Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program

The Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program (MSP) is a collaborative program designed and administered jointly by GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). This program makes it possible for students to benefit from the resources of both institutions in the fields of public policy, security studies, maritime safety, and maritime security. The students will have the opportunity to acquire professional knowledge, analytical skills, and communication skills relevant to their work while becoming members of a network of future coast guard leaders in Asia.
With financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), junior coast guard officers from different parts of Asia will study in Tokyo at GRIPS during the first half of the academic year and in Kure, Hiroshima at the Japan Coast Guard Academy (JCGA)–the JCG’s most important educational institution–during the second half.

Study at GRIPS
After enrolling in the program, students will take required and elective courses at GRIPS from October through March. The required courses are International Relations, International Security Studies, International Law, International Relations in East Asia, and International Law of the Sea. The elective courses will enable students to deepen their knowledge in the fields of their interest. The elective subjects include courses in politics, economics, national security, and policy making.

Study at the JCGA
From April through July, the students will take courses and participate in practical training and educational programs at the JCGA. The required courses are Policy for Search and Rescue, Salvage and Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Maritime Police Policy. The students can further enhance their ability to effectively execute their duties as coast guard leaders in Asia through the study of a wide range of elective subjects. The JCGA’s elective courses are designed to develop students’ knowledge of science, technology, and criminal investigation, all of which are vital elements of effective policy formulation.
The students will attend lectures focusing on past maritime incidents and possible future scenarios, offered by leading experts and JCG officers. Through lectures and discussions, they will enhance their understanding of the roles played by maritime law enforcement agencies and learn to identify best practices.

Policy Paper
During the course of one year, each students is required to write a policy paper on issues relevant to the study of maritime safety and security. In order to do so, the student will work together with two academic advisors—one each from GRIPS and the JCGA—to complete the paper before graduation.

Career Destinations

Graduates of MSP Program are expected to take core positions in their coast guard agencies. While executing their duties, they also have an opportunity to disseminate the knowledge they have gained from GRIPS and the JCGA to their agencies and beyond. In addition, graduates are in a unique position to play a central role in their organizations’ international negotiations by drawing on the human networks cultivated in the program.