Educational Policy of Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems (Master's Course)
Fundamental Educational Goals
The Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems (Master's Course) is committed to fostering individuals who will contribute to the construction of better health systems. Here, the term “health systems” refers to the broad network of people, things, and systems related to human and societal health in the fields of medicine and caregiving. Our educational goal is to develop individuals who, through dialogue and discussion with others, are able to gain a deep understanding of the challenges inherent in health systems, and further their knowledge in their own specialized fields while being able to understand other disciplines (interdisciplinary sciences). This is to prepare individuals with high ability and character to be able to contribute to problem-solving and innovative thinking.
Exemplary Students
Pioneers using their specialized ability to support the foundations of international health systems
In line with the fundamental educational goals stated above, their specialized ability is to “expand their expertise while understanding and integrating other fields”. Their inquiry ability is their capacity to “deeply understand the challenges inherent in health systems”. Their communication ability is to “collaborate well with others”, their liberal arts ability is to “deepen their knowledge from a wide range of learning”. Finally, their implementation ability is the potential to “collaborate with others to generate ideas that can be utilized for problem-solving”. In accordance with the philosophy and objectives of the graduate school, we aim to develop “pioneers using their specialized ability to support the foundations of international health systems” who can contribute to solving problems and supporting the foundations of innovation.
We will foster individuals to develop the following five abilities:
○ Implementation Ability: To collaborate with others in generating ideas for problem-solving
○ Inquiry Ability: To deeply understand the challenges inherent in health systems
○ Communication Ability: To collaborate well with others
○ Specialized Ability: To expand one's expertise while understanding and integrating other fields (interdisciplinary sciences)
○ Liberal Arts Ability: To deepen one's knowledge from a wide range of learning
Degree Policy
The Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems (Master's Course) at Okayama University awards degrees to students who have studied for the prescribed period of time, acquired the following competencies and earned the credits required for graduation in order to develop exemplary students.
Abilities acquired: Implementation Ability, Inquiry Ability, Communication Ability, Specialized Ability, Liberal Arts Ability.
【Implementation Ability】Implementation ability to collaborate with others in generating ideas for problem-solving
This refers to the ability to understand various difficulties and challenges in health systems, collaborate with others, and take action towards generating new ideas.
【Inquiry Ability】Inquiry ability to deeply understand the challenges inherent in health systems
This refers to the ability to understand challenges from both external materials and internal human perspectives, while considering perspectives and methods from one's own and other specialized fields. It also refers to the ability to engage in creative solutions in a multifaceted and logical manner.
【Communication Ability】Communication ability to collaborate widely
This refers to the ability to foster mutual understanding through discussions with others and to create new things or ideas through collaboration.
【Specialized Ability】Specialized ability to expand one's expertise while understanding and integrating other fields
This refers to the ability to further deepen one's own specialized field while learning from other specialized fields. It also refers to the ability to integrate these different perspectives and collaboratively engage in creative solutions for the diverse challenges in society.
【Liberal Arts Ability】Liberal Arts ability to deepen one's knowledge from a wide range of learning
This refers to the ability to further deepen the specialized field studied at the undergraduate level. Also, through learning different perspectives and methods from other specialized fields, students can deepen their knowledge.
Curriculum Policy
To cultivate students who have acquired the abilities outlined in the Degree Policy, our graduate school organizes and implements an educational curriculum based on the following principles and concepts.
Education Implementation Policy
We implement an education that fosters the ability in students to continue learning independently towards the practice of a sustainable society.
Education Principles
From a perspective of proactive, dialogic, and deep learning, we prioritize what students can do, rather than what we have taught them, and provide the following educational content.
【General Education】
Aiming for the development of universal skills required by all students of the graduate school, we provide practical activities where students can learn and grow together.
We offer an integrated curriculum that equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the diverse perspectives of other disciplines. We want students to think about and take the lead in solving the health systems issues.
【Specialized Education】
By systematically providing information on specialized areas, we encourage a deep understanding and offer opportunities to integrate and create knowledge from different areas.
