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Advanced Education Co-creationMori Akiko Laboratory

Advanced Education Co-creation
Mori Akiko Laboratory

Developing professionals who lead multi-stakeholder co-creative education and designing the systems that enable it.

The Advanced Education Co-creation field is a research laboratory established by Akiko Mori in April 2026. This field was established at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, with the aim of developing research and human resource development in higher education, based on Ms. Mori's 20 years of administrative experience in Tokyo, particularly her practical experience in educational administration, as well as her work at the Advanced Education Outreach Lab (AEO), which was established at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo in April 2021.

In this field, we focus on the "educational ecosystem," where diverse stakeholders collaborate and co-create, as a "mechanism" for realizing interdisciplinary and enriching learning, exemplified by inquiry-based learning and STEAM education. Furthermore, we are paying attention to the "coordinators" who possess hidden leadership qualities and their functions as key players in promoting this ecosystem.

We believe that the qualities and abilities required of a coordinator are not only important for bridging secondary and higher education, but also for individuals who will be responsible for diverse and broad-ranging activities such as policy formation and solving social issues, in today's world where interdisciplinary integration is increasingly demanded.

In this field, we aim to contribute to the design of educational systems and the development of future leaders through various research projects, and to cultivate highly skilled individuals who will drive the creation of new social systems and the resolution of social issues through doctoral programs.

Educational Ecosystem

We examine educational ecosystems as collaborative frameworks that bring together diverse stakeholders across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. In particular, we focus on the design and management of multi-actor educational systems that promote inquiry-based learning, STEAM education, and partnerships between secondary education, higher education, and public sectors.

Coordinator

We investigate the roles, functions, and competencies of coordinators who facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders in complex educational settings. Particular attention is given to their capacity to mediate across organizational, disciplinary, and professional boundaries and to support the sustainability and development of collaborative educational practices.

Development of Practice-Oriented Highly Skilled Professionals

We aim to cultivate master’s- and doctoral-level professionals who can exercise leadership in interdisciplinary and cross-sector educational collaboration. Through research and practice, we seek to foster highly skilled professionals capable of designing, implementing, and advancing innovative approaches to education and public problem-solving.

Towards Greater Interdisciplinarity in Educational Research

From Individual Initiatives to a Collaborative Ecosystem

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At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, I was involved in areas such as urban strategy, international finance, and taxation. However, what first drew me toward the field of education was the profound impact of my experience studying at a graduate school in the United States.
Some time after returning to Japan, I applied to work at the Board of Education, where I was responsible for developing global competencies among students. I was involved in a wide range of initiatives, including the establishment of TOKYO GLOBAL GATEWAY, also known as Tokyo English Village.
After these experiences, I came to aspire to expand my work beyond Tokyo to the national and international levels and to pursue educational innovation from a broader and more independent perspective. This led me to leave the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and begin my current career.