History

International Public Policy

The Doctoral Program in International Political Economy (DPIPE) was established in April of 1992 with the aim of promoting a multi-disciplinary approach in the study of international relations. It administers a doctoral program in two interrelated areas: International Relations with a focus on political science, and International Development with a focus on economics.

DPIPE used to be the only graduate program in the University of Tsukuba that had courses conducted in English, as well as in Japanese. DPIPE had admitted foreign students and appointed foreign professors with no prior knowledge of the Japanese language.

Since April 2001, Graduate School of International Political Economy became part of newly created Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. New Graduate School comprises the following six programs: Doctoral Program in Philosophy, Doctoral Program in History and Anthropology, Doctoral Program in Literature and Linguistics, Doctoral Program in Modern Cultures and Public Policies, Doctoral Program in Social Sciences and Doctoral Program in International Political Economy. In April 2008, the Doctoral Program in International Public Policy (DPIPP or IPP) was established as a result of the integration of mutually related research fields in Doctoral Programs in International Political Economy, Modern Cultures and Public Policies, and the Graduate school of Area Studies.

University of Tsukuba

The University of Tsukuba is a national university founded in October of 1973 on the basis of older national institutions of education and it has as its aim to contribute to the promotion of scientific research and cultural exchange. Japanese universities have too often tended to remain cloistered in their own narrow and specialized fields. The University of Tsukuba decided from its inception to be different and to this end, it defined a new concept of education and research.

The Tsukuba Concept

“The aim of the University of Tsukuba is to establish free, deep and close exchange in basic and applied sciences with education and research organizations and academic communities in Japan and overseas, and to reap the fruits of academic cooperation with them. While developing these relationships, we intend to continue our pursuits of education and research, and through these endeavors to develop men and women with creative intelligence and rich human qualities.

It is the aim of the University of Tsukuba to contribute to the progress of science and culture. Formerly, Japanese universities have tended to remain cloistered in their own narrow, specialized fields, creating polarization, stagnation in education and research, and separation from their communities.

Based on these considerations, the University of Tsukuba decided that it must function as a university which is open both domestically and internationally. Toward this end, the university made it its goal to develop an organization better enabling it to carry out the functions and administration of a new concept of education and research highly international in character, rich in diversity and flexibility, and capable of dealing sensitively with the changes occurring in contemporary society. To realize this, it vested in its administrative authorities the powers necessary to carry out these responsibilities. ”

The City of Tsukuba

Tsukuba Science City, where the University of Tsukuba is located, offers rich physical and human resources in a combination that is rare elsewhere in Japan. The city and its surrounding area abound with natural beauty, with Lake Kasumigaura to the east and Mount Tsukuba to the north. There are about 200 government and private research institutes located in the city.

The city was planned under government supervision and designed as a comprehensive research and housing complex. It currently accommodates more than 7000 researchers. Built around the University of Tsukuba, the city included newly established research institutions as well as other institutions that have moved from Tokyo and its surrounding areas.

The city is located 60 km northeast of Tokyo and 40 km northwest of New Tokyo International Airport in Narita. The trip to Tsukuba from Tokyo, either by bus or train, takes about an hour. The silent beauty of the Pacific Ocean beaches is about 40 km away, and the nearest majestic peaks of the Japan Alps no more than 120 km.

Most of the housing facilities in Tsukuba Science City have been designed to facilitate a living environment that integrates professional and home life activities. The Tsukuba University Hospital is recognized as a first-rate regional health care facility, and the Tsukuba Medical Center, as well as several other private hospitals, are additional providers of medical care. Six elementary schools, five junior high schools, and three high schools operate in the residential areas. In addition, the city possesses many parks and other green areas.