We offer a curriculum that allows students to gain knowledge and skills related to their specialized fields, while learning and integrating insights and skills from other fields. Students will be able to explain issues from a specialized standpoint, and acquire the ability to resolve them with the wider society in mind.
【Language Education】
We provide education to improve English language skills necessary in a global society.
Anticipating research and practical activities in English, we recommend opportunities to present and interact in English, as well as in Japanese, at academic conferences and other gatherings.
Educational Methods
We provide the aforementioned educational content in the following ways:
(1) We use educational methods that allow students to expand their potential.
Through general education university courses, students learn to understand others, while learning the concepts and methodologies of integrated health system sciences (“Introduction to Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems”). They acquire specialized education concepts and methodologies through exercises (“General Theory of Health System Integration Science”) and further cultivate the knowledge and skills to innovate through practical activities (“Advanced Hospital Practice”, “Practical Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Engineering”). We also foster understanding of the situations and challenges related to health systems, improving Communication Ability and developing a sense of ethics. In the “Specialized Subjects” group, as coursework, students learn advanced methods and techniques in their field of specialization. They learn to deepen their thinking about these methods and techniques, understand issues pertaining to their field of specialization, and cultivate their ability as experts who can practice research and development with a global awareness. As for research, students comprehensively utilize the knowledge and skills learned in their coursework, enhancing the knowledge and skills to support the foundation of innovation and research.
(2) We provide an educational system that takes advantage of the features of a comprehensive university.
We offer an educational system where students can focus on their own specialization while learning about other areas of study and understanding diverse perspectives. Students work collaboratively to create solutions to important issues related to the health system.
(3) We provide practical educational programs tailored to the growth of students.
As practical educational programs, we provide learning opportunities in society, such as inside and outside the university, as well as in domestic and foreign areas, in the following courses: “Advanced Hospital Practice”, “Practical Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Engineering”, and multiple “Internship”.
Academic Performance Evaluation Policy
We conduct academic evaluations based on the following ideas:
(1) Students are evaluated on their understanding of integrated science approaches focusing on various specialized areas and methodologies.
In the “Introduction to Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems”, “Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems” and in general subjects, we evaluate whether students have acquired the knowledge of integrated science, understanding of the innovation loop, and the perspectives and basic methods related to health systems through reports and lectures.
(2) Students are evaluated on their understanding of diverse difficulties and issues in the health system.
In the “Introduction to Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems” and general subjects, we evaluate the understanding of various specialized areas and methods. In “Health Policies” and “Introduction to Medical Research”, we evaluate the understanding of the issues in healthcare. In “Advanced Hospital Practice” and “Practical Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Engineering”, we evaluate whether students are able to organize and examine issues from different perspectives in the health system scene through reports. Also, we evaluate the understanding of various difficulties and issues based on the content of their master's thesis.
(3) Students are evaluated on their ability to carry out research and development and to work on creative solutions.
In “Advanced Hospital Practice” and “Practical Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Engineering”, we evaluate whether students are considering solutions to problems through reports. In research where students tackle issues using specialized knowledge and methods, we evaluate whether there are new insights, whether new methods and technologies are being creatively researched and developed, and whether students are considering social implementation, through their master's thesis, intermediate examinations, and final presentations with question-and-answer sessions.
(4) Students are evaluated on their ability to contribute to problem-solving and supporting innovation.
In specialized subjects, we evaluate whether students have acquired advanced specialized knowledge and skills through reports and final exams. Also, in “Advanced Hospital Practice” and “Practical Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Engineering”, we evaluate students’ collaboration towards problem-solving with students from other specialized fields by looking at their record-keeping and reflections. In addition, we evaluate whether problem-solving abilities have been acquired based on their master's thesis and a final examination.
Extracurricular Education Policy
We provide opportunities for extracurricular activities where students can experience their own growth beyond classroom learning, such as participation in public symposiums and academic exchanges at domestic and international conferences.