Because of the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, even regular graduate school programs have changed significantly. How has the WISE Program affected?

The implementation of the WISE Program has been slightly delayed for the same reason. However, we have offered online classes at our partner universities since the beginning of the pandemic. For the Joint Colloquium program, which is a face-to-face program, and field research, which needs to be conducted overseas, alternative programs will be provided until they can be held. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the need to promote digitalization, and the need for this program has also increased unexpectedly. However, we will respond flexibly to the situation as it changes and develops.

I visited the website and understood the basics of the WISE Program, but where can I obtain more details?

You should get in touch with the graduate school office of the university you plan to study at. For Chiba University, the representative university of this program, the contact details are as follows:
WISE Program, Administration Office of the Graduate School, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
jinsha-takuetsu@chiba-u.jp 043-290-2997 (Mon–Fri: 9:00–12:00, 13:00–17:00)

How and when should I apply for the Program?

We do not conduct a special selection for this program at the graduate school entrance examination time. After entering graduate school, Recruitment Guidelines will be distributed to those who wish to participate in the program. After consulting with your university’s main academic advisor and the faculty member in charge of the WISE Program, fill in the necessary information on the application form provided by each university and submit it by the deadline to the administrative office at your university. Screening will be based on school records and interview tests. If you are eligible for the program, you will be allowed to join the WISE Program. The application details differ for each partner university, so check with your university’s contact point.

Can you tell me more about the screening methods?

We will make a comprehensive judgment based on a review of the submitted documents, school records, entrance examination results, interview tests, etc. Note that each partner university has a quota for this program; therefore, please ask the contact point at your university for details.

Who are the academic advisors for this program?

For the first stage (Master’s course), the main academic advisor will be the faculty member in charge of the WISE Program at your home university. Sub-advisors are faculty members in charge of the WISE Program from other partner universities (Chiba University, Okayama University, Kumamoto University, Nagasaki University, and Sôkendai University). This combination of advisors allows the research guidance system to cross institutional boundaries and enables a diverse range of research activities. (Note that this section describes the guidance system for this program. Each graduate school has its own guidance setup.)

What is the relationship between regular courses and the courses in this program?

In addition to regular course requirements, additional classes are required to complete this program. Participants also need to take extra mandatory classes, such as field research and the Joint Colloquium (research presentations). This means that students must learn more than in regular courses. The faculty members in charge and the other staff of the WISE Program in each partner graduate school will, therefore, support the participants in various ways.

What kind of student study support is available for this program?

Chiba University students can work as special research assistants in the master’s course. Assistants receive a certain amount of financial support from the university. Students can also receive support for domestic travel expenses to participate in the Joint Colloquium program (although the program is currently on hold owing to the COVID-19 pandemic) and overseas travel expenses to conduct field research. We also offer digital equipment that is necessary for the DH. The laptops needed for the Data Science class are also individually lent to each student.

Can only graduate students whose research theme is Asian-Eurasian studies take this program?

All students who attend the graduate school of a university where this program is available can participate, regardless of their major. In this program, we regard the Asia–Eurasia region as a ‘predicament-driven region’ and have made it the first pillar of the program. The program also aims to share perspectives on how concerns in the Asia–Eurasia region can be resolved through academic methods in the humanities and social sciences by incorporating methodologies from various fields and examining them from multiple perspectives.

I did not study data sciences as an undergraduate, so I am apprehensive about taking Digital Humanities 2.0.

Since this program is designed for a small number of students, we intend to offer flexible instruction that matches the level of each student. Therefore, a lack of data science education will not affect your ability to take part in the program.