As of 2020, the Humanities and Social Sciences Program has implemented a new Research Project course as part of an initiative to guide students toward their master's thesis, the final output of the graduate program.
In the Research Project course, graduate school students will participate in a collaborative research project with faculty members and receive graduation thesis guidance. Previously, applicants would take the admission examination with a research theme in mind, and after acceptance into the program, receive one-on-one guidance from the supervisors through the Special Research course. In contrast, the Research Project allows applicants to choose from a selection of research projects prior to taking the admission examination. After acceptance into the program, students can participate in the project and decide their own research plan after which they will receive guidance from the participating supervisor.
The purpose of this research is to explore the issues and potential of the concept of "governance/self-government" in contemporary global society, focusing on specific regions in an interdisciplinary manner. In the present era, where economic globalization and the strengthening of national sovereignty proceed simultaneously, what does self-governance mean? What desirability does it have? Furthermore, what difficulties and challenges does self-governance face in actual local communities? How can self-governance be made possible amidst such challenges?
The ultimate goal is to explore the potential of autonomy by approaching these issues from perspectives including the history of social thought, economics, cultural anthropology, literature, and linguistics, through fieldwork centered on Kochi and comparative research across various regions.
Naohito Mori◎, Mitsuhiro Iwasa, Kazuyuki Iwasa, Kyoko Koga, Miki Nakanishi
In April 2019, a new residence status (Specified Skilled Worker: SSW) was established to expand the acceptance of foreign labor. The transition from the Technical Intern Training Program to the Employment for Skill Development System is scheduled for 2027, marking a new phase in the acceptance of foreign workers.
While the rapid decline in the labor force is serious nationwide, particularly in regions like Kochi Prefecture with an aging population and a labor shortage, foreign workers are becoming indispensable for certain local industries, and local governments are taking steps to promote the acceptance of foreign workers.
On the other hand, from workers' perspectives, poor working conditions including low wages and cases of human rights abuse remain unresolved.
The support system for foreign workers, such as Japanese language education, has been inadequate and issues related to daily life have been complex. In addition, with a rise in xenophobic sentiment in recent years, building a more inclusive multicultural society has become a top priority issue.
The aims of this project are to:
1) clarify the current state of acceptance of foreign workers and measures required to improve the situation, focusing on local areas, mainly in Kochi,
2) place foreign workers as local residents and create a design for a symbiotic society,
3) develop a system of university-based collaboration to create change agents in building a multicultural society.
Kazuyuki Iwasa ◎, Kenichiro Okada, Fumika Nishijima, Ryuichi Matoba, Hiromi Watanabe
