DEIThe Promotion Headquarters, as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Diversity Research Environment Realization Initiative (Female Leader Development Type)" subsidy program for developing science and technology human resources, will provide partial financial support for seminars and other events aimed at providing opportunities for female undergraduate and graduate students to consider their own career development, and to encourage women to pursue doctoral studies."Support for organizing career events for female undergraduate and graduate students"We are doing the following.
Thanks to this support, the Faculty of Letters held a seminar on November 8, 2024, titled "Never Too Late: Unlocking Your Potential—Discussing Diverse Careers with Global Researchers."
Below, I will introduce the report.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[What was done]
For this event, we invited Ms. Motoko Akashi, Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) and Lecturer in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), to speak about her experiences abroad and offer advice on career development. Ms. Akashi has built a diverse career abroad for over 30 years, working as a fashion designer (UK, India), restaurant owner (Cambodia), and interpreter/translator (UK, Japan, India, Italy, etc.), before obtaining her MA in Applied Translation Studies and PhD in Translation Studies, and subsequently assuming her current academic position.
In this seminar, the speaker shared their career story, how they got to pursue an academic path, the difficulties they faced and how they overcame them, and offered advice to the participants on how to think about their own careers. As the speaker shared stories of how they boldly took on various opportunities, the importance of "cherishing connections with people" and "having an open mind" was emphasized, as exemplified by the words, "If it weren't for the people who helped me, I wouldn't be where I am today."
During the discussion session, participants asked specific questions such as "What should be prioritized and what are some hints when faced with a choice?", "Advice on language learning," and "Having worked in various jobs, what are your thoughts on an academic career compared to other careers?" The instructor answered each question, sometimes with humor, and provided practical advice. It was evident that the instructor's unique background was inspiring for the participants. The seminar proceeded successfully, providing a valuable learning opportunity for participants to consider their career development.
[Results]
Many participants expressed that they were greatly inspired and encouraged by Professor Akashi's story of how she transitioned from diverse experiences abroad to an academic career. For example, one participant said, "As the seminar title 'Never Too Late' suggests, I was encouraged by the idea that you can always do what you love, and always be able to do it," while another commented, "I became aware of the 'curse of the ideal researcher image' that I had internalized while spending time in academia, and it gave me an opportunity to re-examine that and reconsider the kind of researcher I want to become." Several participants were from overseas in the online session, indicating the high level of interest in global careers and academic careers for women (here, "women" refers to those who have had experiences as "women" in some form). It is hoped that the mindset shared by the professor, such as having a broad perspective and valuing encounters with people, will be a useful clue for participants in their future career choices.
On the other hand, it can be said that the challenges surrounding women's career development have become more apparent as complex issues stemming from structural and cultural factors. For example, in response to the question raised in the discussion session, "Is academia a risky career choice?", it was pointed out that "it is currently a difficult decision for women to pursue graduate studies or aspire to become researchers," and that "the key might be for universities to recognize that there are people from diverse backgrounds and to further enhance their support systems."
In particular, correcting prejudice against women pursuing academic careers and ensuring their safety within the community is still a long way off. Improvements in systems such as support structures are essential, but a change in the awareness of each individual, including community members and those considered to be in the majority in society, is also crucial. Research positions are already considered a "risky career choice," but for women, it becomes an even "difficult decision" and a "risky choice," largely due to social factors rather than individual aptitude, and a high level of understanding of this can be seen in the participants' comments. Therefore, it can be said that this event contributed to participants becoming interested not only in personal issues but also in structural issues. Becoming aware of this issue is also required of male participants. Through this event, the organizers also became more aware of structural issues and strongly felt that they are closely linked to motivation and decision-making.
In any case, it is undeniable that measures are urgently needed to ensure that an academic career is recognized as a viable career option for women, one that is not risky compared to other options. This is an issue that those who think "this doesn't concern me" should take very seriously.
