Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Given the urgent need for sustainable actions, the development of collective learning and collaboration across communities has become increasingly critical. International joint fieldwork provides a unique platform to tackle these challenges by connecting diverse localities and enabling the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and context-specific solutions. This study provides empirical data on types of learning processes and themes emerging through international joint fieldwork drawing on a study program in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Building on this empirical data, we also aim to identify factors that can effectively promote knowledge exchange and capacity building across different cultural and disciplinary contexts, by demonstrating how the design of the joint fieldwork supported these outcomes and by discussing the learning processes that emerged. Through applied thematic analysis of dialogue transcripts and post-fieldwork questionnaires, the study identified four critical dimensions of learning: (1) the introduction and conceptualization of new ideas, (2) the cultivation of cross-cultural understanding, (3) the redefinition of researchers’ roles within societal contexts, and (4) the examination of social transformations across gender and generational boundaries. We also identified three key drivers that play a crucial role in international joint fieldwork for sustainability, i.e., (1) intergenerational knowledge transfer, (2) modeling behavior, and (3) gender transformative approach. This research has provided evidence for the potential of international joint fieldwork as a tool for sustainable development. In particular, collaboration across generations and genders was one of the essential topics that the present study identified. We suggest the need for further research, particularly to consider more inclusive models that ensure diverse participation, especially from marginalized or underrepresented groups within the local context.

Text 120386.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-0...

Actions (login required)

View Item