Social Security in Japan

Yukari ITO (Center for International Education and Exchange)

Course Objective
   To develop an understanding of social security system.
   To encourage an understanding of basic theory of welfare economics.
   To overview a problem, develop the user-centered concepts, create a large number of prototypes and share ideas with team members.
   To utilize design thinking in order to develop a solution to meet the needs of aging society.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   Participating in team-based work, collaborative skills and exposure to multi-disciplinary discussion are essential in practice.

Course Content
   In this course, we will explore the process of design thinking approach and create new solutions by dealing with the topics of social security. We will not find a single solution for big problems. We will test a large numbers of prototypes of social services and encourage participants to work with trial and error approach in team work.

Class Plan

1. Orientation
2. Health and Medical Service
3. Disaster Medical System and Social Welfare for Disaster Victims
4. Employment Measures and Working Conditions
5. Equal Employment and Child Welfare
6. Pre Group Work
7. Group Work 1
8. Group Work 2
9. Group Work 3
10. Group Work 4
11. Mid-term Presentation for Group Work
12. Group Work 5
13. Group Work 6
14. Group Work 7
15. Final Presentation for Group Work

Tektbooks
   No assigned textbook. Various reading materials and references will be distributed in each class.

Grading Policy
   Evaluation will be based on class contributions, performance in oral presentation and activities, written assignments and attendance.