Ayumu YAGI

Research Interest：

Education Development, Pre-primary education, Economics of Education, Education Administration and Finance

Researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/ayumuyagi?lang=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7565-4244
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.jp/citations?user=rkIJX38AAAAJ&hl=ja

Education：

Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (March, 2025) [expected]
Master of Economics, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (March, 2022)
Bachelor of Arts, International Christian University (March, 2020)
University of East Anglia, Faculty of International Development, England (September, 2018〜June, 2019), Exchange Program

Experiences：

Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC2), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (Apr. 2023〜Present)
Kobe University SPRING Scholarship Awardee, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) (Apr. 2022〜 2023)
Doctoral Project Research Fellow, Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (A) “Comparative Study of SDGs and Education Finance/Administration” (Principal Investigator: Professor Keiichi Ogawa) (Oct. 2022〜 2023)
Teaching Assistant, Theories and Methods of Policy Analysis (Professor Gita Steiner-Khamsi), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Nov. 2024)
Teaching Assistant, SDGs and Public Policy in Africa (Dr. Albert Byamugisha), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Nov. 2024)
Volunteer, Understanding Risk Global Forum 2024, World Bank (Jun. 2024)
Research Assistant, Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan (Short-term) “Analysis of Japanese Education Policy as Policy Darling of World Bank and as Policy Orphan of OECD” (Fellow: Professor Gita Steiner-Khamsi, Host: Professor Keiichi Ogawa) (Apr. 2024〜 2024)
Teaching Assistant, Educational Policy (Professor Gita Steiner-Khamsi), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Apr. 2024~May. 2024)
Teaching Assistant, Macroeconomics Ⅰ (Professor Masahiro Kodama), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Apr. 2024〜 2024)
Panelist, MoFA & JICA ODA 70th Anniversary Event, Kobe, Japan (Mar. 2024)
Teaching Assistant, Educational Development (Dr. Mari Shojo), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Feb. 2024)
Guest Lecturer, Special Lecture on Education for Economic Development, Faculty of Economics and Business Management, National University of Laos, Lao PDR (Oct. 2023)
Teaching Assistant, Careers in International Organizations (Dr. Mioko Saito), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Apr. 2023)
Student Representative, Y-Net, Japan Comparative Education Society (JCES), Japan (Jun. 2023〜Present)
Secretary, Japan Society for Africa Educational Research (JSAER), Japan (Apr. 2023〜Present)
Student staff, Y-Net, Japan Comparative Education Society (JCES), Japan (Jun. 2022〜 2023)
Internship, Evaluation Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan (Feb. 2022〜Mar, 2022)
Internship, School of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya (Dec. 2021〜 2022)
Teaching Assistant, Seminar on Development Management (Professor Keiichi Ogawa), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (Oct. 2021〜Present)
Research Assistant, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, Japan (May. 2020〜Present)

Training：

Pre-Faculty Internship, Minatogawa Junior College, Japan (January, 2023).
Pre-Faculty Development (FD) Seminar, Kobe University, Japan (August, 2022).

Publications：

Yagi, A. (2023). Comparative Education for Comfort: Dealing with Hardship through Knowing Kenya. In Kamogawa, A., Maki, T. & Sudo, R. (Eds.). Life Story of Comparative Education Studies: Research Skills×Career Development (pp.100-111). Tokyo: Toshin-do. (J)
Yagi, A. & Ogawa, K. (2023). “Influence of Parents’ Educational Level on Children’s Access to Pre-primary Education in Uganda.” Comparative Education, 66, pp.184-202. (E)

Academic Associations：

Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
Japan Society for International Development (JASID)
Japan Comparative Education Society (JCES)
Japan Society for Africa Educational Research (JSAER)
Asian Education Study Group

Academic Conferences：

Poster

“Analysis of Household Educational Expenditure under Free Pre-primary Education Policy in Kenya.” The 24th Japan Society for International Development Spring Conference, Akita International University, June, 2023.
“An Analysis of Household Spending on Pre-primary Education in Kenya.” The 32nd Japan Society for International Development Annual Conference, Kanazawa University, November, 2021.
“The Cultivation of Citizens in Japanese Liberal Arts College –Endeavor to Serve Humankind–.” 2020 Japan ICU Foundation Undergraduate Research Day, International Christian University, February, 2020.

