Contributions of the Internationalization of Higher Education to Knowledge Diplomacy: Sixity Years of US-Japan Connectivity

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23K12801
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Review Section	Basic Section 09050:Tertiary education-related
Research Institution	Kyoritsu Women's University
Principal Investigator	Asada Sarah 共立女子大学, 国際学部, 准教授 (90806978)
Project Period (FY)	2023-04-01 – 2028-03-31
Project Status	Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help	¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000) Fiscal Year 2027: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000) Fiscal Year 2026: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000) Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000) Fiscal Year 2024: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000) Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Keywords	internationalization / higher education / study abroad programs / society / knowledge diplomacy / connectivity / US-Japan / international relations
Outline of Research at the Start	This research aims to understand how bilateral US-Japan study abroad contributes to knowledge diplomacy. The retrospective qualitative study uses document analysis and in-depth interviews to understand the outcomes of host individual and organizational interactions in Japan and the US with American and Japanese international students. The outcomes are analyzed to understand how study abroad programs contribute to knowledge diplomacy by examining for connectivity between the two countries and with the wider world.
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	The research is progressing well. I received formal approval to conduct the study from the administrators of the target study abroad program. I conducted preliminary fieldwork in the US during August 2023. I made connections with key contact individuals and organizations that will aid in a smooth data collection throughout the research project. In addition, I made a research presentation at the Comparative and International Education Society Regional Conference in California. The presentation was well received. Finally, throughout the year, I regularly conducted literature reviews to update the research framework and prepare for the data collection phase.
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned. Reason My research is progressing smoothly and according to schedule. I received full cooperation from the target study abroad program to conduct the study. The literature review has provided a basis to develop a framework to develop research instruments and move on to the primary data collection phase.
Strategy for Future Research Activity	I plan to continue the research as scheduled. In FY2024, I hope to begin fieldwork in the US and Japan. I also plan to make a research presentation at an international conference, such as the Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference.