Vice President /Dean Professor
Akio Nishiura
Profile
| Specialized field | Development Economics |
|---|---|
| Research theme | African Industry and Business Research |
| Subjects in charge | African Economics, Economics Seminar |
| Specialized field | Development Economics, African Economics |
|---|---|
| Research theme | African business and industry research (agricultural product processing, small and medium-sized enterprises, direct investment, business group research, etc.) |
| research content | During graduate school, he studied abroad in Kenya for one year and South Africa for two years. Since then, for about 20 years, he has been analyzing African economies from the perspective of corporate and industrial research. He has been involved in many extramural research projects, including 10 joint research groups of the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), the National Museum of Ethnology, and Kyoto University. In 2008, as part of his collection of work, he published "South African Economics: A Perspective from Corporate Research" (Nihon Hyoronsha). Since 2009, he has received a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research and is conducting research focusing on the agricultural product processing industry in East Africa. |
| Research and Education Policy | Ultimately, I aim to conduct research that can solve the poverty problem in Africa. I have focused on the employment problem as the key, and have continued to conduct research on companies and industries to find mechanisms that create jobs. In the future, I would like to conduct research that is more conscious of poverty problems. |
| Message | I think that understanding the African economy will give you a more three-dimensional view of the global economy. |
Interview
Please introduce yourself.
I am originally from Minato Ward, Osaka City, and am a member of the 16th class of Soka University. When I was a student at Kansai Soka High School, I heard the founder's speech and decided to pursue my dream of going to Africa. During graduate school, I studied abroad in Kenya and South Africa for a total of three years, and have been teaching at my alma mater since 1997. I am currently serving as Academic Affairs Office and the Director of the Global Citizenship Program (GCP).
Please tell us about your research.
I am currently researching African economies from the perspective of industrial and corporate research. Previously, I focused on South Africa and conducted research on industrial policy, the garment industry, business groups, and direct investment, but recently I have been analyzing the supply chain of the food processing industry in East Africa.
What kind of contributions to society do you expect as your research progresses?
It is said that nearly 40% of people living in Africa are still living in poverty. I believe that "job creation" holds the key to solving poverty in Africa, and so I have been engaged in industrial and corporate research. The food processing industry in Africa is growing due to population growth and increased purchasing power, and is a field that is expected to create jobs. The food processing industry is also a typical example of BOP business, and it has an impact on local commercial activities and farmers.
What can you learn in the seminar?
How can development economics contribute to the African economy and poverty issues? The purpose of this seminar is to explore this difficult question. The seminar aims to "focus on the economic issues of developing countries, study hard, and demonstrate the results of their studies to society through collaborative learning, while building a "second pioneering period for Soka University" through the struggle for their own career paths." Through development economics textbooks and collaborative learning, students think about solutions to global issues and everyday actions, and propose them to society through off-campus competitions.
Please say a few words to all the students.
"Soka education is education that believes in students' potential and helps them to reach their full potential," is what I learned at Soka Education (Kansai Soka High School and Soka University) and have been involved as a teacher at Soka University for 20 years. I will do my best to help you open the door to your potential.