#Japan #Tokyo #Free School #Research Project

Overview of the Research Project

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has initiated a research project aimed at supporting individual children's characteristics and growth through diverse learning environments outside of traditional schooling. This project, titled “Research on Diverse Learning for Children Outside School,” aims to provide effective methodologies for engaging children, especially those attending free schools, by exploring their interests and concerns. Universities will take the lead in research, working closely with free schools to ensure that their findings can be effectively utilized by the staff of these institutions.

Call for Participation

The recruitment process for universities (labs) and collaborative free schools for the 2023 fiscal year is now open.

1. Research Outline

The central goal of this research is to assess how the operational staff of free schools can leverage the research outcomes to benefit children directly. Labs, composed of various universities focusing on different educational themes, will analyze and verify methods to spark children’s interests during participation in free schools.

2. Details on Lab Recruitment

Eligibility: Universities located in Tokyo that can offer diverse learning experiences tailored to each child in compulsory education and are willing to sign an agreement with Tokyo.
Application Period: Pre-application will be from April 30, 2023, to May 23, 2023. Official application will be from April 30, 2023, to May 30, 2023.
Application Method: Apply through the official website. Further details are available in the “Lab Recruitment Guidelines” posted on the website.

3. Benefits of Participation for Labs

Participating universities will benefit from a collaborative network with free schools, gain visibility for their research work, and directly impact educational practices in Tokyo.

4. Details on Collaborative Free School Recruitment

Eligibility: Must operate a free school that provides substantial educational experiences and have at least 10 children of compulsory education age currently enrolled.
Application Period: Applications will be accepted from April 30, 2023, to June 30, 2023.
Application Method: Interested parties should apply through the official website. Check the “Collaborative Free School Recruitment Guidelines” for more information.

5. Benefits for Collaborative Free Schools

Participating free schools will gain access to research resources, enhance their instructional methodologies, and much more, directly benefiting the children they serve.

Additional Information

For those interested in understanding previous research efforts, a成果報告会 (Outcome Reporting Session) will take place on May 17, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Tokyo Metropolitan Hall. This session will feature presentations from participating labs and feedback from experts in the field. Interested individuals can register for either in-person or online participation via the provided links. Note that registration closes on May 14, 2023.

This initiative is part of the “Tokyo Strategy 2050,” focusing on child-centered policy development, particularly in fostering diverse learning opportunities.

For more details, please visit the official website: Tokyo Children's Learning Initiative.