Beyond Bilateralism and Multilateralism?
The Significance of Japanese Aid to University-Level Quality Reform in Southeast Asian Engineering Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52731/lir.v006.493Keywords:
Engineering Education, Hitozukuri, Higher Education, Quality Assurance, Official Development AssistanceAbstract
Be it through the establishment of bilateral partnership institutions or multilateral quality enhancement projects, over the past two decades, the Japanese government has invested tens of millions of dollars in official development assistance (ODA) to improve Southeast Asian university-level engineering and technology education. Drawing upon ODA project-related documents and site visit interviews, this study explores why Japan devoted so much ODA resources to such a narrow goal. On the one hand, these projects continued Japan’s long-standing commitment to the hitozukuri (“human resource development”) of its Southeast Asian partners. On the other hand, they represent an important departure from past approaches, as this aid, through its increasing emphasis on goal-oriented multilateral collaborations, has also garnered widespread regional goodwill at relatively low cost.
References
P. Altbach and J. Knight, “The Internationalization of Higher Education: Motiva-tions and Realities,” Journal of Studies in International Education,” vol. 11, no. 3-4, 2007, pp. 290-305.
ENQA, “EU Support to Higher Education in the ASEAN Region (EU SHARE) 2021–2022,” March 2021; https://www.enqa.eu/projects/eu-support-to-higher-education-in-the-asean-region-eu-share-2021-2022/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
INQAAHE, “Mission, Values and Purposes,” 2025; https://www.inqaahe.org/about-us/mission-values-and-purposes/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
P. Gauttam, B. Singh, S. Singh, S.L. Bika, and R.P. Tiwari, “Education as a Soft Power Resource: A Systematic Review,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-20; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023109443, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
J. Nye, “Soft Power and Higher Education,” Educause, Jan. 2005; https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2005/1/ffp0502s-pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
P. Altbach and P. Peterson, “Higher Education as a Projection of America’s Soft Power,” Soft Power Superpowers: Cultural and National Assets of Japan and the United States, Y. Watanabe and D. McConnell eds., Routledge, pp. 37-53.
R. Jain, China’s Soft Power and Higher Education in South Asia: Rationale, Strate-gies and Implications, Routledge, 2021.
J. Hubbert, China in the World: An Anthropology of Confucius Institutes, Soft Power and Globalization, University of Hawaii, 2019.
M. Repnikova, Chinese Soft Power: Elements in Global China, Cambridge Uni-versity Press, 2022.
Universities UK, “International Students Boost UK Economy by £41.9 Billion,” Universities UK, 16 May, 2023; https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/news/international-students-boost-uk-economy,accessed Dec.31, 2025.
N. Kayashima, K. Kuroda and Y. Kitamura, “Japan’s International Cooperation in Education: An Overview” Japan’s International Cooperation in Education, N. Kayashima, K. Kuroda, and Y. Kitamura eds., Springer, 2022, pp. 1-26.
N. Hashimoto, “Hito-zukuri: It is Not Just Human Resources Development,” The Semantics of Development in Asia, J. Sato and S. Kim eds., Springer, 2024, pp. 79-92.
S. Yamada, A. Tsujimoto, and Y. Shimazu, “Japan’s Governmental Assistance in TVET for Industrial Human Resource Development: Changing Patterns of JICA’s Project-Based Cooperation,” Japan’s International Cooperation in Education, N. Kayashima, K. Kuroda, and Y. Kitamura eds., Springer, 2022, pp. 149-170.
“2024 White Paper on Developmental Cooperation: Japanese International Co-operation” (Original Title: 2024 nenban kaihatsu kyoryoku hakusho: Nihon no Kokusai kyoryoku), white paper, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025, pp. 19 (In Japanese); www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/files/100811507.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
K. Yoshida, “The Evolution of Japan’s International Education Cooperation Policy After 1990: Between the Discourse of International Development and Domestic Factors,” Japan’s International Cooperation in Education, N. Kayashima, K. Ku-roda, and Y. Kitamura eds., Springer, 2022, pp. 49-72.
