The Contribution of Japanese Study Abroad in the US to Knowledge Diplomacy: 50 Years of Lived Experiences

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14267
• 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): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: study abroad / higher education / outcomes / knowledge diplomacy / SDG 4.7 / peacebuilding / Japan / United States

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As many nations cooperate and compete in a global knowledge-based society, knowledge diplomacy is becoming increasingly important. This research provides quantitative and qualitative empirical insights on how internationalization and study abroad in US-Japan higher education relates to knowledge diplomacy. The case study focuses on the long-term outcomes of Japanese one-year study abroad participants at US colleges over a 50-year timespan from 1963 to 2013. The findings demostrate how study abroad experiences in the US continue to influence Japanese participants' academic, career, and personal trajectiories over their lifetime. The culmative findings illustrate the role of study abroad programs in knowledge diplomacy by creating connectivity with and awareness of the host country and wider world.

Free Research Field

高等教育学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、グローバルな高等教育や留学が知識外交にどのように貢献するのかを明らかにするものである。研究結果は、海外留学が50年以上に渡り人々の生き方に影響を与え、日本とアメリカ、そしてより広い世界との間のさらなる知識やつながりをもたらすことを明らかにした。