Education

This course introduces learners to various socio-cultural issues and debates impacting schools, universities, and education systems in Asia-Pacific societies. Using case studies, the course aims to provide:

- Debate and discussion of the cultural and philosophical ideas that have shaped education in East Asia.
- An exploration of debates about the purposes of formal schooling, and the role of shadow education (cram schools/private tutoring) in various Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Consideration of how education is used as a political tool to shape national identities through moral, civic, and history curricula.
- An exploration of the tensions between nationalism, internationalization of education and globalization in Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Comparison of cultural approaches to early childhood education in Eastern and Western cultures.
- Observation of the developments in higher education in the region, including participation rates, rising research outputs, regional collaboration, and the possibilities for study abroad to contribute to peace and stability among East Asian countries.
- Consideration of issues of diversity and inclusion with regard to ethnic, gender and sexual minorities in Asia-Pacific contexts.

This course provides a unique combination of theory and practice. Based on the understanding of the need for global citizens to be competent in more than one language, the course presents the main language learning theories, as well as different approaches to the teaching and learning of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Students have the opportunity to apply this theoretical knowledge to their own experience of language learning. They undertake six hours of studying a new language of their choice, and are ask to reflect on and analyze this experience in their own language learning case study.

The course offers a study of contemporary theories and best practices of gender mainstreaming in education; cultural facets of socialization to gender roles and how they interact with the organization of school and with hidden curriculum, also in an intersectional perspective; and comparing projects and actions in gender mainstreaming in education, both inside and outside the classroom. The course examines topics including: sociological perspectives on sex, gender, and sexual orientation; major theories and empirical research on socialization to gender roles; fender mainstreaming in education; anti-gender campaigns across European countries; and best teaching practices on gender mainstreaming in education in an intersectional perspective.

This course introduces the study of educational inequality and education policy. It begins by reviewing the main goals, achievements, and outstanding challenges in education policy at the beginning of the 21st century. Specifically, it takes a historical perspective to review the progress made with respect to providing education to large parts of the world's population and with respect to reducing gender inequality in education. The course then turns to one key policy challenge of the early 21st century: reducing the inequalities in education between individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds. It examines the social processes that may account for these educational inequalities and discusses whether and how different policies can address them.

The aim of this course is to discuss education in the world to establish a deeper understanding of how one’s identity and their understanding regarding differences and similarities between students from different backgrounds developed.

The course aims to:
1. Deepen understanding of various issues related to “International Understanding”
2. Provide skills to express views of education cooperatively in group presentation
3. Provide capability to provide meaningful feedback to other groups
4. Foster understanding of others and ways to cooperate with others
5. Encourage discussion on the deeper meaning of International Education.

The course provides students interested in the field of foreign language teaching various resources to make English-language instruction for young learners (students aged 3-12) more dynamic while remaining adapted to 21st century competencies. Topics covered include: historical overview of teaching methods and approaches; teaching integrating skills; the role of culture in foreign language classrooms; folklore and children's literature as learning resources; challenges in teaching digital natives; drama techniques as a resource for learning English; ICT resources for teachers.

This course aims to familiarize students with digital video production and editing in a broad context of education. It is designed to help students learn the technology, art, pedagogy, and practices involved in effective visual storytelling. With the advancement of digital technologies, making a video program has become much easier than before. Even so, to produce a highly effective and professional video, we need to learn certain production strategies, skills, and theories. This course offers exciting opportunities to learn basic theories and technical skills through the production of high-quality short video programs, using simple devices such as a smartphone. It helps students produce video content that has high educational value in a rapidly changing media environment.

Today, as conditions of contemporary globalization have stimulated demand for “international education,” higher education internationalization has become the focus of governments and higher education institutions around the world. However, the meaning of higher education internationalization itself is contested, and there are various rationales for pursuing these activities, including those that are economic, political, socio-cultural, and academic. Moreover, different stakeholders (e.g. students, faculty, institutions, governments, etc.) each have their own distinct rationales for engaging in these activities. This course focuses on: 1) general contexts and trends relating to higher education internationalization around the world, and 2) the specific national contexts and trends of higher education internationalization that can be observed in the cases of various countries. We will focus on several key questions: What is the function of higher education in society, and how has this evolved over time? How have the conditions of contemporary globalization shaped higher education internationalization in universal and specific ways? What are the main universal trends that characterize higher education internationalization today, and how do these apply differently in particular countries? What are the future trends and possibilities for higher education internationalization?

Students learn about the weather and climate, geology, vegetation, and animal life. (wild and domestic). They attend lectures about the geology of Iceland and go on fieldtrips to see volcanoes, hotsprings, and lava, and study the geography of the country. They go birdwatching, to the seashore and to a woody hill. Field trips (1-6 hours) are an important part of the course. Environmental problems and nature conservation in Iceland are discussed.

This course provides an understanding of Japanese society by discussing education from an interdisciplinary perspective. It begins with an overview of Japanese education and society, together with the basic approaches for data collection and analysis, and then goes on to discuss the Japanese education system, politics, and practices from both comparative and international perspectives. It ends by discussing recent controversies and issues in education in Japan. Although the emphasis of this course is on current education practices and issues, due consideration is given to the historical context.