Academic advising and supervision under YROVP-SASSS

Introduction

Apart from providing grants for visiting universities and/or research institutes overseas, the YROVP offers academic support both to YROVP fellows and prospective fellows. The YROVP provides: (1) one-to-one advising on study overseas and (2) a workshop series, both of which are currently undertaken by Dr. Yutaka Sato at the Office of International Initiatives.

The workshop series is open to all postdoctoral fellows (PDFs) including junior fellows, PhD and Master's students at Hitotsubashi University. Two workshops were held during the Spring/Summer Semester 2010. Two additional workshops, which may encompass the experience of YROVP fellows studying overseas and developing a research proposal for research overseas, are due to be held during the Autumn/Winter Semester 2010.

One-to-one academic advising and/or supervision is offered by Dr. Sato on weekdays and it normally takes place in his office. Although he may offer advice to students and scholars with regard to study overseas on scholarships/grants other than the YROVP, the focus is on planning research and developing an academic career in a YROVP context. Those who are interested in the YROVP are welcome to visit Dr. Sato, but technical advice on developing a research proposal for a YROVP grant will not be given.

Academic support under the YROVP is tailored in accordance with student needs at each stage of the visit's life cycle: the pre-visit phase, during the visit and the post-visit phase (Figure 1). Those who have been selected for the YROVP grant must undergo career interviews before and after a visit and attend a crisis and risk management workshop. The Plan-Do-Check-Action (PDCA) cycle is central to overseeing and monitoring research among YROVP fellows and prospective students.

Details of the YROVP's academic support are summarized below.

The first phase: supervision before an overseas visit

1. Interviews for all researchers visiting overseas under the YROVP
2. Supervision in areas of planning research during the overseas visit
3. Crisis management workshops
4. Academic workshops
5. One-to-one consultation aimed at providing information on research overseas

The second phase: monitoring research during overseas visits

1. Follow-up of academic progress made by YROVP fellows

The third phase: monitoring academic progress after the YROVP visit

1. Workshops on YROVP fellows' experience of research overseas
2. Interviews for all researchers on their experience and the results of their overseas visit
   

Figure 1: Academic support under YROVP