EDUCATION
■NON-LIFE INSURANCE EDUCATIONAL COURSES
The institute holds the following courses for the purpose of providing education and training principally to those who are engaged in the non-life insurance business.
Introductory Course
TThe purpose of the Introductory Course is to acquire basic knowledge essential to the practice of insurance by conducting repeated web drills. It is recommended for those about to begin insurance related work, or those interested in learning about insurance. In consideration of participant convenience, the course is designed to be accessed and completed anytime/anywhere via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. In 2021, 1,021 people undertook the Introductory Course.
Regular/Basic Course
The institute's main training course is the one-year Regular Course, which aims to provide in-depth knowledge of non-life insurance theory and practice. It currently consists of 16 subjects, such as Principles of Insurance, Insurance Laws, Risk Management and Financial Science. Initiated in 1953, the regular course is mandatory for every managerial career track employee in most insurance companies. Certificates are awarded to participants who have completed the course and passed the examinations.
In addition, the Basic Course, less extensive than the Regular Course, was initiated in 2011 for those employees who have limited job scope. The course consists of five subjects that are studied over seven months.
In 2021, while 1,508people undertook the Regular Course, 70 people undertook the Basic Course. In order to provide educational support to a much wider cross-section of the industry, the courses are now widely open not only to Japanese and foreign insurers doing business in Japan, but also to cooperatives and intermediaries.
Advanced Course
The Advanced Course was launched in 2014 to provide enhanced underwriting and service skills to mid-level employees. Participants can choose from a selection of ten subjects covering the fields of underwriting, claims, and corporate-management. Whilst each subject consists of two or three in-class lectures, for those unable to attend in person (for physical reasons), they are also provided online. In 2021, the total number of people that undertook the Advanced Course was 655.
Specific Course
This course is aimed at providing advanced education on specific issues of non-life insurance and related fields. It covers many different subjects and each subject comprises several sessions that are presented at varying intervals during the year. Applicants are free to select subjects depending on their interests and needs.
As a measure against the Covid-19 pandemic, every Specific Course in 2021 was provided online rather than via traditional face-to-face classes.
In order for applicants to easily understand and select the subjects that match their needs or interests, in 2021 the Specific Courses were merged with the Online Courses. Each Specific Course starts twice a month (on the 1st and 15th), and can be seen and studied for 30 days.
In 2021, 481 people attended Specific Courses on 147 subjects as a total.
Seminars
Seminars are one-day sessions that provide a broad range of specialized knowledge and information directly and indirectly related to insurance.
As with the Specific Courses described above, every Seminar was provided online in 2021 as a measure against the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, 1,060 people participated in 17 seminars.
Chosen from among topics which could have an impact on the future of the insurance business, past seminar themes have included:
- Future of Fire and Automobile Insurance, and the Needs of Customers
- Recent Issues Raised by the FSA, and the Framework being Developed by the Industry
- Legal Analysis of Online Insurance Solicitation, and Related Practical Issues to be Considered
Among the seminars, the most popular was “Future of Fire and Automobile Insurance, and the Needs of Customers”, which attracted some 79 participants.
Online Courses
To satisfy the needs of customers unable to participate in person on courses held in Tokyo, we provide a range of online courses to enhance learning opportunities. In 2020, some 402 people undertook online courses from among the 153 offered.
■THE INSURANCE SCHOOL (NON-LIFE) OF JAPAN (ISJ)
PUBLICATION
LIBRARY
The library collection accumulated since the foundation of the institute was completely destroyed during World War II. The rebuilding of the library, which started soon after the war, is deeply indebted to Dr. Kotaro Shida, ex-dean of Meiji University, Dr. Zen-ichi Takiya and Dr. Ikusaburo Shiina all of whom made large donations of books. Since that time, the institute has accumulated an extensive collection of works on non-life insurance subjects, as well as legal, economic and other fields.
Currently, the library comprises some 21,800 volumes and 513 periodicals. The institute's library is used not only by employees of non-life insurance companies, but is also widely used by scholars, students and those from various fields seeking information concerning non-life insurance. Enquiries can be made through the Internet, by telephone or by fax, and library staff will carry out a search and recommend appropriate reading material.
RESEARCH
■RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The institute conducts extensive research on medium to long-term issues emanating from changes and developments in the economic, social and financial environment surrounding the non-life insurance industry.
The Research Department was set up in July 1990 with the aim of functioning as a think-tank to provide the industry with advice and essential materials for the study of its roles and future direction.
The Main research projects are commissioned by the General Insurance Association of Japan. Research papers are submitted to the Association and its members and also distributed to the rating organization and other related organizations, regulatory authorities (including the FSA), and academia.
During the 2021 term, studies were conducted on the following two subjects:
- “ The Current State of Insurance Company Business Models in Major Countries”
- “ The Current State of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism by the Insurance Industry in Major Countries”
In addition to the above studies, the Research Department published quarterly reports on topical subjects, with eight main themes related to the business of non-life insurance.
PROMOTION OF STUDY
■JUDICIAL CASE STUDY
In 1995, the institute formed a society for the study of leading judicial cases, in both the non-life insurance and life insurance fields. However, the institute dissolved the above society in December 2007 and started a new society for the study of cases limited to non-life insurance, which is comprised of about 50 members from universities, law offices and the industry. The results of the studies are published in the institute’s journal, the “Study of Non-Life Insurance.”
■SUBSIDIES FOR SCHOLARLY STUDY OF NON-LIFE INSURANCE
The institute began offering subsidies to young scholars and graduate students engaged in the study of non-life insurance science for their expenditures on books in 1972. In 1993, the institute reconstructed the subsidies to expand the range of use into research in general as long as the research is related to non-life insurance. Some 163 beneficiaries received grants between 1972 and 2021.
■COOPERATION WITH RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
The institute served as the secretariat for the Japanese Society of Insurance Science (JSIS: "Nihon-Hoken-Gakkai") from April 1, 2010 to March 2017. The JSIS was established in November 1940 as a nonprofit organization for the purpose of promoting insurance science in Japan. The JSIS aims to promote research and cooperation in insurance science, and to facilitate interactions and exchanges with related academic societies and organizations in Japan and abroad.
