The Institute for Diversity and Inclusion,
Hiroshima University

The Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Research and Analysis Type) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT)

Joint Research Project of Hiroshima University and Shimane University
JFY2023-2024

“Comfortable and Rewarding Research
Environment for Female
Researchers in STEM
at Regional Universities”

In order to promote gender equality and support female researchers working at Japanese universities, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) has implemented the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Research and Analysis Type). Selected as a target project of this initiative, Hiroshima University and Shimane University are jointly conducting a 2-year research of good practices in supporting female researchers at universities in foreign countries including Sweden, USA, Germany and Korea.

Our Goals

We will research and analyze the current status and challenges of creating a research environment that emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in universities and research institutes overseas. After considering whether these initiatives can be implemented in Japan, we will formulate policy recommendations (tentative) for creating a comfortable and rewarding research environment for female researchers in STEM at regional universities.

Project Outline

Viewpoints of Project

For this project, we will collect and analyze data from the following viewpoints.

Focal Themes

1. Diversity: Recruitment methods and employment conditions to recruit talented female researchers.
2. Equity: Evaluation methods that emphasize fairness during recruitment and promotion.
3. Inclusion: Measures to prevent female researchers from being isolated.

Cross-sectional Issues
(Cross-sectional analysis of focal themes)

1. Collaboration with local governments, educational and research institutions, private companies, media, etc., and dissemination of achievements.
2. Whose and what kind of unconscious biases are there, and how to deal with them.
3. Introduction and utilization of Digital Transformation (DX), including AI.

Project Steps

Target Countries

For this project, we will visit four countries: USA, Sweden, Germany, and Korea, to collect and analyze data on excellent initiatives to supporting the activities of female researchers producing positive results, particularly at regional universities.  

Progress Reporting

• NEWWe have uploaded the videos of the JFY2023 information sharing forum. They are divided into two parts: the first half and the second half.
  Please click the link.

  FIRST PARTSECOND PART
• We held the JFY2023 information sharing forum “Supporting the Advancement of Female Researchers: Progress and Achievements in the U.S.” on March 13, 2024 to share the events and results in the first year.
  Please click the link for the program.
• In the keynote speech I of the forum, by Professor Monica Gaughan from Arizona State University delivered a presentation titled “Gender Equity Lessons from US Higher Education”.
  Please refer to the link for the presentation materials.
• In the keynote speech II of the forum, Professor Barry Bozeman of Arizona State University gave a lecture titled “Past and future support for female researchers”.
  Please refer to the link for the presentation materials.