EDUCATION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE STUDIES (NIDS) THE IMPROVEMENT OF CURRICULUM NIDS Tokyo, Japan JAPAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE October, 2007

EDUCATION AT EDUCATION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE STUDIES (NIDS)DEFENSE STUDIES (NIDS)

THE IMPROVEMENTTHE IMPROVEMENTOF CURRICULUMOF CURRICULUM

NIDSTokyo, Japan

JAPANMINISTRY OF

DEFENSE

October, 2007

Presentation at 11th ARF HDUCIM

MISSIONSMISSIONS

ResearchResearch

EducationEducation

Military HistoryMilitary History

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

President

GeneralAffairs

Division

Vice President

Planning and Coordination Office

Executive DirectorFor Research and

International Affairs

Military History

DepartmentLibrary

EducationDepartment

ResearchDepartment

Military History

Department

EducationDepartment

ResearchDepartment

COURSES OF EDUCATIONCOURSES OF EDUCATION

Regular CourseRegular Course

Special CourseSpecial Course

The Category-I Civil Service Officials CourseThe Category-I Civil Service Officials Course

3 week intensive course

For MG/RADM and senior COL/ CAPT class, and equivalent civilians

Stress on current policy agenda, international relations, security and defense issues.

COURSES OF EDUCATIONCOURSES OF EDUCATION

Regular CourseRegular Course

Special CourseSpecial Course

The Category-I Civil Service Officials CourseThe Category-I Civil Service Officials Course

12 week course

For future candidates for high positions within MOD (after two years of active service)

Designed to introduce international relations, strategic theory and military affairs, to consider Japan’s defense policy from total perspective

REGULAR COURSEREGULAR COURSE(General)(General)

1 academic year (10 months) course

For junior COL/ CAPT and senior LTC/ CDR class, and equivalent civilians

Academic program which covers a wide range of issues.

Students achieve perspectives on a wide Students achieve perspectives on a wide variety of issues, improving insight and variety of issues, improving insight and ability to think logically and flexibly.ability to think logically and flexibly.

BACKGROUND– Drastic change of security environment Drastic change of security environment

Emergence of divergent threat after cold warEmergence of divergent threat after cold war(Especially threat of terror since 9.11)(Especially threat of terror since 9.11)

Diversification and globalization of mission of Diversification and globalization of mission of armed forcesarmed forcesRapidity of technological advanceRapidity of technological advance

– Movement for establishing Japanese “NSC”Movement for establishing Japanese “NSC”In charge of national decision makingIn charge of national decision making

– Needs of academic literacy for military officersNeeds of academic literacy for military officersTool of communication with civilianTool of communication with civilian

REGULAR COURSEREGULAR COURSE(Current Change)(Current Change)

Curriculum Change in ProgressCurriculum Change in Progress

52nd ClassAY 2004-2005

53rd ClassAY 2005-2006

54th ClassAY 2006-2007

55th ClassAY 2007-2008

Old CurriculumNew Curriculum

(Transitional Period)New Curriculum


Feature of the New Curriculum– Objectives: Objectives:

– Emphasized Points: Emphasized Points:

To acquire security and defense-related knowledge and to obtain abilities to study a variety of security issues involving Japan in a comprehensive manner not only from the military viewpoint but also from the political viewpoint by analyzing security trends at home and abroad


Feature of the New Curriculum– Objectives: Objectives:

– Emphasized Points: Emphasized Points:

In order for the senior officials of the MOD/SDF to develop security and defense-related expertise, extensive and high-level knowledge about security and national defense will be provided phase by phase. Also such abilities as to logically think, properly decide, and clearly express are encouraged to nurture. Students must deepen their understanding in the fields of theory on security and military strategy, international relations, Japan’s commitment to the international community, relationship between security and economy & technology, and military history. They are also encouraged to obtain such abilities as assessment of the situation, policy planning, accountability, and management of organization.


