JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program
“Holistic Education: Japanese Hands-On Approach 2024”
Hosted by Bunkyo Gakuin University
Ryoko Tsuneyoshi
Vice President and Specially-Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Foreign Studies, Bunkyo Gakuin University & Professor Emerita, University of Tokyo
Takako Tomite
JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) 2024 Coordinator & Researcher, Bunkyo Gakuin University
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Course Period in Japan: From September 25, 2024 to October 12, 2024
Connection Test: September 3, 2024
Online Program by Zoom: September 6, 2024
On-demand Learning Period (Lecture Video): From September 6 until your arrival in Japan
Online Follow-up Program: November 28, 2024
The Japanese Cabinet released the Development Cooperation Charter in February 2015, which stated, “In its development cooperation, Japan has maintained the spirit of jointly creating things that suit partner countries while respecting ownership, intentions and intrinsic characteristics of the country concerned based on a field-oriented approach through dialogue and collaboration. It has also maintained the approach of building reciprocal relationships with developing countries in which both sides learn from each other and grow and develop together.” JICA believes that this ‘Knowledge Co-Creation Program’ will serve as a foundation of mutual learning process.
In the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 4 is to "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all". JICA has placed a high priority on addressing the "learning crisis" in basic education, particularly those who are unable to acquire the minimum necessary reading and numeracy skills even after attending school.
In the 2017 OECD Education Policy Review, the provision of holistic education that fosters a balance of knowledge, virtue, and body was identified as a success factor for education in Japan. It is clear that not only cognitive abilities but also non-cognitive abilities such as self-affirmation, the ability to persevere, cooperation, and leadership play an important role in enabling children to develop their own talents and abilities in the future. In Japan, noncognitive education is part of the official curriculum alongside subjects, and an integrated, holistic curriculum is practiced every day, throughout the nation, from preschool to high school.
Therefore, JICA is promoting cooperation with a view to improving "learning," through exposure to the Japanese model of holistic learning integrating both cognitive and non-cognitive abilities, while referring to typical holistic Japanese practices and experiences (e.g., multiage activities, linkage to lesson study). To date, JICA has provided support for the introduction of Japanese-style holistic educational model in Egypt and similar efforts have also been initiated in Malaysia, Jordan and other countries, reflecting the increasing interests worldwide.
The objective of this program is to support the participants in developing an action plan to develop a holistic educational framework in their home countries through providing them with opportunities to learn about the Japanese model of holistic education.
The aim of this course is to provide hands-on learning of the framework, rationale, skills, activities, and practice of a nonwestern model, the Japanese model of holistic education (including a holistic model of child learning derived from the Japanese period called "tokubestu katsudo", "tokkatsu", for short) to enable participants to develop unique practices of holistic education in one's own country's schools, building on local resources.
Staff in Ministry of Education who have been involved in education policy and curriculum revision etc.
Participants shall have opportunities to identify approaches and strategies to ensure program effectiveness, enhance financial security, and improve organizational viability. Participants will also formulate an action plan describing what the participant will do after they go back to home country putting the knowledge and ideas acquired and discussed in Japan among others into their on-going activities.