Importance of Technical and Professional Writing Certificate Program in a Japanese Computer Science Context

Abstract

Technical communication (TC) as a subject, and more so a department in the university curriculum are few and far between in the Japanese educational context, even with STEM education. As part of this paper, an exploratory pilot study is described explaining the overall importance of such a TC certificate program and how an optional TC feeder course could help students understand the value of the TC and professional communication (PC) discipline for a typical Japanese computer science academic context, in preparation for the job market. Further, such a TC-focused introductory feeder course helps the university administration, students and teachers better understand how computer science as a discipline should also emphasize on technical and professional writing and communication skills in the language curriculum, for better project management, and helping students develop soft skills for the market. Further, another strong argument for such coursework (offered in English as a medium of instruction) is also related to developing students’ entrepreneurial and transition skills for the market. This paper highlighted on one such rare certificate program and feeder course in the computer science (CS) department of a Japanese technical university which helped students understand the scope of the market, how technical communication as a discipline has wide-ranging opportunities, besides helping students develop basic understanding of content areas such as manual and information design, usability, content management and delivery, technical language, visualisation etc. Finally, the paper ends with a discussion of a few of the well-known TC certificate programs and TC organizational infrastructure in the US academia, and how we can catch up with that trend in Japanese higher education.