2024 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 121-123
This research project aims to examine the current state and issues surrounding the goal-setting, evaluation, and instruction methods of graduation project education in undergraduate programs in Japan. It seeks to explore more effective approaches to realize the full potential of graduation project education. Graduation project education has been integral to Japanese higher education since its inception and has been passed down through generations. In addition, given its potential to directly and comprehensively assess the final academic outcomes of undergraduate education, it is gaining renewed attention, particularly in todayʼs context where quality assurance is paramount.
The project seeks to answer three key research questions. First, it explores the relationship between diploma policies and final projects, examining the specific content and level of objectives guiding their implementation. Second, how can systematic evaluation criteria for final projects be formulated and applied? Third, what teaching methods for final projects yield optimal learning outcomes? We aim to answer these research questions using a three-pronged approach: a comprehensive overview of the national landscape of final projects, a comparative analysis across fields, and an in-depth examination of individual implementations.
This subject research symposium is guided by three primary objectives. First, it seeks to elucidate the current landscape of final projects, both nationally and across specific fields, by synthesizing and reporting findings from a nationwide survey conducted through the postal method. Second, it verbalizes practical examples of individual final projects implemented across academic disciplines. To this end, we summarize reports detailing practical examples of final projects in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and health. Third, the symposium aims to identify and understand the specific interests of members regarding the subject of final project research.
