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Message from the President
The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), a policy-focused research and higher education institution in Tokyo, provides graduate-level programs in fields that address critical policy issues. We have over 350 students from diverse professional backgrounds, including government, media, international organizations, and business. In this thoroughly international environment, two-thirds of our students come from overseas. These young leaders from over 50 countries study together and build global human networks. We are proud of our more than 6,000 alumni from more than 120 countries, who in their work are applying the knowledge and experience that they acquired at GRIPS to contribute to peace and prosperity around the world.
GRIPS offers a full range of graduate programs: one- and two-year master’s degree programs in public policy, economic policy, security and foreign policy, science and technology innovation, and disaster management; and three-year Ph.D. programs and five-year combined master’s and Ph.D. programs in the fields of international development, public policy, public economics, international relations, science and technology innovation, and disaster management.
GRIPS faculty members offer a wide range of expertise, in areas from economics to public administration and international relations, and from civil engineering to politics. Many of our faculty members also have rich career experience in government, both national and regional, and in international organizations; this empowers our students to conduct in-depth interdisciplinary research on issues of significant academic and practical value.
In addition to its degree programs, GRIPS hosts a variety of practical short-term education and training programs for emerging policy leaders and professionals. Those programs are tailored to the interests and needs of the clients, and usually include guided study tours.
In recent years, the importance of data-based policymaking is widely accepted globally. To promote evidence-based policy research, GRIPS established the Center for Data Science in 2022, an environment where students can learn to use a wide range of statistical and machine learning methods ranging from programming to application-based analysis. Students who have completed all of the required courses in data science receive a certificate in Data Science for Policy Research.
Government agencies are no longer the only policymakers working to address social issues such as global environmental changes and social infrastructure development: now private companies are also playing important roles. GRIPS aims to become a hub for academia-business-government collaboration on social issues. We will offer a new course in the fall of 2024 specifically to support that aim. In that course, students will study cases of Japanese private companies tackling social issues overseas, and will engage in group discussions towards the crafting of innovative solutions.
The world faces unprecedented challenges today, including problems related to the globalized economy, national and human security, food and energy supply, human rights and equity, and the natural environment. As Japan’s leading institute for policy studies and education, GRIPS will continue to work with students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to tackle the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.
Hiroko Ota
President
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
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