Graduate School of Economics and Its Department

Introduction to the Kyushu University Graduate School of Economics and Its Department
In 1953, Kyushu University established the Kyushu University Graduate Department of Economic Research and began offering both Masters and Ph.D. courses. Initially, the department offered only a single Master of Economics major, but later added a Masters of Business major in 1969 and subsequently a Ph.D. of Business major in 1971. Furthermore, 1981 and 1983 respectively, majors in Masters of Economic Engineering and Ph.D. in Economic Engineering were also added. Afterwards, operating under this 3 major system, Kyushu University’s Graduate Department of Economic Research became Japan’s economic education foothold that produced many of Japan’s most accomplished researchers.
In 2000, Kyushu University following a new policy for prioritizing postgraduate education implemented a new system for its faculty and graduate school at the time-honored Department of Economic Research, under the former Graduate School. The university divided the former Graduate School into the Graduate School of Economics, an organization for education; and the Faculty of Economics, an organization for research. This reorganization gave the new Graduate School of Economics three departments; the Department of Economic Engineering, the Department of Industrial and Business Systems, and the Department of International Economic Study and Business Administration. The reforms also created three departments with identical names under the Faculty of Economics. In 2003, Kyushu University established a business school, joining Hitotsubashi University and Kobe University as the third national university in Japan to do so. The official name of Kyushu University’s business school (QBS) is the Department of Business and Technology Management, which is administratively positioned within the Graduate School of Economics. Kyushu University’s business school is a professional graduate school, designed primarily for working adults. Its founding also led to the reorganization of the Graduate School Economics, which is now composed of three branches: the Department of Economic Engineering, the Department of Economic System (established by merging the Department of Industrial and Business System and the Department of International Economic Study and Business Administration), and the Department of Business and Technology Management.

Department of Economic Engineering

Three major specialized fields – Economic System Analysis, Economic Analysis and Policy, and Mathematical and Computer Sciences – comprise the Department of Economic Engineering. The graduate program of this department prepares students for careers as researchers and professionals with highly specialized knowledge and skills to help them to find creative solutions to a wide variety of issues in a modern society that grows ever more complex and uncertain.
The Masters Program in the Graduate School of Economic Engineering enrolls 20 students each year. Master students take required core courses from the following basic subjects: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Mathematical Methods in Economics, and Computer Sciences. Students are also expected to complete one specialized field. A Masters degree is awarded upon completion of courses and submission of a satisfactory master thesis. The Ph. D. program enrolls 10 students each year. A Ph. D. in economics requires students to take a number of courses, complete the dissertation and defend the dissertation in a final oral examination.
In the specialized field of Economic System Analysis, students use mathematical techniques to perform theoretical and empirical analyses of macroeconomic and microeconomic issues. This field consists of microeconomic analysis, economic data analysis, economic modeling, macroeconomic analysis, econometrics, and macro-quantitative analysis. Students build theoretical models, which they then use to find solutions to real-world problems, examining major contemporary issues in the areas of community policy, information, the environment, economic development, and business fluctuations. In the specialized field of Economic Analysis and Policy, students learn the analytical tools to assess policies targeting diverse economic problems and develop new proposals. The central themes of this field are wide ranging. Some are directly linked to economic policies in fields such as fiscal measures, finance, employment, and welfare. Goals include finding ways to strike a balance between marketplace adjustments and public intervention, and reconciling efficiency and equity concerns. Students also examine the conceptual underpinnings of corporate governance and economic policies. In the specialized field of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, students learn rigorous mathematical theories and data processing techniques. Concrete themes under study in this field include techniques for mathematical economic analysis, mathematical planning and related techniques, techniques for analyzing economic and business management data, probability and statistical theories related to mathematical finance and their applications, and techniques for computerizing data processing and data management.

