Doing Liberal Arts Education ― The Global Case Studies

This book examines and shares concrete and specific strategies and policies for doing liberal arts education in a wide range of contexts. It deepens readers’ understanding of the processes of adopting interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to the development and teaching of liberal arts courses, integrating diversity and inclusion in policies and practices of liberal arts education, and institutionalizing evidence-based policy making. Moreover, it provides educators and policymakers with practical guidelines on how to incorporate core values of liberal arts education.

Mikiko Nishimura is a Professor of Sociology of Education at International Christian University. Her research interests include education reforms and policies, community participation and accountability in education, school choice, and gender in education. She has been involved in project formulation, implementation, and evaluation for education and poverty alleviation in various countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Her recent co-edited books include: Liberal Arts Education and Colleges in East Asia: Possibilities and Challenges in the Global Age (Springer); Comparative Analysis on Universal Primary Education Policy and Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Cases of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda (Sense Publishers); and Gender and International Educational Development (Fukumura Shuppan, Inc.).

Toshiaki Sasao is a Professor of Psychology, Education, and Peace Studies at International Christian University. Dr. Sasao has a long record of teaching and research in social and community psychology, and social justice issues focusing on the well-being of community, family, workplace and school ecologies in the United States, Poland, Korea, and Japan. Dr. Sasao served as a researcher and consultant to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and continues to serve as an editor and reviewer for several professional journals around the world. A fellow of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Sasao’s recent publications and translations include: APA Handbook of Community Psychology (APA), Handbook of Community Psychology (University of Tokyo Press); Substance Abuse and Gang Violence (Sage); Understanding and Dealing with Violence: A Multicultural Approach (Teachers College); International Community Psychology: History and Possibilities (Springer); Empowerment Evaluation (Kazama Shobo Books); and Liberal Arts Education and Colleges in East Asia: Possibilities and Challenges in the Global Age (Springer).