Investigating the Role of International Higher Education in Japan-UK Relations: An Analysis of the RENKEI University Network Partnership

• Project/Area Number: 24K16704
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09050:Tertiary education-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: WASH IAN 東京大学, グローバル教育センター(ALESS/A), 特任講師 (90835232)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥90,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
• Keywords: Higher education / Internationalisation / International relations / Foreign policy / Diplomacy

Outline of Research at the Start

This research aims to uncover the ideas and beliefs behind the increasingly prominent role universities are playing in diplomatic relations between Japan and the UK. To investigate this, the RENKEI university network partnership has been selected as one case for analysis and will be situated in the wider historical and political context. Using qualitative data, the findings of a discourse analysis will be used to addresses gaps in the literature around the contribution of IHERI to developing bilateral diplomatic relations between countries.