Toward Open Networking of Human Security Education in Asia The Inauguration of Japan Consortium for Human Security Education and Research

1
Toward Open Networking of Human Security
Education in AsiaThe Inauguration of Japan
Consortium for Human Security Education and
Research

• Yoichi Mine
• Associate Director
• Global Collaboration Center
• Osaka University

2
Expansion of human security education and research

• In Japan as well as other Asian countries, the
  concept of human security is taking root as a
  keyword of social science and policy research.
• Graduate education programmes on human security
  have been established in a number of national and
  private universities in Japan.
• Human security is a multi-disciplinary framework,
  in which various branches of social and natural
  sciences and humanities are expected to coexist
  and be integrated with each other.
• Education based on the human security approach
  should also be multi-disciplinary.

3
Multi-disciplinary education syndrome?

• However, this hybridity also poses a major
  challenge, especially in the field of graduate
  education.
• Academics trained in traditional disciplines are
  eager to form a frontier area of research, into
  which students are thrown.
• As junior researchers gradually identify
  themselves with the new frontier research fields
  of human security, they tend to be frustrated
  with a limited scope of existing academic
  associations based on conventional division of
  labour of scholarly disciplines.

4
Preparation Committee

• In July 2005, at a workshop held at Chubu
  University as a part of Human Security Global
  Peoples Forum, a preparation committee for Japan
  Consortium for Human Security Education and
  Research was launched.
• At this workshop, receiving valuable notes and
  comments from overseas researchers and policy
  practitioners (including Professor Surichai
  Wungaeo), every participant agreed on the
  significance of global networking of human
  security studies.

5
The Inaugural Meeting

• After two years of preparation period, the
  Consortium has finally been established on
  September 22 and 23, 2007, at the inaugural
  conference held at Chubu University.
• The delegates from eleven Japanese university
  institutions have agreed upon the constitution of
  the consortium.

6

• The founding organizations are graduate education
  programmes and research institutions at Meiji
  Gakuin University, Tokyo University, Tokai
  University, Aichi University, Chubu University,
  Nagoya University, Ritsumeikan University, Osaka
  University, Osaka University of Economics and
  Law, and Kobe University.

7
Presentation by young researchers

• Human Security and Psychologization of Discourse
  on Development and Conflict by T. Emoto (Tokyo
  University)
• The Incentive Approach in Conflict Resolution
  The Case of Liberia by K. Kawamoto (Tokyo
  University)
• Human Security in Practice From the field
  experience of Peace Building and Humanitarian
  Assistance by Y. Osa (Tokai University)
• Human Security and Bio-control through the
  global system of imprisonment, by T. Maeda
  (International Christian University)
• Medicine and Human Security A Perspective from
  Inter-people medicine, by T. Irohira (medical
  doctor)

8
Presentation by young researchers

• Rehabilitation Projects of Communities exposed
  to nuclear experiments in the Marshall Islands,
  by S. Nakahara (Chukyo University)
• Human Security and the Education Issues of
  Japanese-Brazilian Migrants in Japan, by K.
  Kimura (Chubu University)
• Internally Displaced People and Human Security
  A Case Study of Sri Lanka, by Mohamed Asees
  (Nagoya University)
• Human Security and Development The Security
  Sector Reform, and Human Security, by Kudo
  (Osaka University / JBIC)
• Human Security and Environmental Issues in
  Northeast Asia, by Siqinfu (Osaka University)

9
Inaugural Symposium on Sept 23Toward Networking
Human Security

• Lectures given by
• Professor Kinhide Mushakoji
• Osaka Univ. of Economics and Laws / Chubu
• Dr. Norman Cook
• Canadian International Development Agency
• Professor Chantana Banpasirichote Wungaeo
• Chulalongkorn University

10
Networking Human Security

• The Consortium is expected to organize research
  conference on human security every year,
• (1) providing young researchers with the
  opportunities to present their innovative
  research outcome, and
• (2) inviting leading scholars on human
  security from Asia and the rest of the world.
• The fields of joint exploration shall be not only
  international relations and political science,
  but also development study, risk study as well as
  sustainability science.

11
Networking Human Security

• The organizing members of the Consortium are very
  keen to establish links with Asian scholars
  sharing the same interest.
• We hope that this conference for Mainstreaming
  Human Security will consolidate the basis for an
  ever-expanding network of human security
  education in Asia.
• The Japanese consortium will become a part of the
  big flow in our region.

12
Questions (and possible answers...)

• How do we teach human security at educational
  institutions (esp., graduate education)?
• Stay diverse.
• What roles can universities play for human
  security in wider societies (local, national,
  regional, global)?
• Be open.
• How can we deal with different interpretations?
• Be critical, always.

13
Networking Human Security

• The second general meeting of the consortium will
  be held at Osaka University in September 2008.
• See you then and there!
• The end of the Presentation ......................
  ...........................
• ..................................................
  .....................Thank you!