History and Mission
The Center for Advanced School Education and Evidence-Based Research (CASEER) was established in 2017 with the reorganization of the Center for Excellence in School Education, founded in 2006. Research activities, lectures, and other events were performed at the former Center with the aim of improving the professional quality of educators and promoting improved school-development policies. Its predecessor was the Center for Clinical Research on School Development (founded in 1997). Based on the principles of “actual practice,” “comprehensiveness,” and “collaboration,” CASEER has carried on their research traditions aimed at solving actual problems in school education, based on a cooperative relationship with the Division of Professional Development of Teachers. With this foundation, CASEER seeks to collaborate with universities, educator-training institutes, prefectural boards of education, schools, etc. throughout Japan. The Division of Evidence-Based Research was organized in 2017, with the aim of accumulating evidence regarding educational effects. The Division of Global Research was reorganized as the Division of Advanced Education in 2019, with the aim of further expansion and development of its activities.
Division of Evidence-Based Research
The Division of Evidence-Based Research is divided into two sub-units, the Higher Education Research Unit and Secondary Education Research Unit. This Division seeks to enable more effective education via empirical investigations of educational effects.
Higher Education Research Unit
The Higher Education Research Unit was established to examine the effects of the higher education on the university students before they graduate, and to make evidence-based policy proposals regarding practices in higher education. Specifically, in collaboration with the Center for Research and Development of Higher Education, the University of Tokyo, this Unit analyzes mutually interactive relationships between education received by students while attending The University of Tokyo, and their post-graduate education. The aim is to clarify the effects of education at the University of Tokyo, via implementation, analysis, and investigation of all types of student-based surveys.
Secondary Education Research Unit
The Secondary Education Research Unit was established for the purpose of undertaking empirical investigations of the linkages between proactive, exploratory learning experienced by junior high and high school students and their future experiences in university and broader society. Specifically, in collaboration with the Secondary School Attached to the Faculty of Education, panel surveys are implemented for students and graduates of the Attached School. A panel survey of the current students is performed each academic year, beginning in 2016. Its purpose is to investigate whether and how the comprehensive study, one of the characteristics of the Attached School, has effects on the students’ values, perspectives, attitudes toward exploratory learning and citizenship. A panel survey of the graduates is performed every five years after five years of the students’ graduation. The panel survey investigates how studying at the Attached School is mediated indirectly through learning at universities on the social outcome such as employment.
CASEER-Hosted Symposium (February 2026)
Division of Advanced Education
The Division of Advanced Education performs research and practical activities for the promotion of further development of school education. This Division conducts research related to the globalization of education. Also, the Division runs Early-Career Scholar Training Program, in order to improve the academic skills of doctorate students in the Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo.
The “Division of Global Research” was reorganized and renamed the “Division of Advanced Education” in 2019. Two units were established in the Division, the Global Citizenship Unit and the Global Education Unit. Via links and collaboration with educational institutions and researchers in Japan and abroad, the Division aims to further develop its research activities. As of 2026, we have integrated these into the new “Global Citizenship Education Unit”. Additionally, to broaden the scope of our research, we have launched the “Art and Creativity Education Unit”.
Furthermore, to support school settings with the inquiry-based learning expertise cultivated by CASEER, we launched the “Inquiry-Based Learning Support Project” in 2025. This includes programs for teacher development (supported by the Mitsubishi Mirai Foundation, 2025–2027) and support services for primary and secondary educational institutions.
Global Citizenship Education Unit
This unit focuses on research related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the internationalization of education.
- Related Research:
Cultivation of Non-cognitive Skills through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (FY2024–2026, PI: Yuto Kitamura)
International Comparative Research on MTB-MLE as Inclusive Education for Fostering Understanding of Diversity in Southeast Asia (FY2026–2028, PI: Rei Sudoh)
Art and Creativity Education Unit
This unit conducts research and education dedicated to fostering art and creativity. Activities include specialized arts courses within the Faculty of Education, public art workshops, and practical research to develop educators in the field of creativity.
- Related Research/Programs:
Practical Arts Courses for Non-Arts Major Students (Since 2019, Specialized Courses for Faculty of Education, UTokyo)
Art Workshops for the General Public (Since 2005, Supported by Ishibashi Foundation grants, Toin Gakuen donations, etc., PI: Takeshi Okada)
Developing/Assessing Training Programs for In-Service Teachers and Students for Emergent Inquiry-Based Learning (FY2026–2030, PI: Chiaki Ishiguro)
Research Support Program for Graduate Students
- Young Scholar Training Program (for PhD students)
As part of our commitment to the next generation, Division of Advanced Education provides research fund for research projects related to the research themes, for doctoral students who belong to the Graduate School of Education, UTokyo.
FY2012, FY2013: Curriculum Innovation for Competencies in Society
FY2014, FY2015: School Education in the Global Era
FY2016, FY2017: Education Fostering Diversity
FY2018, FY2019: Education and Evidence
FY2020, FY2021: Rethinking Conventional Education
FY2022, FY2023: Diversity and Inclusion in Education
FY2024, FY2025: Highlighting Challenges Facing Education
FY2026: Aiming for New Possibilities in Education
Organization of CASEER
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