Position, Mission and Features of NIER Research Activites
Position
NIER, as a national research body for comprehensive educational policy, is responsible for collecting and analyzing academic research data. The data is needed to plan and design educational policies. In addition, NIER represents Japan in international society, and provides necessary advice, support, and information for domestic institutes and bodies related to education.
Mission
As Basic Policy, NIER is aiming to achieve the following
(1) To present findings obtained from scientific surveys, analysis,
and predictions of worldwide situations surrounding education for
Japan's future policies. The findings should be used to plan and
design strategic educational policies in the mid and long term.
(2) To conduct scientific surveys of and analyze the current situation
and social background for solutions to urgent political issues.
The outcomes should be used to plan and design educational policies
which flexibly address social needs.
(3) To give help, support and advice about education
activities where necessary.
(4) To gather, compile and store educational information, data, and
documents and make available to interested parties in Japan and
abroad.
(5) To collect knowledge and promote information sharing for educational
research with bodies in Japan and abroad. This can be done by implementing
international education cooperation, holding conferences, and conducting
joint research studies.
Features of NIER Research Activities
With regard to educational administrative policy agenda, NIER actively conducts basic research to plan and design policies, as well as a variety of joint research and activities.
Basic Research to Plan and Design Educational Policies
(1) Collaborative research projects by researchers inside and outside
NIER.
(2) International joint research and cooperation such as OECD-PISA and
IEA-TIMSS, in which NIER takes part as the Japanese representative
.
(3) Research based on research interests and original ingenuity of
NIER researchers by external competitive funds such as the Grants-in-Aid
for Scientific Research, provided mainly by Japan Society for the
Promotion of Science.
Development of Projects and Joint Research
(1) The national survey titled "National Assessment of Academic Ability"
is carried out in cooperation with MEXT in order to ensure equal
opportunities in compulsory education and the standardized level
of education and to examine the issues and outcomes of learning.
Besides,
"Survey on the Status of Implementation of the Courses of Study" and "Research Designated Schools Project"
are conducted to compass the status
of implemented curriculum based on the national curriculum guidance
and to contribute toward an improvement of curriculum guidance.
(2) In order to improve the quality of social educational leaders,
who vitalize social education such as community learning, NIER
carries out joint projects in cooperation with MEXT.
(3) NIER holds project research and research conference based on challenges which
schools face, in cooperation with National Federation of Educational
Policy Research Institute, which is consisted of local governments,
private institutions and education centers.