Oral

“Exploring Significance and Future Direction of Competency-based Curriculum for Pre-primary Education in Kenya.” The 34th Conference of Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Hiroshima University, October, 2024.
“A Study on the Implementation of Competency-based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya: Focusing on the Classroom Teaching and Assessment Practices.” The 33rd Conference of Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Tohoku University, April, 2024.
“Effects of Pre-primary Education on Pupil’s Development Outcomes: Evidence from Education Reform in Kenya.” The 68_thAnnual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society, Miami, March, 2024.
“Does the Universal Pre-primary Education Policy Reduce the Burden on Kenyan Households?” The 13_th Biennial Conference of the Comparative Education Society of Asia, International Conference Center Hiroshima, November, 2023.
“Analysis of Persistent Effects of Pre-primary Experience on Early Grade Learning Outcome in Kenya.” The 20th International Education Development Forum, Nagoya University, October, 2023.
“The Effect of Pre-primary School Attendance on Early Childhood Development in Kenya: A 2SLS Analysis Using Scaling-up Access to Schools.” The 32_nd Conference of Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Teikyo University, September/October, 2023.
“Expansion of Pre-primary Education and Student’s Learning Outcomes: Evidence from Universal Pre-primary Education Policy in Kenya.” The 31_st Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Kobe University, April, 2023.
“An Effect of Free Pre-primary Education Policy on Household Educational Expenditure in Kenya.” The 30_th Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Kagoshima Women’s College, October, 2022.
“Determinants of Household Expenditure on Pre-primary Education in Kenya: An Analysis Using Heckman’s Two-Part Model.” Comparative and International Education Society 2022 Conference, Minneapolis, April, 2022.
“Understanding the Expenditure on Pre-primary Education in Kenya: A Demand Analysis using Engel Curve Framework.” The 29_th Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Waseda University, April, 2022.
“An Analysis of Household Expenditure on Pre-Primary Education in Kenya.” International Hybrid Conference on Post-COVID Japan: Economy, Politics, Society, Culture and Literature, University of Dhaka, March, 2022.
“A Micro-Data Analysis of Attendance Factors toward the Expansion of Early Childhood Education: The Case of Uganda.” The Japan Comparative Education Society Online Conference 2021, JCES Research Committee, December, 2021. (Presented in Japanese)
“Examining the Factors Influencing Household Spending on Pre-primary Education in Kenya.” The 18th International Education Development Forum, University of Tsukuba, November, 2021.
“Factors Hindering Access to Early Childhood Education in Uganda.” The 28th Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, October, 2021.
“Determinants of Household’s Expenditure on Pre-primary Education in Kenya.” The 27th Japan Society for Africa Educational Research Conference, Osaka University, April, 2021.
“Determinants of Household Expenditure on Early Childhood Development and Education in Kenya.” Proposal presented at the 17th International Education Development Forum, International Christian University, November, 2020.

Scholarships and Awards：

Special Research Allowance, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
(360,000 JPY/year addition stipend)
Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC2), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (April, 2023〜March, 2025) (200,000 JPY/month stipend and 1,400,000 JPY/year research grant)
Kobe University Premium Program (October, 2022〜December, 2022) (1,000,000 JPY travel grant for study abroad)
Kobe University SPRING Scholarship Awardee, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING) Program” (April, 2022〜March, 2025) (2,000,000 JPY/year research support fund and 200,000 JPY/year research grant)
Excellent Research Presentation Award, the 29th Japan Society for Africa Educational Research conference (April, 2022).
Certificate of Excellence in Research, 2020 Japan ICU Foundation Undergraduate Research Day (February, 2020)

Language/ Skills：

Japanese (Native), English (Fluent)
STATA, R, GIS, Google Earth Engine, Microsoft (Word, Excel, Power Point)

Message to Potential Candidates to Ogawa Seminar:

Since I encountered the field of Economics of Education during my undergraduate studies, I have been attracted and started to wish to join professor Ogawa’s seminar in GISICS.
After I joined this seminar, I have found out the substantial strengths of this seminar. One is, of course, polite instruction, which leads us to the goals. Another is an outstanding “connection.” Many excellent graduates of this seminar are working in the international development fields, and still maintain a “vertical” connection for us. They provide us a lot of opportunities to hear their career stories, which are most college students desire to hear. Also, I am encouraged by the “horizontal” connections with my seniors and seminar-mates. I would like to make full use of the opportunities for learning and experience at this seminar and absorb everything I earn.