GSPH Career Path Weeks 2024 Part 1 was held as a hybrid (face-to-face + online streaming) two-week career seminar, inviting speakers who are active at the forefront of the public health field, in order to let students know that the knowledge and skills acquired through study at the Graduate School of Public Health have the potential to open up a variety of careers.

Week 1：July 5, Friday　
Engineering and Consulting Firms Association, Japan
International Development Consultants’ work and career path

Ms. Keiko Kono, HR/Workshop/PR manager, Engineering and Consulting Firms Association, Japan
Ms. Izumi Hirano, Public Health RN/PHN/Consultant, Health and Medical Cure, Koei Research & Consulting Inc.

Development consultants are professionals who work with local people in developing countries and are responsible for policy recommendations and technical cooperation on the front lines. They work to implement the plans of JICA, international organizations, and other organizations with budgets for Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA). They belong to Japanese companies and are based in Japan, but visit the field on a regular basis. In this seminar, Ms. Kono of the Engineering and Consulting Firms Association, Japan introduced the differences between the roles of ODA, JICA, and development consultants, as well as the job descriptions and career paths of development consultants. Ms. Hirano, a public health nurse who is actually working as a consultant, introduced the project in Tajikistan she is currently involved in. She also spoke frankly about the difficulties, secrets, and rewards of working as a development consultant while raising three children.

• Comments from participating students

  “There were many photos showing activities in the field and it was easy to get an idea of how they were working. I found it to be the essence of public health to work with different stakeholders on different tasks.”
  
  “I learned a lot about a new kind of public health work. I was able to broaden my perspective. Also, in terms of career paths and work-life balance, it was very helpful and encouraging to hear realistic stories from speakers of the same generation.”
  
  “I enjoyed the session, it was eye opening and I appreciated the used of personal experience.”
  
  “It was very interesting to hear about the careers of people in industries that I do not get to meet in my own life.”
  

Week 2: July 12, Friday
United Nations International Childrens's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF's mission and its works, career development in UN organizations

Mr. Roberto Benes, Director, UNICEF Tokyo Office
Ms. Maki Robinson, Senior Advisor, Public Partnerships Division, UNICEF Tokyo Office

UNICEF is the world's leading humanitarian organization working in more than 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of the world's children. In this seminar, Dr. Benes, the director of UNICEF Tokyo office, talked about how UNICEF is working to protect children's lives in response to the rapidly changing world after COVID-19, including pandemics, conflicts, poverty, racism, gender inequality, climate change and natural disasters, and other poly-crises. Ms. Robinson, a senior advisor at the Tokyo Office, talked about career development at UN agencies and shared her experiences working in Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, as well as career paths for continuing to work for international organizations.

      

• Comments from Participating Students

  “I am very grateful for their very enthusiastic words about UNICEF's mission and role, as well as the strategies and principles to fulfill it.”
  
  “It was a precious opportunity to learn the activities of UNICEF including Tokyo Office.”
  
  “The seminar doubled my desire to work with UNICEF.”
  
  “I listened to the experiences of UNICEF staff and had a great time. I was impressed that the staff, who work at a top-level organization in the world, always experience many things from foreign countries, learn new things, and continue studying. I felt that it is very hard for them to maintain and promote their positions.”