Program in brief

This program allows students to acquire the professional knowledge, analytical and communication skills needed to handle effectively a variety of maritime issues.

• Program Director: Associate Professor Yusuke Takagi
• Degree Offered: Master of Policy Studies
• Language of Instruction: English
• Time Schedule:
  • Program duration…1 year
  • Enrollment…October
  • Graduation…September
• Financial Support
  • If you belong to any maritime safety and security related organization in eligible countries, you can apply for financial support from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). As for eligible countries, please check with JICA office.
• How to Apply
  • Apply for the financial support by JICA (as a participant of JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program):

  Please apply through your respective maritime safety and security related organization. For more details, please contact to:

  JICA office: Click here (JICA offices in Asia)

  JICA Chugoku Center: (mail to) cicttp@jica.go.jp

  • Externally funded or self-financed international applicants:

  MSP brochure Click here

  　　　　　　 Online Application Click here

  The Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program (MSP) is a collaborative program designed and administered jointly by GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). This program makes it possible for students to benefit from the resources of both institutions in the fields of public policy, security studies, maritime safety, and maritime security. The students will have the opportunity to acquire professional knowledge, analytical skills, and communication skills relevant to their work while becoming members of a network of future coast guard leaders in the world.

  Students in this program will study in Tokyo at GRIPS during the first half of the academic year and in Kure, Hiroshima at the Japan Coast Guard Academy (JCGA)–the JCG’s most important educational institution–during the second half.

  Study at GRIPS
  After enrolling in the program, students will take required and elective courses at GRIPS from October through March. The required courses are International Relations, International Security Studies, International Law, International Relations in East Asia, and International Law of the Sea. The elective courses will enable students to deepen their knowledge in the fields of their interest. The elective subjects include courses in politics, economics, national security, and policy making.

  Study at the JCGA
  From April through July, the students will take courses and participate in practical training and educational programs at the JCGA. The required courses are Policy for Search and Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Maritime Police Policy. The students can further enhance their ability to effectively execute their duties as coast guard leaders in Asia through the study of a wide range of elective subjects. The JCGA’s elective courses are designed to develop students’ knowledge of science, technology, and criminal investigation, all of which are vital elements of effective policy formulation.

  The students will attend lectures focusing on past maritime incidents and possible future scenarios, offered by leading experts and JCG officers. Through lectures and discussions, they will enhance their understanding of the roles played by maritime law enforcement agencies and learn to identify best practices.

  Research Paper
  During the course of one year, each students is required to write a research paper on issues relevant to the study of maritime safety and security. In order to do so, the student will work together with two academic advisors—one each from GRIPS and the JCGA—to complete the paper before graduation.

  Target Group

  Junior coast guard officers from Japan and overseas who have more than 3 years work experience and also who are under 46 years of age as of October 1, 2022.

  Eligibility

  • Eligible countries to apply for the financial support by JICA:

  Please inquire to JICA office: Click here (JICA offices in Asia)

  or JICA Chugoku Center: (mail to) cicttp@jica.go.jp

  • Externally funded or self-financed international applicants:

  Nationals of countries with which Japan has diplomatic relations: Click here

  Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program Curriculum 2024/2025

  (as of October 2024)

  CATEGORY	COURSE NAME	INSTRUCTOR
  I REQUIRED COURSES	Independent Study	Various
  	International Relations in East Asia	Takagi
  	International Relations	Iwama
  	International Security Studies	Michishita
  	Maritime Police Policy	Okuzono
  	International Law	Shimoyama, Iwatani
  	International Law of the Sea	Furuya
  	Policy for Search & Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention	Yamaji
  	Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security Policy I	Furuya
  	Case Study on Maritime Safety and Security PolicyⅡ	Furuya
  II RECOMMENDED COURSES	Essential Microeconomics	Kurosawa
  	Essential Macroeconomics	Yokoyama
  	Economic Development of Southeast Asia	Kudo
  	Government and Market	Hatanaka
  	Development Economics	Kijima
  	East Asian Economies	Kudo
  	The Making of Modern Japan	Pressello
  	Government and Politics in Japan	Masuyama
  	International Political Economy	Chey
  	Comparative Politics	Takenaka
  	State and Politics in Southeast Asia	Lim
  	Non-Traditional Security	Cross
  	Analysis of Great Power Politics	Iwama, et al.
  	Comparative Political Economy	Kanchoochat
  	International Development Policy	Ohno
  	The World and the SDGs	Kudo
  	Introduction to Quantitative Methods	Morohosi
  	Introduction to Oceanography	Horiuchi
  	Marine Environment and Pollution	Kawamura
  	International Comparative Criminal Law	Shintani
  	Contemporary Japanese Maritime Gray Zone Securiy Policy	Furuya
  	Safety Management Systems I	Noma
  	Safety Management Systems Ⅱ	Yamada
  	Ship Maneuverability and Practical Operation	TBA
  	Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Engineering	Kanki
  	Information Management System I	Yamanaka
  	Information Management System Ⅱ	Isozaki
  III ELECTIVE COURSES	Selected Topics in Policy Studies I -IV
  	Courses not listed in this table
  X OTHERS	Describing Tables and Figures	TBA
  	Thesis Writing for MSP	O'neill
  	Qualitative Writing	TBA
  	Introduction to Academic Research	Petchko
  	Introduction to Academic Writing	Petchko
  	Other courses offered by the Center for Professional Communication

