New Frontier of Academic Excellence Initiatives in Japan 

Time: 4:00pm (HKT)
Date: 8 April, 2024
Mode: by zoom
Speaker: Prof. Akiyoshi Yonezawa (Tohoku University)
Chair: Prof. Hugo Horta (The University of Hong Kong)
Registration link: https://hku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvd–qpzwoG9WC9iZIX3fStvO1X4VodDQF

Abstract:

After a series of attempts to build world-class universities with academic excellence. Japan is now about to launch another program called the University for International Research Excellence (UIRE). This scheme is based on a national fund of 10 trillion Japanese yen (66 billion USD), which supports a rather limited number of universities with close monitoring and advice for 25 years. Why does Japan need another initiative to achieve academic excellence? Is it a promising frontier project under the continuous pressure of demography, and regional and global competition? A reflective analysis of the past and present contexts and future vision as research universities co-develop with multiple stakeholders will be discussed.

About the Speaker

Dr. Akiyoshi Yonezawa is Professor and Vice Director of the International Strategy Office and Special Advisor to the President at Tohoku University, Japan.

With a background in sociology, his research focuses on comparative higher education policy, with particular emphasis on world-class universities, internationalization, and public-private relations in higher education. He has developed his expertise in higher education policy and management through work experience at Nagoya University, the OECD, and the University of Tokyo, etc. At Tohoku University, he has served in various expert roles such as Director for the Office of Institutional Research. In addition, he is also providing expertise roles in national and international government policies, such as a national delegation of the Group of National Experts on Higher Education for OECD.

He is also an active contributor to international research publications as an editorial board member of Higher Education Quarterly, and advisory board member of Higher Education, and International Higher Education. He is a board member of the Japan Association for Higher Education Research. His recent co-edited book, Researching Higher Education in Asia (Springer, 2018), received the “Best Book Award 2019” from the Comparative and International Education Society (SIG Higher Education).

Recent publication:

(publication list is available at https://researchmap.jp/7000017750?lang=en)

Yonezawa, A. (2023). Academic Excellence Initiatives in Japan: Can a Series of Government Interventions Make a Difference?, In Yudkevich, M., Altbach, P.G. & Salmi, J. (Eds.).  Academic Star Wars: Excellence Initiatives in Global Perspective. MIT Press. 33-56.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14601.003.0006 (Open Access)

Pinheiro, R., Balbachevsky, E., Pillay, P. and Yonezawa, A. (Eds.)  (2023). The Impact of Covid-19 on the Institutional Fabric of Higher Education: Old Patterns, New Dynamics, and Changing Rules?. Palgrave Macmillan.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-26393-4  (Open Access)

Yonezawa, A. (2023). Japan’s Higher Education Policies under Global Challenges. Asian Economic Policy Review. 18(2) 220-237. https://doi.org/10.1111/aepr.12421 (Open Access).

Yonezawa, A. Kitamura, Y., Yamamoto, B. and Tokunaga, T. (Eds.) (2018). Japanese Education in a Global Age: Sociological Reflections and Future Directions. Springer.

Jung, J., Horta, H., Yonezawa, A. (Eds.). (2017). Researching Higher Education in Asia. Springer.