Our diverse faculty and staff are here to guide you toward new horizons in the educational sciences.

 
DSC_1310.jpg

Hisashi Kuwayama

Dr. Kuwayama received his doctoral degree in Education from Hiroshima University and specializes in educational development in developing countries and international cooperation. While remaining cognizant of the fact that the historical and socio-cultural contexts of education vary regionally and across countries, Hisashi finds ways to apply the Japanese educational experience to the practice of international educational cooperation and works on projects with Japanese and global teacher educators and researchers.


Dr. Kuwayama is a member of the Educational Vision Research Institute and has done work on teacher education reform, science education support, and school curriculum and textbook revision in Cambodia.  Teaching a wide array of courses on sustainable development and education, and with a research focus on materials development and dissemination, Dr. Kuwayama strives to train students, provide tools, and contribute to connecting teacher educators and education researchers in Japan and around the world.

Tinka Delakorda KAwashima

Tinka Delakorda Kawashima holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Graduating from Japanese and Chinese Studies in Asian and African Studies Department at the University of Ljubljana, she continued her doctoral study in the field of Religious Studies at Tsukuba University in Japan. Her thesis was based on longitude fieldwork research of pilgrimage and sacred sites in Japan and Europe and examined how modernization processes influenced traditional popular religiosity. Looking at changing community and family structures, state regulations, and the impact of consumerism, she explores the ways ordinary people relate to religious and spiritual realms today. 

At Hiroshima University, Tinka teaches subjects in the Globally-Minded Teacher Training Program that focus on cultural and religious diversity and intercultural dialogue.  

Dr. Delakorda Kawashima is collaborating with teachers and students in public elementary and high schools across Hiroshima Prefecture and participating in practical workshops abroad to develop new methods for teaching in a multicultural society of Japan.  

She is a principal investigator of the KAKEN project Religious education for intercultural understanding: Exploring class models for fostering self-awareness and engaging with difference and a collaborating researcher in the Research Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Hiroshima University. 

Brett's Picture.jpg

Brett R. Walter

Dr. Brett Walter earned his master’s degree in Elementary Education and his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on Foreign and Second Language Education, at Florida State University. He has taught English in Japan for five years, initially through the JET Program at the kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school levels and then at a private English conversation school in Hiroshima. During his time at Florida State University, he taught courses to undergraduate students in Japanese as a foreign language and a course in the Department of Education for TESOL certification. His research interests include instructional methods for teaching foreign languages, methods for improving teacher training, improvement of study abroad programs in higher education, and introducing multicultural education at the university level. 

Dr. Walter currently has a JSPS KAKENHI grant supporting his research into improving cultural awareness in teacher training at the university level. 

Beyond his responsibilities for the Global Education Course, Dr. Walter is involved in the following university-wide working groups and Study Abroad programs: 

  • Institute for the Promotion of Intercultural Education Committee member 

  • Educational Competency Development Committee member 

Russell Kabir 1.jpeg

Russell S. Kabir

Russell S. Kabir is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and an assistant professor in the School of Education and Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hiroshima University. He studied abroad with Harvard Summer School 2009 at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, graduated cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in biology and international and area studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2011, and completed his Ph.D. in Psychology from Hiroshima University in 2020. He previously taught English communication and academic skills at the University of Oklahoma Center for English as a Second Language and English activities at elementary and junior high schools in Akita Prefecture on the JET Program. 

An interdisciplinary researcher, Russell received special training at institutions such as the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Tennessee, U.S.A., and served as a trainee in a directorate of the OECD in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

Russell is currently researching the role of domains of self-efficacy, the development of well-being, cognitive control, identity, and intercultural competencies. His laboratory can be viewed here.

Some of the areas of Global Education Course involvement for Dr. Kabir include: 

  • Instructor of Record for the course, “International Perspectives in Positive Education”

  • Contributor to the Institute for the Promotion of Interculturalism in Education (I-PIE)

  • INEI Committee Member

  • International collaborator and chapter contributor on projects affiliated with “Positive youth development in a cross-national perspective”

  • For more on Russell’s teaching materials and academic research, follow him on ResearchGate or Loop, and see his JSPS KAKENHI projects.

