IAMU News No.13, October 2006

Reorganization of Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University
Prof. Dr. Masayoshi KUBO
Dean, Kobe University, Faculty of Maritime Sciences
5-1-1, Fukae-Minami, Higashinada, Kobe 658-0022 Japan
Tel: +81-78-431-6201 Fax: +81-78-431-6355
mgbutyo@ofc.kobe-u.ac.jp
ABSTRACT

The graduate school of science and technology of our University has four faculties. However, it will be reorganized into four graduate schools e.g. science, engineering, agriculture and maritime sciences next year.

Thereby, the graduate school of Maritime Sciences will be the first independent graduate school in the field of maritime sciences in Japan. All academic staffs are to be transferred to the graduate school from the present faculty.

The number of undergraduate students is the same as the present. The capacity of Msc course increases from 44 students to 60. On the other hand, the capacity of the Ph.D course is 11 students - the same as the present.

The graduate school of science and technology of our University will be organized into 21 strategic research teams. The keyword is cooperation of the researchers. Each graduate school will pursue the same principles. On the other hand, the cooperative researches between graduate schools will be efficiently employed in the form of strategic or new frontier research.@Furthermore, in the education field of the graduate school, we set up six program courses. The graduate school of maritime sciences set up three program courses with three other graduate schools.

Japanese maritime industries have been transformed to small size Japanese seafarers, non-Japanese flag ships and less container handlings since 1985. The roles of our research and education after the reorganization of thegraduate school of Science and Technology at Kobe University have to respond to the higher requirements of the maritime societies of Japan and the world.
Now we have started to consider deeply how we conduct the strategic and new frontier research in the maritime field. The paper will introduce new approaches at Kobe University.

I. Introduction to the newly established Graduate School of Maritime Sciences

We offer an in-depth quest into the comprehensive field of maritime-related studies from both the natural science and the social science perspectives.

In April 2007, Kobe University will honor the birth of its new Graduate School of Maritime Sciences.

Kobe University's Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will become the first graduate school in Japan to be devoted to the study of maritime sciences. By collaborating with the individual maritime fields that are engaged in maritime-related international activities, this unique graduate school will employ an advanced scientific approach by combining both the natural and the social sciences in studying issues involved in ocean-oriented activities, including energy, the environment, ocean safety, etc.

Through maritime research, we will conduct studies that pursue a methodology in each special field and will provide also education that enables the application of such methodology. Our goal is to cultivate students who possess interdisciplinary and comprehensive perspectives that go beyond the framework of the individual courses. We will offer educational studies that outline the establishment and operation of a safe and efficient marine transportation system, as well as studies which focus on the protection of the marine environment. By forming partnerships with universities abroad, we will share curriculums and encourage student exchanges through participation in various forums, thereby fostering leadership as internationally-endowed mariners.

The Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will emphasize the qualities of sincerity, independence, cooperation and bravery in its students, and provide them with a fascinating place both for learning and for research that will fuel their enthusiasm to study ocean-related topics.

We are seeking students who can empathize with our mission and our visions for the future as outlined above, and who wish to satisfy their intellectual appetites for, and self-improvement through, research. We believe that our students will play a significant role in the development of maritime sciences both in Japan and abroad.

II . The Establishment of the Kobe University Graduate School of Maritime Sciences

Kobe University Graduate School of Maritime Sciences is a new school following the reorganization of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences. Scheduled to open in April 2007, the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will have a Department of Maritime Sciences (one major only) with both a master's and a doctorate program in the Maritime Sciences, which will enable an integrated program from masters to doctorate. (As the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences is still in the process of requesting budgetary appropriations, the School may be subject to name changes and other changes in the plan.)

Students completing the master's program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will be eligible for the Master's Degree in the Maritime Sciences, while students completing the doctorate program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will be eligible for the Doctorate in the Maritime Sciences, Engineering or Philosophy.

For inquiries concerning admissions to the master's program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, please contact the following:

Kobe University

Faculty of Maritime Sciences

Second Section, Educational Affairs Division

5-1-1 Fukaeminamimachi, Higashinada-Ku

658-0022 Kobe, Japan

Phone: 078(431) 6225

Faculty of Maritime Science Homepage: http://www.maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp/

Kobe University Homepage: http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp//dd>

III . The Philosophy of Educational Research at the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences

Maritime Science is an interdisciplinary academic field that aims to understand global-scale problems attending human activities, including problems of transportation, communication, information, energy and environmental protection on ships and on the open seas. Our goal is employing a scientific approach in a highly advanced manner that combines both the natural and the social sciences. Thus the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will stand upon the foundations of basic knowledge and sense of purpose acquired in undergraduate programs. To achieve its goal, the school will offer highly specialized instruction and guidance on research activities, and ultimately nurture creative researchers, educators, and highly skilled professionals who possess diverse global perspectives as well as problem-solving abilities.

To this end, our Department of Maritime Sciences will be offering three courses of study:

  1. The Maritime Management Science Course will provide studies on maritime-oriented safety management and shipping systems, the international maritime industry, maritime administration including multinational partnerships, and maritime regulations etc. for students
  2. The Maritime Logistics Science Course will provide comprehensive studies of controlled transportation and logistics systems by analyzing for system efficiency, safety, and burdens imposed on the environment; logistics information, and marine environment information from a systems and information engineering point of view for students
  3. The Marine Engineering Course will provide studies on diverse energy technologies in new-function materials and next-generation power systems, and the issues of energy utilization, environmental protection, and mechatronics technology in marine-related machinery and structures, including ships for students.

IV. Details of the Department of Maritime Sciences

The Department of Maritime Sciences will conduct educational research in the following three courses.