H. Hoshiro, “Japan’s Foreign Aid Policy: Has It Changed? Thirty Years of ODA Charters,” Social Science Japan Journal, vol. 25, no. 2, 2022, pp. 297–330.
“White Paper on Development Cooperation 2022 Japan’s International Coopera-tion,” white paper, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, n.d.; www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/white/2022/html/honbun/b1/s2_1.html, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
N. Kayashima, “Japan’s ODA for the Development of Higher Education Institu-tions in Developing Countries: Supporting Leading Universities for Human Re-source Development and Knowledge Creation and Diffusion,” Japan’s Interna-tional Cooperation in Education, N. Kayashima, K. Kuroda, and Y. Kitamura eds., Springer, 2022, pp. 210.
JICA, “FY2020 Ex-Post Evaluation Report of Japanese ODA Loan: ‘Development of Bandung Institute of Technology (III),’” Octavia Japan, 2020, pp. 3, 7-8 https://www2.jica.go.jp/en/evaluation/pdf/2020_IP-553_4_f.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
SATREPS, “Project List,” Japan Science and Technology Agency, 2025; https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/kadai/by-country/index.html, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
M. Kahler, “Multilateralism with small and large numbers,” International Organ-ization, vol. 46, no. 3, 1992, pp. 681–708.
C. Mohan, “The Nimble Minilaterals,” Foreign Policy, Sep. 2023; https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/11/minilateral-alliances-geopolitics-quad-aukus-i2u2-coalitions-multilateralism-india-japan-us-china/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
N. Mladenov, “Minilateralism: A Concept That Is Changing the World Order,” April 2023; https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/minilateralism-concept-changing-world-order, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “The Summary of Terminal Evaluation.” 2017, pp. ix-x; https://www2.jica.go.jp/en/evaluation/pdf/2017_1302109_3_f.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, “MJIIT-UTM to Set up the Establishment of Ma-laysia-Japan Linkage Office,” June 2023; https://news.utm.my/2023/06/mjiit-utm-to-set-up-the-establishment-of-malaysia-japan-linkage-office/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
Malaysia-Japan International Institute Technology, “Study@MJIIT,” n.d.; htts://mjiit.utm.my/study-mjiit/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
R. Tasnim, A.M. Ithnin, and A. Selamat, “Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology: Commemorating 10 Years of Achievements, 2011-2023,” Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2023, pp. v.
JICA, “Myanmar Engineering Education Expansion Project: Detailed Report of Plan Formulation (Original Title: Myanmaa Kogaku kyoiku kakujuu purojekuto: shosai keikau sakutei chosahokokusho) (in Japanese and English)”, Nov. 2013, pp. iv, 79-80; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12183810.pdf, accessed Dec.31, 2025.
Yangon Technological University, ”Yangon Technological University Myan-mar-Japan Technological Development Center-1,” n.d.; https://ytuedu.org/research/centers#mjtdc-1, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
Y. Shibutani, “Opening of Vietnam-Japan University in Hanoi,” Proc. 2016 JSEE Conference, 2016, pp. 27.
Vietnam-Japan University, “About VJU,” n.d.; https://vju.vnu.edu.vn/en/about-vju/, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
Vietnamese-German University, “Quality Policy,” n.d.; https://vgu.edu.vn/quality-assurance-at-vgu, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
ASEAN University Secretariat, Tuning-Asia South East Project,” n.d.; https://aunsec.org/aun-action/external-collaborations/tuning-asia-south-east-project, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
C. Miki, “Human Resource Development in the Asian Region: Experiences with AUN/SEED-Net and Future Prospects (Original Title: Ajia chiiki no jinzai yukusei- AUN/SEED-Net no keiken to kongo no tenbou) (In Japanese),” MEXT, Oct. 2014, pp. 2.
