Keio Research Institute at SFC

Objectives

This laboratory aims to promote the understanding and spread of case method education and teaching techniques. Case method is a discussion-based educational approach and its utilization in a wide range of fields has been growing rapidly in recent years. Some of these fields include business, law, regional and public policies, medical care, and welfare. In particular, since this method is considered effective for the improvement of practical skills (integration ability, perceptiveness, ability to make strategic decisions, ability to identify and solve problems, etc.), there is a growing need for personnel development through case method education in professional graduate schools and at the frontlines of educating practitioners. However, although its effectiveness is recognized, case methods are still currently dependent on the unique know-how of lecturers such as on class methods and the development of case teaching materials. As things stand, many people are not able to attend lectures and experience them, and plans for propagation are currently being sought after.
This laboratory aims to be a hub for Keio University’s SFC (the Faculty of Policy Management, the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, the Graduate School of Media and Governance, and the Graduate School of Health Management) to accumulate and share know-how on case method education and case teaching materials, accelerate propagation of and promote personnel development for case method education, while cooperating with organizations such as Keio Research Center for Liberal Arts and other universities. Consideration will also be made on development methods for case teaching materials so they can be utilized in not only the faculty and graduate school classes at Keio University, including SFC, but also in the training programs of other universities, corporations, municipalities, etc.

Research Fields

This laboratory will mainly promote the following research activities:

1. Development of case teaching materials
   Mainly develop case teaching materials for venture corporations and nonprofit organizations for healthcare and regional development.
2. Construction of management and propagation platforms for case teaching materials
   Establish, construct, and administer platforms so that case teaching materials can be widely utilized.
3. Provision of case method education training programs
   Implement case method education and training programs not only as university and postgraduate classes but also in corporations and municipalities, etc. depending on requests, and provide that know-how and link it to personnel development.
4. Verification of the effects of case method education
   Conduct research related to verifying the effect of case method education.
5. Publication of results
   Hold symposiums, etc. on case method education.

Outline of Research Activity Plans

(First half of FY2015)
Develop and utilize new case teaching materials.
Construct platforms for distributing case teaching materials.
Renew existing case teaching materials, revise them and create teaching notes.

(Latter half of FY2015)
Administer platforms for distributing case teaching materials.
Hold case method classes for municipalities, corporations, etc.
Develop and utilize new case teaching materials.
Hold case method symposiums.

Researchers, managers and professors