Doshisha University and Sophia University Diversity Symposium ”Learning from the Research Environment Case Studies of Female Researchers in the U.S.” was held.

On March 10, 2022, Doshisha University and Sophia University held an online diversity symposium, “Learning from the Research Environment Case Studies of Female Researchers in the U.S.” (with Japanese-English interpretation and real-time captioning in English and Japanese).

This symposium was held as part of the overseas case study research for the “Initiative for the implementation of the diversity research environment” (survey analysis) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), which was adopted in AY2021.

The symposium began with opening remarks by Tomoko Ueki, President of Doshisha University followed by an explanation of the U.S. National Strategy for Gender Equality by Alicia Edwards, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe.

It was followed by a report on gender equality in Japanese universities by Tsuyako Nakamura, Professor of Faculty of Global Communications, Doshisha University and then lectures by Frank Dobbin, Professor of Harvard University and C. Matthew Snip, Professor of Stanford University on the effectiveness of faculty diversity programs and the state of promotion of such programs in the U.S.

Through these lectures, the audience acquired about the status of U.S. higher education institutions, as well as the importance of university executive leadership and engagement, and examples of successes and failures. In the latter half of the symposium, the audience was able to ask questions and participate in the Q&A session on the status of women in higher education, the key to success in faculty collaboration, mentor programs, and other topics.

Although the symposium was held online, 185 people viewers watched the event.