N. Konishi, and N. Umemiya, SEED-Net, the Relationship that Brought Together ASEAN and Japan (Original Title: SEED-Net ga tsumugu ASEAN to Nihon no renkei) (In Japanese), Saiki Shuppan, 2023, pp. 137.
JICA, “Final Evaluation Report of Phase 3 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 3 saishu jihyouka chosa hokokusho) (in Japanese and English),” May 2018, pp. 79; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12320115.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Final Evaluation Report of Phase 1 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 1, saishu jihyouka chosa hokokusho) (in Japanese),” Nov 2007, pp. 15; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/11880689_03.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Final Evaluation Report of Phase 2 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 2, saishu jihyouka chosa hokokusho) (in Japanese),” Oct 2012, pp. 161; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12114203_03.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
See Reference [36], pp. 25.
JICA, “Midterm Review Report of Phase 2 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 2, chuukan rebyuu chosa hokokosho) (in Japanese and English),” 2010, pp. 39-40; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12044335.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
See Reference [34], pp. 2, 5-7.
See Reference [35], pp. 188, 208.
JICA, “Detailed Report of Plan Formulation of Phase 3 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Net-towaaku purojekuto fuaazu 3 shosai keikaku sakutei chosa hokokosho) (in Japa-nese and English),” 2013, pp. 37-38; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12113171.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
B. Jaroenittikoon, “Introducing ASEAN Engineering Journal (AEJ) by JICA Pro-ject for AUN/SEED-Net,” Sep. 2022; https://www.aunsec.org/news/introducing-asean-engineering-journal-aej-jica-project-aunseed-net,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
See Reference [34], pp. 7.
JICA, “Summary of Survey Results: AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: Chosa Kekka Youyakuhyo: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto) (in Japanese),” 2007, pp. 1; https://www2.jica.go.jp/ja/evaluation/pdf/2007_0601124_3_s.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Summary of Survey Results: AUN/SEED-Net Project Phase 2, (Original Title: Chosa Kekka Youyakuhyo: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 2) (in Japanese),” 2012; pp. 1: https://www2.jica.go.jp/ja/evaluation/pdf/2012_0704381_3_s.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Summary of Survey Results: AUN/SEED-Net Project Phase 3, (Original Title: Chosa Kekka Youyakuhyo: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Nettowaaku purojekuto fuaazu 3) (in Japanese),” 2017, pp. 1; https://www2.jica.go.jp/ja/evaluation/pdf/2017_1202997_3_s.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Detailed Report of Plan Formulation of Phase 4 of the AUN/SEED-Net Project, (Original Title: ASEAN Juukakoku Asean Kogakukei Koto Kyoiku Net-towaaku purojekuto fuaazu 4 shosai keikau sakutei chosa hokokusho) (in Japa-nese),” Feb 2018, pp. v; https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12319976.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA, “Preliminary Operational Evaluation of IABEE Establishment Project (Original Title: Indonesia enjiniaringu kyoiku nintei kiko (IABEE) seturitu puro-jekuto: jigyojizen hyokahyo) (in Japanese),” 2014, pp. 2; https://www2.jica.go.jp/ja/evaluation/pdf/2014_1400553_1_s.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
JICA and JABEE, “Republic of Indonesia Project for the Establishment of Indo-nesian Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (IABEE) Project Comple-tion Report,” 2023, pp. 4; https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/1000051432.pdf,accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
A. Yonezawa, “Facing Crisis: Soft Power and Japanese Education in Global Con-text,” Soft Power Superpowers: Cultural and National Assets of Japan and the United States, Y. Watanabe and D. McConnell eds., Routledge, pp. 54-74.
S. Seah, “The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey Report, Singapore,” ISEAS, Yusof Ishak Institute, 2024, pp. 38, 62-63; https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-State-of-SEA-2024.pdf, accessed Dec. 31, 2025.
