GSDM Global Leadership Program for Social Design and Management

SIPStudent Initiative Project

What is SIP?

SIPs are half-to one-year projects led by GSDM students. Each SIP team aims to address global social issues based on (but going beyond) their disciplinary expertise. Students are responsible for the planning and execution of the project, through which they are expected to develop project design and management skills, communication skills, and leadership with a global and interdisciplinary mindset. Students can join as a leader or member. Funding is provided by GSDM.

Currently active SIPs (join us!)

  • Towards Gender Equality at UTokyo

    Our goal is to raise awareness of gender equality at UTokyo. We are making a documentary on UTokyo female researchers, and we are collaborating with the GE Office to create new institutions to promote GE. Follow us on Instagram (ge.at.utokyo), and feel free to contact us by email: ge.at.utokyo@gmail.com.

  • Careers outside Japan after PhD

    This project investigates the detailed experiences of PhD students who started to work overseas after they earned their degree in Japan. Through online- interviews we aim to understand why the career option was attractive for him/her and how he/she found her way to get the job. Our goal is to inspire more UTokyo students to pursue diverse career options.

  • SME Support During COVID-19

    We are working on the assessment of government’s decision-makings regarding the support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the COVID- 19. For more details, please visit our webpage. You’re more than welcome to join us!!
    Email:gsdm.covid.smes@gmail.com

Click here for SIP / activity report

Spotlight: two past SIPs

Space SIP

Duration:
2016-2020.
Number of participants:
12.
Major achievements:
initiation of first space capacity building efforts in Cambodia, publication of first book on history of space development in ASEAN, foundation of start-up company.

Since the space SIP began 4 years ago, 12 students from 8 countries have studied, designed and implemented multiple original initiatives related to space development in Asia-Pacific. Our activities have taken the team to the UN-SPIDER conference in Beijing, China, to the IAC in Adelaide, Australia, to the APRSAF in Bangalore, India, and to UP and DOST in the Philippines.
More recently, the team has travelled to Cambodia for a feasibility study on initiating space capacity building activities. The team delivered the first lecture course on space development in the country’s history, to students at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Phnom Penh. After the course, ITC students initiated several space research groups, with potential for launch of a small satellite into orbit in the near future. Our activities were well received by the Cambodian government, which has requested further cooperation.
Some team members have now begun space engineering and diplomatic careers, building on opportunities gained in the project.

AgriDronevationSIP

Duration:
2018-2020.
Number of participants:
5.
Major achievements:
field trips to Thailand, proposal on how to design an ecosystem for promoting drone technology for small farmers in Asia.

AgriDronevation aimed to solve lingering social problems by promoting the easy and cheap accessibility of cutting-edge drone technology to small- scale farmers in Asia. Composed of five members across distinct fields with interdisciplinary vision, AgriDronevation pioneered the boundary between science and practice and successfully connected different stakeholders under one purpose. Thanks to financial support from GSDM, the group was able to survey the issues of technological adaptation and regulatory environment that small-scale farmers face in Japan and Thailand. Connecting the results of years- long project, the group proposed a recommendation of how to design an ecosystem for promoting drone technology for small-scale farmers in Asia.