What is PCP?
The Professional Career Programme (PCP) was established inside the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in the Academic Year 2005. The programme offers an opportunity for third and fourth year students, principally in the Faculty of Economics, to receive a practical economics education in English. In order to join PCP, students must pass an entrance examination on Economics and English, at the end of their second year.
Since the Spring Term of Academic Year 2007, PCP classes have been open to qualified foreign students via Keio University’s International Centre.
PCP aims to produce graduates who can thrive in the global arena, who will ‘design the future’. It is intended for students who plan to build a career in an internationalized environment, such as graduate and professional schools outside Japan, international organizations and multinational firms. All lectures, examinations and communication with the PCP Co-ordinator are in English.
In their first year in the programme, PCP students spend the Spring Term taking courses in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics. At the beginning of the Autumn Term, they choose one of the five courses; Law and Economics, Finance, Japanese Economy, International Economics and Environmental Economics. In the remaining three terms of the programme, students take classes within their chosen course, and acquire research skills by writing papers jointly and individually. Students are encouraged to expose themselves not just to English but to other languages as well.
Students who earn credits for all the necessary classes receive a PCP Certificate upon graduation. The Certificate is signed by the President of Keio University, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics.
Objectives
PCP’s objective is to turn out competent, open-minded leaders that ‘design the future’.
We welcome eligible students from around the world to classes offered within the programme, to be educated alongside Japanese and other Keio students.
In PCP, we train students to make economic logic a part of their thought-cycle, and to obtain basic knowledge in their chosen field in economics. Students acquire quantitative methods in economics as well as research skills, and learn the framework of policy analysis. All lectures, examinations and communications with the PCP Co-ordinator are conducted in English, and exposure to a third language is strongly encouraged. We also motivate students to study abroad as PCP students.
Graduates of PCP are expected to build their career as professionals with a global outlook. Many go on to study at graduate schools and professional schools such as law schools, business schools, schools of public policy and schools of development.
A Brief History
Please note that the Japanese academic year starts in April and ends in March.
Academic Year 2005
April Start of the programme
April Established the two PCP majors (courses), ”Law and
Economics” and “International Economics”
Academic Year 2006
April Established the new PCP majors (courses),
”Environmental Economics” and “Finance”
March First Ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on the
class of 2007
Academic Year 2007
April Established the new PCP major (course), ”Public
Policy”
April/ September The number of registration by internatinal students
in PCP classes was 10 in the Spring Semester and
16 in the Autumn Semester
August PCP was selected as the MEXT’s Distinctive
University Education Assistance Program
(FY2007-2009)
March Second ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2008
Academic Year 2008
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 10 in the Spring Semester and
21 in the Autumn Semester
September TOEFL iBT examination exclusive to PCP students
March Scholarships for studying abroad, funded by UBS,
were given to five PCP students
March Third ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on the
class of 2009
Academic Year 2009
April Established the PCP major (course) “Japanese
Economy” in place of “Public Policy”
April Start of a Portfolio Project (AY2009-2010) and
Tutoring by students in the Master’s Program
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 18 in the Spring Semester and
29 in the Autumn Semester
August TOEFL iBT examination exclusive to PCP students
March Fourth ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2010
Academic Year 2010
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 28 in the Spring Semester and
26 in the Autumn Semester
March The ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate on
the class of 2011 was cancelled due to the Great
East Japan Earthquake
Academic Year 2011
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 6 in the Spring Semester and
15 in the Autumn Semester
October The first PCP Festa
March Fifth ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2012
Academic Year 2012
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 28 in the Spring Semester and
30 in the Autumn Semester
November The Second PCP Festa
March Sixth ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2013
Academic Year 2013
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 36 in the Spring Semester and
31 in the Autumn Semester
October The Third PCP Festa
March Seventh ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2014
Academic Year 2014
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 35 in the Spring Semester and
27 in the Autumn Semester
October The Forth PCP Festa
March Eighth ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2015
Academic Year 2015
April/ September The number of registration by international students
in PCP classes was 35 in the Spring Semester and
50 in the Autumn Semester
March Ninth ceremony to confer the PCP Certificate, on
the class of 2016
