2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Internationalization of Curriculum in Higher Education in New Normal Japan: Strategy, Pedagogy and Practice
| Project/Area Number |
21K02635
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
ハモンド クリストファーD. 東京大学, 教養学部, 特任准教授 (50812434)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2026-03-31
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| Keywords | internationalization / virtual exchange / COIL / curriculum |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The research project has been progressing according to schedule. Dr. Leyla Radjai has continued to work with me as a research collaborator. Together we have conducted an additional 12 interviews with educators involved in collaborative online international learning (COIL) programs at 8 different Japanese universities funded through the Japanese government's Inter-University Exchange Project. Findings from this research revealed that various actors both enabled and blocked COIL as a form of internationalization of curricula (IoC), and that COIL itself served in many contexts as a mechanism that shaped IoC at institutional and personal levels more broadly, beyond the confines of the respective COIL programs. We argue that COIL offers a viable means to contribute to an inclusive and collaborative internationalized curriculum in Japanese universities, given adequate institutional support and faculty buy-in. Based on this research we have produced two more papers, one a white paper published by the Centre for Global Higher Education in the UK, and another which has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. We intend to present these findings at the upcoming annual conference for the Japan Comparative Education Society and find opportunities to present this internationally.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Our intention to conduct research interviews with educators from each of the government funded COIL programs was mostly successful. We did not gain access to three of the programs but will continue to try to do so. The alleviation of border controls due to the pandemic has now enabled the use of research funds to attend international conferences and better explore virtual exchange in comparative perspective.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Going forward I intend to incorporate the findings from this project so far into a scholarly book, which will also require the development of new directions for research on internationalization of curricula (IoC) in the Japanese higher education context. I intend to explore other ongoing initiatives in the Inter-University Exchange Project, and look more closely at the ways IoC can offer opportunities for intercultural exchange in more inclusive and pluralistic ways, including provision of opportunities for students with disabilities.
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| Causes of Carryover |
As pandemic restrictions have been lifted I intend to use research funds for attending both domestic and international conferences, and to continue purchasing relevant books and materials for conducting research. Costs related to publication of research will also be considered (e.g. enabling for research to be published open access).
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