Keio Research Institute at SFC

* This laboratory has been completed.

Objective

This Laboratory has been established to further explore and expand policy studies as conducted in Policy Innovation Initiative: Human Security Research in Japan and Asia“, a program supported by the “21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) Program” of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It has been a long-standing intention of SFC to establish a mechanism to implement its own methods to provide society with information leading to problem identification and problem-solving in the area of policymaking. Utilizing the Web and other networks, light will be shed on the thoughts of ordinary citizens regarding various aspects of life, including social, political and economic issues. The aim of this Laboratory is to research and perform verification testing of a mechanism to generate polices aimed at solving identified issues.

Laboratory Research Timeframe

Year 1 (June 2006 – March 2008)

Research activities based on specific theme
An annual research theme will be selected and a leader for each research team designated. Roles will be divided within each research team and work for a one-year period performed in accordance with a three-step approach of research => analysis => deployment.

Year 2 (April 2008 – March 2009)

Research activities based on specific theme
As in the first year, the Steering Committee will select research themes, generate research schedules and designate a leader for each research theme. Roles will be divided within each research team and work for a one-year period performed in accordance with a three-step approach of research => analysis => deployment. This action cycle may change depending on feedback from the first year.

Year 3 (April 2009 – March 2010)

Disclosure and evaluation of results
The results of the 2-year research activities conducted by the laboratory will be released via academic conferences, symposia, publications and so forth. A period will be set aside to elicit comments and evaluations from external parties regarding the effectiveness of the research as a platform for policy proposal. This will then be used to determine the future of the Laboratory and its research, and to consider different organizational structures for the Laboratory.

Researchers, managers and professors