Advanced Course for Formal Thesis Writing

This seminar class facilitates intensive focus on thesis writing, working on your interests regarding Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and other related areas. Following from the previous semester’s work on establishing students’ original research focus, the instructor will help complete the deepening phase of writing the Master’s thesis. For students not confident in their research focus, the class introduces success and failure factors of PPP already endorsed in in-transition countries, in addition to Japanese PPP examples, to enrich your sense for organizing reports and papers. Any area related to a developing economy will be welcomed here and covered in this class as the instructor is now working on teaching and researching in the areas of international economics and development economics in parallel with this class.

This seminar helps students through the advanced phase of writing their thesis. The instructor expects all to complete the following, which will help students naturally arrive at the completion of the Master’s thesis.
(1) Complete literature review and link it with research focus.
(2) Proceed with collecting data and evidence, examining law and PPP-related systems to support and verify the Master thesis focus.
(3) Summarize them to complete the thesis.

This schedule is organized for the academic learners in their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semester. For students in their 1st semester, the instructor will modify this to provide a preparatory session for the completion of their research plan. My syllabus for the fall semester might be a good reference for you.

No.01 Questions and answers on how to proceed with research, and mutual introductions of each student talking about their research progress
No.02 Proceed with writing Master’s thesis (1) Data collections, field work, theoretical analysis, etc., with reference to previous studies and course instruction
No.03 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (2)
No.04 Short presentation by students
No.05 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (3)
No.06 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (4)
No.07 Short presentation by students
No.08 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (5)
No.09 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (6)
No.10 Short presentation by students
No.11 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (7)
No.12 Proceed writing Master’s thesis (8)
No.13 Short presentation by students
No.14 Complete Master’s thesis (students in their 4th semester) or complete organizing Master thesis preliminary draft (students in their 2nd, ideally, and 3rd semester, recommended in light of schedule)
No.15 Questions and answers on how to tackle the remaining tasks for each student

As a Master’s thesis instructor, I start by understanding students’ research interests to help establish their research focus, which is often difficult.

(1)This seminar will be a student-centered learning seminar. Students will not only be active learners but also active participants. Methods for conducting a literature review/Master thesis analysis will be presented by the instructor, so please be prepared for the next seminar every week to proceed with your research and inform us of your progress.
(2)For weekly preparation, the instructor will assign reading articles and/or writing reviews on it. For senior students, proceed with the writing of your literature review/draft of Master’s thesis after each seminar.
(3)Weekly class preparation includes: reading of all texts, completion of activities, completion of weekly assignments, and regular progress on your research.

【Grading Criteria】
Class participation and in-class contribution: 20%
Reports and assigned tasks: 40%
An oral defense of your research: 40%
【Method of Evaluation】
Subject to the criteria of evaluation of Toyo University

【PPP students only】
Any necessary disciplinary actions will follow the guidelines of the school.

Instead of a textbook, the instructor will guide you to the appropriate references, e.g., journals, books, data, etc., depending on your progress. The reference list will be given by the instructor and be shared among the class to facilitate discussion for mutual understanding and deepening each theme. You are also required to compile your own reference list for your research.

See above (Textbooks).

My current research and government activity regarding PPPs are almost all linked to real estate issues including farmland, public facilities, and infrastructure, and those topics form the foundation of every industry and corporate activity in our society. I am very sure you students will be able to find your specialty with us. All areas will be expanded into an international framework to help motivate those students from abroad.