Department of Economic Systems

The educational objective of the Department of Economic Systems is to produce capable researchers and professionals with highly specialized research skills. In modern economic societies, economic systems are formulated by the complex interaction between various factors: multiple layers of economies -global, national, and regional- and a variety of economic organizations and institutions. In order to address problems facing economic societies, it is important to grasp these economic systems as a whole. Aiming to foster such abilities in our students, this department offers instruction on multilateral, multi-layered, comprehensive analysis of economic systems by focusing on the following four areas: contemporary economy, world economy, industries, and business corporations.This department annually accepts 27 students to the masters program, and 14 students to the doctoral program. Students can base on one of four specialized fields for analysis (Contemporary Economy Analysis, World Economy Analysis, Industrial Analysis, and Corporate Analysis), and deepen their knowledge of specific subjects. They are required to take a compulsory course of Methodology of Economics in the masters program, and are also encouraged to gain broad perspectives and cultivate their comprehensive research abilities by taking courses in other fields and departments.
In the department’s masters program, students are provided with instruction designed to improve basic research skills. The goal of such instruction is to help students prepare themselves as researchers. This department also responds to increasing demands in the business community for individuals armed with specialized knowledge and international communication skills; acquisition of licenses to serve as certified public accountants and tax accountants; and professional education for practitioners and international students.
The doctoral program of this department aims at producing academic researchers and highly specialized professionals who can objectively observe and analyze various problems facing contemporary society and can pursue solutions based on such observations and analyses. In concrete terms, the doctoral program seeks to produce the following individuals: academic researchers who can work internationally at the forefront of the sciences, practice-oriented researchers (including those who have completed studies in the Department of Business and Technology Management), professionals who use their highly specialized research skills in practice at the workplace (e.g., economists and field agents), individuals who serve international agencies on the front lines, and practitioners with highly specialized knowledge.
In this department, students who did not major in economics or business management at the undergraduate level are guided to take a fixed number of basic courses. For Japanese students, there are opportunities to take courses under a different faculty (the Faculty of Languages and Cultures) to improve skills in international communication. In addition, this department provides a curriculum for international students, including special lectures, Japanese-language lessons, bilingual seminars, and thesis-related instruction. Though the programs provided by this department, students can obtain not only highly specialized knowledge and skills, but also broad perspectives, the ability to discover problems, theoretical and empirical approaches, and the ability to perform composite analysis.

Department of Business and Technology Management

Curriculums Embodying the QBS Vision: For Asian Business Leaders

Prepare students for professional management positions

Students will be challenged with a demanding curriculum to ensure that they acquire the advanced knowledge and expertise required of management professionals. QBS Graduates are awarded an internationally recognized Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Kyushu University.

Asian vanguard for management trainings

Japan has a vested interest in the continued growth and prosperity of Asia. And as Asia continues to develop, there will be increasing demand for well-trained business professionals. Situated at the geographical gateway to Asia, QBS aims to fulfill that important role by offering students an Asian-oriented curriculum designed to provide the educational tools necessary to compete in the coming decades.

Develop students capable of applying advanced industrial technologies to business

QBS focuses on the Management of Technology (MOT), a field of study that emphasizes the business value of technology. Kyushu University’s ability to provide advanced training in a wide array of leading technologies allows QBS to offer a distinctive education program in which technology is viewed more as an asset and business opportunity.

Accent on Management, Asia and MOT

The QBS education system is characterized by curriculums that emphasize business management, Asia and MOT. Capitalizing on the university’s vast technological resources, the MBA program is a proven blend of both theory and practice. This well-integrated format is designed to instill stu-dents with the skills, knowledge, and perspectives required to succeed in an increasingly competitive environment. QBS is fully committed to helping stu-dents achieve their professional development and education goals while also serving as a comprehensive resource center for Asian management professionals.

Complementing practice with theory and theory with practice

The QBS MBA program is designed to equip students with the tools necessary to become successful management professionals. The emphasis is on real-world applications, and students will find that the expertise they have gained can be immediately employed in the workplace. Instructors have been carefully selected from private industry and various academic disciplines to ensure that students have the benefit of both theory and practice perspectives. Additional benefit is derived from the students themselves. Since they represent a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds. As a result, the learning effect at QBS is significantly enhanced through the sharing of insights and experiences during class discussions.

QBS exceeds the expectations of aspiring professionals such as:

  • Those preparing for management positions
  • Those desiring to move up the corporate ladder
  • Those looking for a more challenging position
  • Those wishing to play a more instrumental role in Asia
  • Those seeking employment in the Asia section of Japanese companies
  • Engineers and business persons in technical disciplines seeking to acquire management skills
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