World History Summer Seminar: Frontiers of World History Studies Held

August 5, 2015

On July 27th and 28th, “World History Summer Seminar: Frontiers of World History Studies” (Host: TUFS Institute for Global Area Studies) was conducted as part of a High School-University Program.

Established in 2009, this seminar provided the latest research findings revealed by TUFS historians. The historians also cooperate with high school history teachers, aiming at giving new perspectives to world history education.

From Aomori in the north to Kagawa in the south, a total of 170 history teachers attended this two-day seminar. TUFS historians delivered lectures on the latest research results. Each lecture included a Q&A session where the participants and the lectures shared ideas.

In addition to the lectures, Professor Koutaro Kanai made are a report on his grant-awarded research, “Practical Research on World History Education Based on Regional Studies” (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)/ Principle Researcher: Kotaro Kanai). He also called for establishment of “Kodai Renkei Rekishi Kenkyukai” (literally, High School-University Cooperative Research Institute for World History Education). Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, the Strategic Support Division chief, gave an introduction to TUFS, focusing on enhancing ties between high schools and universities.

Comments from two participants

“I have attended this seminar every year since the second one was held. I will take part in a panel discussion about cooperation among elementary, secondary and advanced education. The discussion will be carried out in a symposium by Zenkoku Rekishi Kyouiku Kenkyu Kyougikai (literally, Association for Research in Education) the day after tomorrow. I was very pleased to attend an insightful lecture on the history of the partnership between high schools and universities. Also, I found that other participants share the same kind of ideas and feelings that I have in my daily work. I would love to utilize what I learned from this seminar.” Usually, I routinely teach at school, so it is good to listen to the latest research findings and receive some academic stimulation. We may not have a chance to put what we learned her into practice, but this seminar provides us precious time to remind us that teachers should learn.”

Tsukahara, a teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Tachikawa Kokusai Secondary Education School

“I’ve attended this seminar for the past several years. I’m always looking forward to it, as this seminar gives us a chance to have new perspectives on world history.”

Fukada, a teacher at Narita High School

Director Okawa delivering an opening speech

Professor Yoshia giving a lecture

Q&A Session

Report on the Research about World History Materials

Yamaguchi, the Strategic Support Division, giving an introduction to TUFS