Social Innovator Course

The Establishment of Social Innovator Course

The proposed program of Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance entitled “The Establishment of Social Innovator Course” was selected for the “Support Program to Improve Graduate School Education” for the academic year 2008. This program initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Supports, Science and Technology strongly supports systematic educational initiatives in Master’s/Doctoral programs of graduate schools where students can be trained to become experts and actively work in society. A total of 66 programs were selected from amongst 273 applications in 2008.
Based on this program the graduate school will initiate “Social Innovator Course” in the Master’s Program from spring 2009.

Overview

Name of the Education Program:

The Establishment of Social Innovator Course - Education program integrating environment, business and social innovation -

Name of the Major:

Major in Media and Governance

Faculty-in-Charge of the Program:

Professor Ikuyo Kaneko
Graduate School of Media and Governance

Outline of the Education Program:

In a modern society, the protection and formation of natural and social environment are essential to the life and well-being of people. Both politics and society demands a shift from a carbon emitting society to a low-carbon emitting society. At the same time increased productivity both in regional and global societies is imperative.

The old way of problem solving that separates “private interest” (benefit of individuals or specific organizations) from “public interest” will not lead us anywhere. Separately promoting a business approach pursuing “private interest” and a political approach pursuing “public interest” is also insufficient to solve problems. Society therefore needs “Social Innovators” who introduce social entrepreneurship and implement “total design for private and public interests.” This would allow market mechanism and/or business management techniques to promote public interest.

In this education program, students acquire theoretical knowledge and practical experience at the site on ideas relating to social innovation, mechanisms for trade of carbon emission rights and means of regional society redevelopment. In brief, the course helps students to develop private and public interest senses demanded in public administrations, businesses and non-profit organizations.

< Social Innovator>

In our era, public administrations and public utilities organizations require business efficiency, and businesses demand cordial social relations. Therefore, there is an urgent need for society to develop “Social Innovators” who can understand business methods and public interests, and then create a sustainable society based on high productivity.

This course offers a Master’s degree and a certificate of a “Social Innovator” to those successfully completing the course
The combination of face-to-face classes and distance learning classes will be made available to students, including the possibility of using satellite classrooms
Students are allowed to take some of the classes through distance learning
Classes will be conducted in Japanese only.

Field of Employment after Completion

Business Organizations: CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), Social Contribution, Public Relations, Medical/Welfare/Environmental Business, Planning, New Business Development sections in various business fields such as finance, manufacturing and distribution

Industrial Plant: Person in charge of Environmental Management, Regional Partnership

Municipality: Person in charge of Environmental Management, Local Revitalization, Welfare Coordination

Entrepreneur: Telemedicine Business, Environmental Business, Community Care Consultant, NPO, Junior/Senior High School Teacher

Admission Outline

Entrance Examination: Selection is conducted under the existing method for the Graduate School of Media and Governance

Related Websites

Ministry of Education, Culture, Supports, Science and Technology Website (both available in Japanese only):

“Support Program to Improve Graduate School Education”
Selected Programs for the “Support Program to Improve Graduate School Education”

Contact Information

Academic Affairs Office
Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus
Email: social-innovator@sfc.keio.ac.jp