IUJ's Unique Research Framework

Prof. Masachika Suzuki
MIA in Management,
   Columbia University, 1999
MA in Management,
   Keio University, 1997

IUJ REP (IUJ Research & Education PLATFORM) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach through which our researchers tackle global issues in practical terms by conducting research in dynamic collaboration with alumni, companies and other IUJ stakeholders.

Fusing the characteristics of IUJ's two graduate schools - Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR) and Graduate School of International Management (GSIM) - the IUJ REP focuses on common issues in areas in which global entities, governments, businesses, NGOs and the nation of Japan are expected to cooperate and contribute.

MBA Curriculum and IUJ REP

At GSIM, we realize that some of the most important skills for business school students to learn are those focused specifically upon solving current, real-world challenges, and that the greatest level of learning will come from face-to-face interactions with companies and executives facing such issues.

In an effort to integrate these elements into our existing curriculum, the GSIM faculty has created a number of joint faculty research and consulting projects (called PLATFORMs) focused on addressing the most complex and daunting challenges facing business leaders today in partnership with a variety of IUJ stakeholders.

IUJ REP HIGHLIGHT "Corporate Environmental Strategy and Management"

As an example of a very active program, we introduce the PLATFORM "Corporate Environmental Strategy and Management" led by Prof. Suzuki.

This PLATFORM investigates the strategic management of multinational firms, and how these organizations cope with global environmental issues. As their main case study, students are exploring an International Resource Recycling System (IRRS) proposed by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Japan. Since 2004, the company has been operating a large-scale recycling plant in Thailand to collect office equipment and supplies from 9 countries within the Asia Pacific region to reuse and recycle them in the region.

The staff members of P.T. Astra Graphia Tbk. and IUJ participants.

Students working in this PLATFORM have taken field trips to several countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia to better understand this program first-hand, have conducted large-scale, international market research, and are presenting their findings in international conferences and journals targeting both business and academic audiences.

Outcomes of each PLATFORM are presented in the Urasa Conference, an annual conference at the IUJ campus. Streaming of the first Urasa Conference, which was held on June 21, 2007, is now available at http://www.iuj.ac.jp/green/urasaconf/

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Next week's topic will be "Student Voices" (To be updated on November 12, 2007). Stay tuned!