Information technology, classically represented by the internet, has permeated every corner of society, yielding a variety of new businesses and revolutionizing attitudes even among existing firms. Rapid developments in data science have also led to considerable progress in AI-fueled automation and enhanced functionality for businesses.

Amidst these sweeping changes in the business environment, I believe that many businesspeople are searching for support in confronting these changes as they engage in their day-to-day business. Others might be focused on traditional career paths and feel it necessary to acquire new information and gain new skills.

To offer recurrent education to these working adults, we launched our programs in Business Administration in April 2020 through the reorganization of our Master’s Program in Systems Management and Doctoral Program in Systems Management Course. The previous Master’s Program in Systems Management was established in 1989 as part of the first nighttime graduate school for working adults offered by a national university, and it has produced over 700 graduates. Our Systems Management Course was established in 1996 and has awarded over 150 doctorates. Our Programs in Business Administration are the heirs to a tradition spanning 30 years: an environment that facilitates study for working adults and a unique education and research system.

Since their establishment, our Systems Management programs and courses have focused on the business applications of information technology, quantitative analysis technology, and what is now known as “analytics.” Our programs and courses concentrate on student education in these and other related fields, which we believe will be increasingly vital to business in the future. Therefore, in our Programs in Business Administration, we view statistics and information-related disciplines as the pillars of the education we offer — the analytical foundation supporting the core fields of management studies such as management strategy and organization, marketing, accounting, and finance.

In both our Master’s and Doctoral programs, we put effort into not only coursework but also thesis research. For their thesis research, students select a theme focused on the issues they confront in business and seek solutions through application of the theories and skills they have acquired in their coursework. Following a path where the answers are not immediately apparent has its difficulties, but it allows students to go beyond abstract theorizing to acquire the organic knowledge and skills only trial and error can provide. Furthermore, our Doctoral Program offers the opportunity to produce research results that are highly-esteemed in both academic and practical working worlds.

As we enter the age of the 100-year lifespan, our approaches to work, which have focused on the traditional pillar of “lifetime employment,” will evolve. We believe that amidst these changes, recurrent education will become increasingly important for working adults. Individuals from a variety of backgrounds gaining new knowledge and skills and forging personal connections through a brand-new learning opportunity presents the perfect chance to further a career in business. With our Programs in Business Administration, we want to capitalize on our 30 years of experience by offering a venue for higher-quality recurrent education for many years to come.

Naoki Makimoto
Business Administration Program Leader