  Career Destinations

  Graduates of MSP Program are expected to take core positions in their coast guard agencies. While executing their duties, they also have an opportunity to disseminate the knowledge they have gained from GRIPS and the JCGA to their agencies and beyond. In addition, graduates are in a unique position to play a central role in their organizations’ international negotiations by drawing on the human networks cultivated in the program.

  MSP Alumni and Currrent students list

  AY2015 1st batch		Ahmad Fathoni DGST (Directorat General of Sea Transportation)
  		Ahmad Kamil bin Abdul Halim MMEA (Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency)
  		Budhi Asti BAKAMLA (Indonesia Coast Guard)
  		Bui The Duong VCG (Vietnam Coast Guard)
  		Do Van Minh VCG (Vietnam Coast Guard)
  		Glen Barsanas Daraug PCG (Philippine Coast Guard)
  		Jay Tristan Tarriela PCG (Philippine Coast Guard)
  		Mohamad Shukri bin Khotob MMEA (Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency)
  		小野寺　寛晃 / Hiroaki Onodera 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  		米沢　夏希 / Natsuki Yonezawa 外務省 / MOFA (Ministry of Forein Affairs)
  AY2016 2nd batch		Chandra Kresna Riyanto National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS)
  		Hizam bin Zulkifli Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/ Malaysian Coast Guard
  		Jaybom Japay Calica Philippine Coast Guard
  		Lejanie Tampoc Dy Philippine Coast Guard
  		Radzil Allexender bin Raphael Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
  		半沢　優 / Yu Hanzawa 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  AY2017 3rd batch		Abd Hafis bin Hussin Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)
  		Adzizul Bin Latip Abu Bakar Maritime Base (Middle Rock)
  		Tony Rajinda Daniel Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG)
  		Eleizer Gonzales Ibarrientos Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
  		Mohd Noor Haidzir bin Mohd Fauzi Marine Department Malaysia
  		梶屋　優一 / Yuichi Kajiya 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  		野原　昌子 / Masako Nohara 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  AY2018 4th batch		Buddhika Ajith Godakanda Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG)
  		Dhanapandian Manoharan Indian Coast Guard
  		Hernandez Rodel Bocalan Philippine Coast Guard
  		Mahantha Mulla Gamage Uditha Roshan Gamage Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG)
  		Mohd Nizam Bin Mohd Yasin Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)
  		Muhamad Izuar Bin Zainudin Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)
  		Tran Nam Phuong Vietnam Coast Guard
  		奥村　太 / Futoshi Okumura 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  		赤木　貴法 / Takanori Akagi 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  AY2019 5th batch		Panupong Jamruenvong Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Jamruenvong
  		Jude Greanata Dollesin Philippine Coast Guard
  		Mohd Nashrul Bin Nashahar Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
  		Niranjan Pratap Singh Indian Coast Guard
  		Senevirathna Asanka Prathap Sri Lanka Coast Guard
  		Mudiyanselage Wijitha Mahanama Sri Lanka Coast Guard
  		佐々木　慧 / Kei Sasaki 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  		坂上　悠 / Yu Sakaue 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  AY2020 6th batch		Rangana Athukorala Sri Lanka Coast Guard
  		Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab Philippine Coast Guard
  		Kalukapuge Chinthaka Kumara Kalukapuge Sri Lanka Coast Guard
  		Perez Jeremiah Marquez Maritime Industry Authority
  		Poolperm, LT. Worawit The Royal Thai Naval Special Warfare Command / Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center
  		安藤　美緒 / Mio Ando 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard
  		髙城 　陽平 / Yohei Taki 海上保安庁 / Japan Coast Guard