New Risk Management Training Programs in Higher Education in Japan -- A Comparative Study and a Challenge by Osaka University

Risks such as health risks derived from hazardous chemicals, energy security associated with electric power supply, and accidental risks at work need to be coped with by professionals in the areas concerned. Risk managers must deal with numerous different topics. They are expected to be familiar with legal requirements, scientific analysis methods, management strategies, and communication skills. Many firms in the USA and Europe already employ certified professional risk managers, including those for environmental risks. In contrast, even though both private and public sectors in Japan have acknowledged the need for risk management professionals, the lack in specialized programs at Japanese institutions has resulted in relatively poor staffing of environmental risk managers at most organizations. In order to meet this increasing demand, a new post-graduate program (representative: T. Morioka) at Osaka University was created as the first comprehensive attempt to train environmental risk managers in Japan. This article analyzes the educational systems for risk management at the graduate and post-graduate level in Japan, and compares the structure of the new post-graduate program at Osaka University with similar domestic programs. We also make an analysis of the skills development and learning outcomes criterion of our program.