Feature of the New Curriculum– System of the CourseSystem of the Course

OLDOLD– Field OrientedField Oriented

No-Term SystemNo-Term System

NewNew– Subject Oriented Subject Oriented

4-Terms System4-Terms System


SYSTEM OF COURSESYSTEM OF COURSE 　　 (OLD)(OLD)Field Oriented No-Term Course System

One Academic Year

Introductionto

NationalSecurity

Outline of Security Environment DefensePolicy

Nat

ion

alS

ecu

rity

Mil

itar

yH

isto

ry

Do

mes

tic

Aff

airs

Inte

rnat

ion

al A

ffai

rs

Eco

no

my

Sci

ence

Tec

hn

olo

gy

Def

ense

Po

licy


SYSTEM OF COURSESYSTEM OF COURSE 　　 (NEW)(NEW)Subject Oriented 4-Terms Course System

One Academic Year

TERM I TERM II TERM III TERM IV

Defense of Japan

Military HistoryOf Modern Japan

Regional SecurityI

Conflict & Inter-National Community

Security AffairsIn East Asia I

Arms ControlDisarmament

Non-Proliferation

Cold War & Japan’sSecurity Policy

Social Security &Crisis Management

Science Technology& Security

Regional SecurityII

Security AffairsIn East Asia II

Principles of Military History

Economy andSecurity

Law & Security

US SecurityPolicy

Theories ofStrategy

International Security

ResearchPresentation

Study TourAbroad

Decision MakingExercise


Feature of the New Curriculum– Introduce “Case Study”Introduce “Case Study”

Purpose: Cultivate Ability in Area of the Situational Awareness and Policy Decision MakingPurpose: Cultivate Ability in Area of the Situational Awareness and Policy Decision Making

Phase I Phase I – Outline of Theories of Policy Decision MakingOutline of Theories of Policy Decision Making– Comparative Study – Decision Making Process of Principal States including JapanComparative Study – Decision Making Process of Principal States including Japan– Consideration of Current States and Problems of Crisis ManagementConsideration of Current States and Problems of Crisis Management

Phase IIPhase II– Consideration of Problems of Japan’s National Security and of Security/Defense Policy to be expectedConsideration of Problems of Japan’s National Security and of Security/Defense Policy to be expected– Scenario based Drafting of Security/Defense Policy and DiscussionScenario based Drafting of Security/Defense Policy and Discussion


Opportunity to lay a basis for future possible assignments as staff of the “Japanese NSC.”

Feature of the New Curriculum– Introduce “Case Study” (cont.)Introduce “Case Study” (cont.)


Change of the Security Environment after 9/11Change of the Security Environment after 9/11

Time for Anti-terrorism-related topics amounts to a considerable Time for Anti-terrorism-related topics amounts to a considerable sumsum

[86%: 62 hours out of 72 hours][86%: 62 hours out of 72 hours]

It provides students with valuable opportunities to It provides students with valuable opportunities to cultivate appropriate ability regarding judgment and cultivate appropriate ability regarding judgment and execution under the current characteristic security execution under the current characteristic security environmentenvironment

Feature of the New Curriculum– Improve “Seminar” and “Thesis Supervision”Improve “Seminar” and “Thesis Supervision”

Seminar: Increased to 3-4 from 2 Credits, with Themes Arranged to Focus on the Course ObjectivesSeminar: Increased to 3-4 from 2 Credits, with Themes Arranged to Focus on the Course Objectives

Thesis Supervision: Introduction and Technical Suggestion, Interim Thesis Presentation etc.Thesis Supervision: Introduction and Technical Suggestion, Interim Thesis Presentation etc.

Acquire in-depth Knowledge and Develop Academic Literacy


Feature of the New Curriculum– Improve Contents in “Economy” and “Technology”Improve Contents in “Economy” and “Technology”

Contents Closely Related to the SecurityContents Closely Related to the Security

Emphasis on China, Keeps Economic Growth SteadilyEmphasis on China, Keeps Economic Growth Steadily

Latest Topics on Military Science and TechnologyLatest Topics on Military Science and Technology

Set Seminars on Space DevelopmentSet Seminars on Space Development

Acquire Knowledge regarding Security

from Economic and Science & Technological Perspective


Questions?Questions?

Documents

EDUCATION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE STUDIES (NIDS) THE IMPROVEMENT OF CURRICULUM NIDS Tokyo, Japan JAPAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE October, 2007