Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University
From January to February 2025, I had the privilege of undertaking an internship under the guidance of Dr. Suguru Mizunoya, Technical Cooperation Team Lead at the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in Paris. During my internship, I was involved in two main tasks: (1) data analysis and preparation of materials for UNESCO IIEP’s panel discussion at the Comparative & International Education Society (CIES) conference in Chicago in March, and (2) literature review and document preparation for the publication of a book on non-cognitive skills. Through these activities, I deepened my understanding of UNESCO IIEP’s role and enhanced my skills in data analysis within the field of economics of education.
For the panel discussion, I conducted an analysis on educational equity and its relationship with hazard exposure in Malawi. Specifically, using learning achievement data obtained by UNESCO IIEP from the Ministry of Education in Malawi, along with EMIS data, and international learning assessment data such as PISA and PASEC, I calculated equity indicators such as the Gini coefficient and Theil index. Additionally, using a exposure index developed by UNESCO IIEP, I examined how frequent exposure to natural disasters in Malawi influence educational equity.
This analysis was conducted as part of the Learning Equity Initiative, a collaboration led by the University of Pennsylvania in partnership with UNESCO IIEP. During my internship, I had the opportunity to attend meetings with professors from the University of Pennsylvania, which greatly enriched my understanding of data analysis related to educational equity. Moreover, I realized the importance of visualizing results effectively—using graphs and color-coded maps—to convey findings clearly. It was a rewarding experience to know that my contributions as an intern would be presented as part of official output at an international academic conference. Additionally, this experience strengthened my sense of responsibility in my tasks and provided valuable insights into my approach to professional work.
For the book publication on non-cognitive skills, I conducted a literature review on assigned topics, summarizing key findings from existing research and articles. Throughout this process, I not only deepened my understanding of academic discussions on non-cognitive skills but also expanded my perspective by exploring practical policy implementations in Japan and around the world. This experience helped me recognize the importance of connecting academic research with real-world educational policies and practices.
As described above, this internship allowed me to gain deeper insights into UNESCO IIEP’s role and economics of education. However, beyond technical knowledge, Dr. Mizunoya also taught me the importance of continuously questioning assumptions and provided invaluable insights into working in international organizations. During our weekly meetings, in addition to discussing my analysis and receiving guidance on data interpretation, I also had the privilege of hearing practical career advice for pursuing a future in international organizations.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Yu Mizunoya for accepting me as an intern and providing me with this invaluable learning experience. Furthermore, I am deeply grateful to Professor Keiichi Ogawa for not only supporting the implementation of this internship but also for providing me with valuable opportunities for network building during our time in Paris.
Authored by Noa Yokogawa（Master’s student）
