Influenced by the forces of global economies, economic restructuring, and the IT revolution, the economic environment is changing at unprecedented rates. In this rapidly changing economic environment, there is a growing need for society members with economic analyzing capabilities to accurately judge societal situations, and leadership figures with deep scholarly acquisitioned and disciplined research abilities.

The Graduate School of Economics at Nanzan University aims to satisfy society’s demand for cultivated human resources by welcoming individuals with aspirations to become advanced professionals and who have strong analytical skills of economic situations and a deep understanding of specialized fields, those who wish to advance their current career with new skills, those who wish to proceed into a doctoral course for a future career in research, those who wish to become professional accountants, or simply workers who are striving for intellectual enhancement. Our objective is to cultivate such individuals and empower them with specialized knowledge and applicable research abilities to enable them to make further contributions to workplaces and regional societies.

A recent survey targeting over 300 businesses and organizations in the Nagoya area from which commuting to our school is possible, shows that approximately 20 percent of respondents showed an interest in having their workers pursue studies for degrees in economics, an indicator that there is more than a little potential demand for adult education. Furthermore, specific educational expectations include the acquisition of fundamental theories and the cultivation of applicable abilities, enhanced data analysis and presentation skills, and social trend analysis and solution abilities.

In order to respond to this need, we have created a curriculum for working adults. Even if one is not originally from the economics department one can learn the fundamentals of economics, cultivate analysis skills, and conduct a scholarly pursuit of societal problem themes. Furthermore, as an open graduate school aimed at contributing to society, there is a 2-year “specialized course” for Master’s students to finish their degree, as well as a “1-year course for working adults” (part of the working adults admission system), for high-achieving individuals with extended work experience, abundant experience and knowledge in a specific practice, and a desire to broaden knowledge and gain scholarly acquisition in order to make contributions in advanced technical affairs. Finally, from the viewpoint of supporting adult social activities and contributing to regional society, there is the “extended enrollment course” for young, middle, and old aged individuals, as well as housewives, who are unable to engage in an intensive 2-year study due to the nature of their work or personal reasons. This course allows students to enroll for an extended period of time (3-6 years) while acquiring broad knowledge in economics and conducting research in specific areas.

We also have a strong doctoral course for individuals who wish to enter fields of research, where there are further high-level courses in various fields of economics whose objectives are the enhancement of specialized knowledge and cultivation of applicable research capacities.