Graduate School of Public Policy

Disestablishment of the Graduate School of Public Policy Master Program

July 2017

In June 2017, upon filing the necessary documents with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Chuo University brought to a close the Graduate School of Public Policy Master program.

The Graduate School of Public Policy was established in April 2005, anticipating a societal need for graduate education to foster individuals highly capable of solving problems as future public servants in response to significant changes in society, such as internationalization and informatization. Over the years, the Graduate School of Public Policy’s genuine commitment to educating advanced professionals produced numerous competent public policy professionals.

Unfortunately, demand for graduates of the Graduate School of Public Policy did not rise significantly. Despite our commitment to the development of distinctive education and the undertaking of various reforms in the Graduate School, we were unable to establish the School’s predominance over other graduate schools. Consequently, the requisite number of matriculating students could not be secured and, without changes in the educational environment, we suspended invitations for enrollment and filed with the Ministry to close the program. The Class of 2017, which began studies in 2015, was the final group of students, graduating in March 2017.

Nevertheless, the Graduate School’s unique approaches and substantive educational content cultivated over the past twelve years will not be lost and will be incorporated into Chuo University, reinforcing the University’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Graduate School of Public Policy in the years to come.

Internships regulated by individual agreements between the University and the special wards of Tokyo will come in under the auspices of the Career Design Support Center Office, ensuring career development opportunities for future undergraduate students. The interactive lectures in cooperation with mayors who are Chuo Alumni, which include coverage of local administration and future tasks in connection with local governance, will become part of the Faculty of Policy Studies’ “Special Lecture: The Essence of Local Governance Explained by Mayors.” These lectures will be open to all students of Arts and Social Sciences on the Tama Campus, leading to greater motivation of students who aspire to become public servants.

Furthermore, the Case Program Method developed in the Graduate School of Public Policy will be carried out in the respective faculties of those professors who have been involved in this development. In addition, the graduate students’ portfolios will be given thorough attention and consideration by the university as a whole.

The mission of the Graduate School of Public Policy ends with the closing of the School, however, as stated above, the aim of the Graduate School of Public Policy will not be lost, but rather incorporated, shared and developed across Chuo University as a whole.

In closing, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude to all those who have supported the efforts of the Graduate School of Public Policy.

Chancellor and President
Shozaburo Sakai