ISJ - Advanced Course

By the time the total number of graduates reached 470 at the 18th session in 1989, the reputation of the ISJ was already well established in East Asian insurance circles. However, some of the participating regions expressed their expectations for an advanced course wherein they could exchange information and opinions on specific and topical subjects through discussions.

Around that time, the Insurance Advisory Council, the advisory body for the Minister of Finance of Japan, underscored the importance of the international contribution of the ISJ and recommended in their reports that further efforts should be made to enhance the ISJ to respond to the requests of the participating regions.

In complying with the request by the participating regions and the recommendation put forward by the Japanese government, the Japanese insurance industry decided to launch a new course, entitled the ISJ-Advanced Course. The first course was held in May 1991 under the main theme "Insurance Industry coping with Changes in Needs". Since then, this course has been held annually in addition to the General Course.

Participants in the Advanced Course are required to hold a middle or upper management post in insurance companies or organizations as per the General Course, and have to have more than five years’ work experience. In view of the objective of the Advanced Course, the first priority is always given to graduates from the General Course.

In the Advanced Course, topical subjects of common interest to the participants are incorporated into the theme and the participants exchange information and opinions on a multilateral basis through workshop style discussions.

From its inception in 1991 to the 21st session in 2011, 420 participants from 15 regions have graduated from the course, which has been held on the following main themes: