, governmental officials and administrators in the future.
Information for the JDS Program in 2007:
Academic schedule (standard case)
Course work:
October 2007 – August 2009 (30 credits)
Master’s thesis:
Scoping and preliminary analysis: October 2007 – August 2008
Interim assessment (not mandatory): September 2008
Analysis: October 2008 – March 2009
Completion: April 2009 – July 2009
Presentation and oral exam: early August 2009
Degrees
In consultation with the academic supervisor, one of the following three master’s degrees is granted to students who fulfill the requirements.
(1) M.A. (Master of Arts),
(2) M.Sc. (Master of Science),
(3) M.Eng. (Master of Engineering)
(4) M. Agr. (Master of Agriculture)*
* Master of Arts is the degree granted in this program. Master of Agriculture can be granted upon fulfilling the need of getting certain number of credits relating to agricultural science.
Academic Supervisor:
Academic supervisor for JDS program 2007 in Agricultural and Rural Development should be selected from the list below at the submission of application for admission.
Fields of Study Position Name Research Subject
Cultural and Regional Studies
Professor MAHARJAN, Keshav Lall Rural economics; issues related to agricultural economy and rural dynamics
Associate Professor TOGAWA, Masahiko Study on rural societies in South Asia
Development Technology (Biology)
Associate Professor Currently vacant Animal production in tropics,
Grassland ecosystems
Course Image of Agricultural and Rural Development Program
URL: http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/idec/
