Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Given the urgent need for sustainable actions, the development of collective learning and collaboration across communities has become increasingly critical. International joint fieldwork provides a unique platform to tackle these challenges by connecting diverse localities and enabling the exchange...

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Main Authors: Ota, Masahiko, van Onselen, Viola Marcia, Wan, Jou Lin, Pratiwi, Elok Surya, Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal, Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah, Abd Manaf, Latifah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/1/120386.pdf
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author Ota, Masahiko
van Onselen, Viola Marcia
Wan, Jou Lin
Pratiwi, Elok Surya
Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal
Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah
Abd Manaf, Latifah
author_facet Ota, Masahiko
van Onselen, Viola Marcia
Wan, Jou Lin
Pratiwi, Elok Surya
Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal
Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah
Abd Manaf, Latifah
author_sort Ota, Masahiko
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Given the urgent need for sustainable actions, the development of collective learning and collaboration across communities has become increasingly critical. International joint fieldwork provides a unique platform to tackle these challenges by connecting diverse localities and enabling the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and context-specific solutions. This study provides empirical data on types of learning processes and themes emerging through international joint fieldwork drawing on a study program in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Building on this empirical data, we also aim to identify factors that can effectively promote knowledge exchange and capacity building across different cultural and disciplinary contexts, by demonstrating how the design of the joint fieldwork supported these outcomes and by discussing the learning processes that emerged. Through applied thematic analysis of dialogue transcripts and post-fieldwork questionnaires, the study identified four critical dimensions of learning: (1) the introduction and conceptualization of new ideas, (2) the cultivation of cross-cultural understanding, (3) the redefinition of researchers’ roles within societal contexts, and (4) the examination of social transformations across gender and generational boundaries. We also identified three key drivers that play a crucial role in international joint fieldwork for sustainability, i.e., (1) intergenerational knowledge transfer, (2) modeling behavior, and (3) gender transformative approach. This research has provided evidence for the potential of international joint fieldwork as a tool for sustainable development. In particular, collaboration across generations and genders was one of the essential topics that the present study identified. We suggest the need for further research, particularly to consider more inclusive models that ensure diverse participation, especially from marginalized or underrepresented groups within the local context.
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spelling upm-1203862025-10-01T02:24:44Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/ Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan Ota, Masahiko van Onselen, Viola Marcia Wan, Jou Lin Pratiwi, Elok Surya Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah Abd Manaf, Latifah Given the urgent need for sustainable actions, the development of collective learning and collaboration across communities has become increasingly critical. International joint fieldwork provides a unique platform to tackle these challenges by connecting diverse localities and enabling the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and context-specific solutions. This study provides empirical data on types of learning processes and themes emerging through international joint fieldwork drawing on a study program in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Building on this empirical data, we also aim to identify factors that can effectively promote knowledge exchange and capacity building across different cultural and disciplinary contexts, by demonstrating how the design of the joint fieldwork supported these outcomes and by discussing the learning processes that emerged. Through applied thematic analysis of dialogue transcripts and post-fieldwork questionnaires, the study identified four critical dimensions of learning: (1) the introduction and conceptualization of new ideas, (2) the cultivation of cross-cultural understanding, (3) the redefinition of researchers’ roles within societal contexts, and (4) the examination of social transformations across gender and generational boundaries. We also identified three key drivers that play a crucial role in international joint fieldwork for sustainability, i.e., (1) intergenerational knowledge transfer, (2) modeling behavior, and (3) gender transformative approach. This research has provided evidence for the potential of international joint fieldwork as a tool for sustainable development. In particular, collaboration across generations and genders was one of the essential topics that the present study identified. We suggest the need for further research, particularly to consider more inclusive models that ensure diverse participation, especially from marginalized or underrepresented groups within the local context. Springer Nature 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/1/120386.pdf Ota, Masahiko and van Onselen, Viola Marcia and Wan, Jou Lin and Pratiwi, Elok Surya and Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal and Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah and Abd Manaf, Latifah (2025) Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Discover Sustainability, 6 (1). art. no. 671. pp. 1-26. ISSN 2662-9984 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-01577-z?error=cookies_not_supported&code=65bc35fe-4e2b-4cc8-bd64-54b985363c11 10.1007/s43621-025-01577-z
spellingShingle Ota, Masahiko
van Onselen, Viola Marcia
Wan, Jou Lin
Pratiwi, Elok Surya
Nazibudin, Nazatul Akmal
Che Hussin, Nur Syafiqah
Abd Manaf, Latifah
Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_full Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_fullStr Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_full_unstemmed Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_short Investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
title_sort investigating participant learning through international joint fieldwork: implications from a study program on local sustainability in nagasaki prefecture, japan
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120386/1/120386.pdf