The graduating students and faculty members pose for photos at GRIPS　 (16 September 2011).
Five faculty members in the front row (left to right): Prof. Tanaka (ICHARM), Prof. Morichi (GRIPS), Prof. Takeuchi (ICHARM), Prof. Okazaki (GRIPS), and Prof. Jayawardena (ICHARM).

ICHARM conducted the one-year Master’s course, "Water-related Disaster Management Course of Disaster Management Policy Program (JICA training Program: TRAINING FOR EXPERT ON　FLOOD-RELATED DISASTER MITIGATION)," from 4 October 2010 to 16 September 2011. It is a joint effort with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS).

This Master’s course is unique in several aspects. For example, students can learn with practitioners in charge of disaster prevention from other developing countries and have chance to build networks with course alumni. It emphasizes development of problem-solving capability. To this end, it is designed to help students enhance their capacities of finding and proposing solutions to problems they face in their home countries. It requires only one year for students to earn a Master’s degree. In addition, it focuses more on practical than theoretical aspects of disaster management.

After a year of hard work, twelve students (three from Nepal, two each from Bangladesh and China, one each from Columbia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Pakistan) finally met the graduating requirements and obtained a Master’s degree in disaster management. After the graduation ceremony, the new graduates proudly returned to their home countries with their enhanced expertise.

A detailed report will be published as a PWRI technical report in the near future.

Lecture by Prof. Takeuchi.


Mr. Rodrigo shakes hands with Dr. Oyama, a GRIPS dean, receiving the Certificate.