  1. Maritime Management Science
    Educational research will be conducted in both the structure of maritime systems and their management for the purpose of ensuring safety in marine transportation on a global scale, establishing the necessary systems and conserving the marine environment, and with a global emphasis and from the perspective of the relationship between technology and society, as well as the relationship between man and technology.
    We will also offer lectures in collaboration with other two Graduate Schools of Law and International Cooperation Studies.
  2. Maritime Logistics Science
    We will offer educational research in the construction of a global-scale transportation system that is efficient, safe, and imposes less burden on the environment, the safety management of cargos in transit, and information gathering and analyses of logistics and marine environment information.
  3. Marine Engineering
    We will offer educational research that examines marine observation technology and safety control technology of maritime equipment from a micro point of view, and take various approaches that strive to resolve the global environmental and energy problems arising from the development of technology utilized at sea, and the operations of the power systems.

V. Master's Program

Admission Policy
We seek anyone who wishes to expand and deepen his/her basic knowledge acquired at an undergraduate and practical experience after his/her graduation; anyone who wishes to play an active role in the interdisciplinary field of planning and research in maritime firms and maritime administrations by mastering the specialized and interdisciplinary study of maritime sciences; anyone with the ability to solve various problems pertaining to transportation and logistics and the passion to engage in research and development; and anyone, equipped with a global-scale perspective on marine environmental conservation, who wishes to become an instructive and specialized professional carrying out work in research and development of front-line technology, mechatronics, and energy and environmental science.

Admissions Process
Three methods will be applied in the admissions process as outlined below: Guidelines for Admissions of General Applicants
Guidelines for Special Admissions of Foreign Students
Guidelines for Special Admissions of Working(Adult) Students

For details, refer to the Kobe University Graduate School of Maritime Sciences master's program for April 2007 and October 2007 enrollees.

After admissions, working(adult) students will be eligible for special treatment in terms of course flexibility.

In recent years, demand has been growing for continued training and reeducation, and the acquisition of master's degrees among working(adult) engineers and researchers at graduate school level. However, under the program of graduate school education, working(adult) graduate students are required to leave their working positions for two years to complete their master's programs. Thus, it severely narrows the opportunity to have graduate school education for them. Article 14 of the Criteria for the Establishment of Graduate Schools, on the other hand, states that When the need for special treatment in graduate courses is recognized, appropriate methods of education, such as offering lectures or a research environment at nighttime or other specified times, are permitted, and thus allowing for special consideration for working(adult) graduate students to continue their education.

With these considerations in mind, the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will implement special education methods as stipulated in the Article. The description of the method is as follows.

ds as stipulated in the Article. The description of the method is as follows.

  1. Upon receiving consent from the appointed faculty member, a student may take a portion of his/her lectures and research training at nighttime or other specified times.
  2. If the appointed faculty member approves the progression of the thesis and also recognizes that the student's workplace is equipped with superior facilities and equipment for research that will lead to a better outcome, then the student will be allowed to do his/her research at his/her workplace.

Eligible Degrees
A student completing the master's program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will be eligible for a Master's Degree in Maritime Sciences. Students who demonstrate outstanding research performance in the program may also complete the course in a year and go on to the doctorate program. Students completing the master's program and continuing on to the doctorate program will not be required to pay an enrollment fee.

VI. Doctoral Program

Admission Policy (Policy for accepting applicants)
We seek anyone who wishes to expand and deepen his/her education and research acquired in the master's program; anyone who wishes to play an active role in leading the planning, research and development, educational research, and integration and creation of organizations in international maritime corporations, as well as in maritime administration, including the facilitation of collaboration between multinationals and in the field of maritime education; anyone who, by examining, analyzing, and evaluating transportation and logistics systems from such diverse perspectives as safety, efficiency, economy, and environmental protection, or by designing and developing environmental protection technology, wishes to clarify problems or establish a new field of research development; and anyone who wishes to thoroughly utilize and expand advanced element technology targeting next-generation machinery and power and energy systems, and conduct educational research from the safety, efficiency, and environmental points of view.

Admissions Process

Two methods will be applied in the admissions process as outlined below:

Guidelines for General Admissions and Continuation of the Program

Foreign students and working(adult) students will be admitted on an equal basis. Students may matriculate in either April or October. For details, refer to the Guidelines for Applicants for the Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences of Kobe University.

After admissions, working(adult) students will be eligible for special treatment in terms of course flexibility.

In recent years, demand has been growing for continued training and reeducation, and the acquisition of doctorate degrees among working(adult) engineers and researchers at the graduate school level. However, under the normal method of graduate school education, working(adult) students are required to leave their working positions for three years to complete their doctoral program. Thus, it severely narrows the opportunity to have graduate school education for them. Article 14 of the Criteria for the Establishment of Graduate Schools, on the other hand, states that When the need for special treatment in graduate courses is recognized, appropriate methods of education, such as offering lectures or a research environment at nighttime or other specified times, are permitted, and thus allowing for special consideration for adults continuing their education.

With these considerations in mind, the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will implement special education methods as stipulated in the Article. The description of the method is as follows.

  1. Upon receiving consent from the appointed faculty member, a student may take a portion of his/her lectures and research training at nighttime or other specified times
  2. If the appointed faculty member approves the progression of the thesis and also recognizes that the student's workplace is equipped with superior facilities and equipments for research that will lead to a better outcome, then the student will be allowed to do his/her research at his/her workplace.

Eligible Degree
A student completing the doctoral program of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences will be eligible for a Doctorate Degree in Maritime Sciences, Engineering, or Philosophy. Students who demonstrate outstanding research performance in the doctoral program may also complete the program in two years.


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