Members

• Radjai, L. (2023). Challenges and Prospects of Regional Higher Education Institutions for Region-building: A Case Study of the College of Europe [Doctoral dissertation, Waseda University]. Waseda University Repository.
• Radjai, L. (2022). Challenges for diffusing Global Citizenship Education in Japan. In P. Bacon & M.Chiba & F. Ponjaert (Eds.) The Sustainable Development Goals: Diffusion and Contestation in Asia and Europe, 98-110. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Radjai, L. (2021). Chuo Asia ni okeru koutoukyouiku chiikika wo meguru ichikousatsu actor to sono yakuwari wo chuushin ni [Actors and Their Roles in the Regionalization of Higher Education Actors and Their Roles in the Regionalization of Higher Education in Central Asia]. The Japan Association for Central Asian Studies, 17, 1-20.

Internationalization of Higher Education

As online access to information and knowledge becomes increasingly easier and more common, there is a growing discourse regarding the role of higher education institutions. Online platforms are becoming ever more important as a means of knowledge (or even certificates and degrees) acquisition, but can they completely replace higher education institutions? I do not believe so. Higher education institutions are important not only as actors and platforms for knowledge creation but also for interpersonal and international relations. My goal as a researcher is to explore new roles and possibilities for higher education institutions in diplomacy, regional integration, sustainable development, and peace. I also want to contribute to addressing the challenges surrounding higher education by considering diverse perspectives, and I believe that this project group is valuable in taking such an approach. I would like to actively engage in discussions and collaborations with researchers and practitioners from different disciplines and sectors.

The objective of this research is to examine the role of Regional Higher Education Institutions (RHEIs) in peacebuilding and reconciliation. RHEIs are higher education institutions established collaboratively by multiple countries within a region. Given the complexities of international relations within regional frameworks, conflicts often arise from religious, cultural, and political differences, as well as territorial disputes within regions. This study investigates if and how RHEIs contribute to peacebuilding and reconciliation by shaping regional collective memory and values. A case study will be conducted on the South Asian University, a higher education institution established by the eight member countries of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), to investigate its role in facilitating dialogue on historical narratives and memories. Additionally, the evolution of students’ identities and perceptions of their regional issues during their tenure at the university will be examined, along with the pedagogical challenges associated with teaching controversial topics like history and politics.

Reconciliation thorough Regionalization of Higher Education: The Case Study of South Asia