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61 - Undergraduate Research in Japan

An International Cultural Hybrid

from Part IV.3 - Asia & Oceania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2022

By
Joseph Haldane ,
Grant Black ,
Reiko Yamada  and
Joseph McClanahan
Edited by
Harald A. Mieg ,
Elizabeth Ambos ,
Angela Brew ,
Dominique Galli  and
Judith Lehmann
Harald A. Mieg
Affiliation:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Elizabeth Ambos
Affiliation:
Council on Undergraduate Research, Washington DC
Angela Brew
Affiliation:
Macquarie University, Sydney
Dominique Galli
Affiliation:
Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis
Judith Lehmann
Affiliation:
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Summary

Even though Japan has a largely Westernized system of education, it is worth remembering that this country has a strong hierarchical Confucian tradition of master–student relationships. This relationship is underlined by the literal meaning of sensei, “the one born before,” as the honorific given to all teachers and professors. University lecturers enjoy significant autonomy, and there are no particular barriers to faculty integrating undergraduate research (UR) into the curriculum. It can be argued that the STEM areas in which Japan excels have historically created more opportunities for research, and that UR is already undertaken there, whether formally recognized or not. In the arts, humanities, and social sciences, students are required to write a graduation thesis or report under the guidance of their instructor.

Keywords

Japanundergraduate researchseminar systemquality managementConfucian traditionAsian Undergraduate Research Symposium
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research , pp. 557 - 564
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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