During the five years of the program (three years for doctoral-transfer students), the Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science (abbreviated as PWS) evaluates the degrees to which each participating student meets the following goals for certification of program completion:
(1) For master’s students, completion of practical training designed in accordance with
this program’s curriculum policy and contribution as a senior student to practical training of other
students;
(2) For doctoral students, conducting a domestic/overseas long-term self-planned internship; and
(3) Acquisition of skills for gathering and disseminating knowledge/information for research, and
acquisition of language(s) for communication use.
Evaluations shall take place in PWS-sponsored seminars and meetings/interviews.
With these goals, PWS aims to produce global leaders who will bring about “harmonious coexistence in the global society” in the spirit of “oneness of knowledge and action” cultivated through fieldwork. In response to growing needs in research, education, and science-based practice, PWS aims to grow human resources that will contribute to international organizations, NGOs, museums, zoos, etc., and when it takes place abroad, in ways that are visible to the Japanese public. Japan is the only developed country inhabited by wild non-human primates; at the same time, conflict between humans and medium- to large-sized wild mammals such as bears, deer, wild boars, Japanese macaques, and marine mammals is mounting. Given this reality, PWS also aims to develop human resources that will build and implement world-class conservation management systems for the wildlife of Japan.
Of the three goals, the first—practical training at the master’s-course level—consists of a variety of practical courses that use domestic outdoor training bases owned by Kyoto University and independently-planned domestic/overseas "self-training in fieldwork". Students are required to complete such practical training, and are subsequently expected to contribute as tutors to the practical training of first- and second-year students.
Regarding the second goal of conducting a domestic/overseas long-term self-planned internship at the doctoral-course level, PWS requires that the student conduct a “self-planned internship”—using one of our domestic research centers or cooperating facilities as a hub of activities—that potentially leads to a career in one of the three areas identified by PWS, i.e., “museum curators with doctorates”, “international organizations”, and “outreach”.
As for the third goal of nurturing skills for gathering and disseminating knowledge/information for research and language acquisition for communication use, students are expected to learn from seminars and practical courses sponsored by PWS and the Wildlife Research Center; in addition, PWS supports independent learning and value “on-site learning” during fieldwork. Participation in PWS-sponsored seminars (regardless of the language used) is mandatory, except when the student is out in the field. Regarding language acquisition, PWS recommends learning multiple languages other than your mother tongue. English is required, and if English is the student’s mother tongue, at least one other language is required. Learning additional languages is also strongly recommended. To add to the foundation built through independent on-site learning, PWS sponsors practical courses, seminars, and symposia in which English is used as the common language. Especially regarding the languages used around study sites, students should aim to acquire language skills under the guidance of their academic advisors through “absorption” during fieldwork. PWS supports students' self-directed learning by, for example, introducing them to research collaborators who are native speakers of those languages. Each student’s level of language acquisition is evaluated every academic year, primarily by international faculty members who are native speakers of pertinent languages. PWS does not expect the same level of language proficiency across all students at the time of completion of the program, but it is essential that each student makes progress and improves their language proficiency from year to year.
To be certified by the PWS of satisfactory completion of the program, a student must receive a final grade of “Good” or better on the three-level scale of Excellent/Good/Unsatisfactory (S/A/C). Based on the combination of the grades that the student receives during the program and the results of interviews, their final grade shall be determined by a “PWS Research Supervision Evaluation Committee” consisting of the members of the program headquarters (HQ), the student’s primary thesis supervisor, and the student's faculty mentor in the PWS program.
Established: March 14, 2014
Revised and approved: January 16, 2015
Revised and approved: January 11, 2019
Revised and approved at the PWS Staff Meeting: June 16, 2022