Conditions for a Shift to Learner-Centered Education: Purpose of the Study and Research Trajectories

Abstract

  The purpose of this Japan Association for College and University Education (JACUE)-supported three-year study is to examine how faculty have fostered “expert judgement” for defining and assessing higher education learning outcomes and to identify the necessary conditions for institutional shifts to the “learning systems paradigm.”

  This section introduces the series report of the 2021 symposium, which was the final opportunity for this research group to present to the JACUE community. The series begins with this statement of the purpose of this study and overview of research trajectories, followed by follow-up reports of practical research since the 2021 annual conference roundtable. Then, a review of theoretical and empirical research that offers a foundation for practical research is provided, followed by tentative conclusions drawn from practical research and an overview of the discussion section. The series will conclude with notes on remaining issues and future directions.