Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is central to the work of the British Council as a cultural relations organisation that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion as core values. In March 2022, the British Council published a report, 'Gender Equality in Higher Education - Maximising Impacts', that provides an in-depth analysis of how gender inequality is reflected, reinforced and challenged in Higher Education (HE) worldwide.
In Japan, the British Council Education team have been exploring approaches to working with partners to promote gender equality in the HE sector. In 2023, it commissioned desk-top research to better understand the current situation and challenges to gender equality in higher education in Japan.
Promoting gender equality in higher education to expand ‘Convergence Knowledge’ creation
One of the questions we have been exploring is: how can we engage diverse groups of stakeholders in collaborative conversations on promoting gender equality in higher education? Through the initial research and dialogues with stakeholders, we identified that ‘Convergence Knowledge (so-go-chi)’ creation would be a relevant perspective to introduce in our conversations. ‘Convergence Knowledge’ is described as the ‘fusion of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences and knowledge in the natural sciences that creates social value’, and the ‘6th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan’ (26 March 2021) identifies ‘Convergence Knowledge’ as a key approach to achieving world-leading innovations in science and technology that better the world and well-being of all citizens
How will gender equality in higher education contribute to “Convergence Knowledge” creation?
In this workshop we will engage higher education sector stakeholders from Japan and the UK in a dialogue on the promotion of gender equality in higher education to drive innovations that bear global scientific impact and social benefits. Through discussions we hope to identify:
- The current actions around 'Convergence Knowledge' creation and how the promotion of 'gender equality in higher education' is positioned within this agenda.
- The possibilities and challenges to promote gender equality in higher education though the frame of 'Convergence Knowledge' Creation.
- A broadened understanding of the benefits that promoting gender equality in higher education will bring and ideas on how to remove existing and potential barriers.
Event details
Date/time: Friday 29 November 2024 / 09:30 – 12:00 JST (Doors open at 09:15)
Venue: Kudan-kaikan Terrace (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Capacity: around 30-40 (Pre-registration required)
Audience (participant profile): Higher education sector stakeholders (students, researchers, university staff etc.) with an interest in the workshop themes (convergence knowledge creation, gender equality, higher education), policy makers, research granting organisations etc.
Language: This workshop will be predominantly conducted in Japanese, but English will also be used as researchers from the UK will be participating. There will be English/Japanese language interpretation for the presentations in the first half of the workshop.
Organiser: British Council
Cooperation: Future Sessions Inc
Guest speakers
- Assistant Prof Alina Geampana, Ph.D / Assistant Professor of Sociology, Durham University
- Ms Mariko Ogawa / Trustee, The Tokai Foundation Gender Studies
- Dr Clara Cheung / Reader in Engineering Management, Head of Internationalisation for ASEAN, Japan, and Korea, Faculty of Science & Engineering, The University of Manchester
- Prof Kouta MINAMIZAWA, Ph.D / Professor, Keio University Graduate School of Media Design
*UK speakers will be added as they are confirmed.
How to apply
Please sign up from the online application form (URL: https://bit.ly/gender-equality-29Nov)
Application deadline: Monday 25 November 2024, 12:00 JST (noon)
*Please let us know if you require any access support from the application form by Wednesday 20 November to allow the organisers to make arrangements.
Enquiries relating to this event
Please contact the British Council Japan Education team by email: ihe@britishcouncil.or.jp