A Snapshot of News and Updates about the Course and Our Affiliates

Featured
Dr. Kabir and Dr. Walter Lead Team Teaching Workshop with ALTs
Dr. Kabir and Dr. Walter Lead Team Teaching Workshop with ALTs

Dr. Russell S. Kabir and Dr. Brett R. Walter led a unique workshop entitled “Team Teaching Workshop for English Education Professionals in Japan”. Ten in-service and pre-service educators participated in the special event. Interactive discussions were focused on real problems and potential solutions for facilitating the teamwork process between homeroom teachers and assistant language teachers. 

I-PIE Members Facilitate Hiroshima G7 Summit Junior Conference Activity
I-PIE Members Facilitate Hiroshima G7 Summit Junior Conference Activity

Prof. Delakorda Kawashima and Prof. Kuwayama of The Institute for Promotion of Interculturalism in Education facilitated discussions on religious awareness and led the participants in the G7 “Diversity” group to engage with various differences.

Public humanities project on Alma M. Karlin at Hiroshima University, Nov 4-17
Public humanities project on Alma M. Karlin at Hiroshima University, Nov 4-17

Hiroshima University is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of world-traveler and writer, Alma M. Karlin, from November 4-17, 2022.

A kickoff event coordinated by our Institute and Course (held in English) is scheduled for Thursday, November 10th, 2022, from 17:00 at the Hiroshima University (Saijo Campus), Central Library (Library Hall).

Course lecturer visits Kure college of technology for interactive talk
Course lecturer visits Kure college of technology for interactive talk

On June 22, 2022, by Dr. Tinka Delakorda Kawashima was invited to the International Roundtable at Kure KOSEN. The activities-based talk was a rare opportunity for students to discuss their non-negotiable and negotiable values to improve their intercultural communication skills.

Article by Dr. Kabir on Ghana youth positive mental health featured in press
Article by Dr. Kabir on Ghana youth positive mental health featured in press

Course professor Russell S. Kabir led an article of collaborative research with colleagues in Norway, Dr. Nora Wiium, and Ghana, Dr. David T. Doku, on relationships between youth developmental indicators in Ghana and the mental health continuum. The findings showed that two key factors in the the framework of positive youth development, Connection and Caring, showed patterns of relationships to Emotional, Psychological, and Social Well-being.

Contributions from course faculty to activities by the Educational Vision Research Institute (EVRI)
Contributions from course faculty to activities by the Educational Vision Research Institute (EVRI)

All members of the Global Education Course, who are also faculty on the International Network of Educational Institutes (INEI) Committee, have put on their many hats as affiliates in activities with our collaborative partners, the Educational Vision Research Institute (EVRI) at Hiroshima University.

Special public lectures by Drs. Kabir and Delakorda Kawashima featured by Hiroshima University series
Special public lectures by Drs. Kabir and Delakorda Kawashima featured by Hiroshima University series

An online lecture series called “Enhance Your Knowledge - Hiroshima University’s 100 Special Lectures” was developed to broaden access, promote courses, and introduce topics to new audiences that are available at our institution. Among the few with a focus on English language support in this limited series, two lectures by our very own Dr. Kabir (“English Communication in Context”) and Dr. Delakorda Kawashima (“Interculturalism in Education”) were selected, filmed, and approved for asynchronous online learning via YouTube.

CEDAR pedagogy pioneer and course professor present public webinar
CEDAR pedagogy pioneer and course professor present public webinar

The Research Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Hiroshima University hosted a webinar entitled “Living with Different Cultures” with an appearance from our very own Dr. Tinka Delakorda Kawashima and Dr. Adam Seligman, pioneer of the innovative pedagogy, “Communities Engaging with Difference and Religion” (CEDAR).

Special lecture given for high school students to promote intercultural understanding
Special lecture given for high school students to promote intercultural understanding

On January 26, 2021, Dr. Tinka Delakorda Kawashima gave a guest lecture at Kake High School as part of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government Program for promoting intercultural understanding. Tinka-sensei’s talk was delivered over Zoom on the subject of Kakure Kirishitan's religious rituals and featured interactive discussion about traditional events that the students have experienced.

Course professor provides educational activities at Prefectural High School
Course professor provides educational activities at Prefectural High School

On October 2nd and 9th, 2020, Dr. Tinka Delakorda Kawashima gave lectures at Hiroshima Prefectural Kake High School. The topic on the role of religious awareness in developing intercultural competence brought about lively discussions among the students (depicted). These activities are a part of the course’s community outreach. For more on these activities, take a look at the Partnerships page.