Research Interest：
- Education Development, Education Policy, Early Childhood Education, Economics of Education
Researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/natsumishibata?lang=en
Education：
- Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (Expected: March, 2027)
- Master of Economics, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (March, 2024)
- Master of Arts in International Studies, Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University (February,2024)
- Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University, Winter Short Program, Language Fellows, Republic of Korea (February, 2023)
- Faculty of Economics and Business Management, National University of Laos, Short-term exchange study program, Lao PDR (August, 2022)
- Bachelor of Economics, Takasaki City University of Economics (March, 2022)
Experiences：
- Internship (accepted at a development consulting company) (Assigned to Padeco Ltd/Lao PDR), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan (August, 2024-September, 2024)
- Student Coordinator, High School-University Cooperative Programs, Kobe University (May, 2024- June, 2024)
- Teaching Assistant, Educational Cooperation Seminar (Professor Masahiro Chikada), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (April, 2024-present)
- Teaching Assistant, Comparative Education Development Theory (Professor Masahiro Chikada), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (April, 2024-August, 2024)
- Teaching Assistant, Advanced Research (Professor Keiichi Ogawa), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University (April, 2024-August, 2024)
- Student Coordinator for the 21st International Education Development Forum 2024 (March, 2024-October, 2024)
- Guest Speaker, Special Lecture on Education for Economic Development (Professor Keiichi Ogawa), Faculty of Economic and Business Management (FEBM), National University of Laos (NUOL) (December, 2023)
- Teaching Assistant, Special Lecture on Education for Economic Development (Professor Keiichi Ogawa), Faculty of Economic and Business Management (FEBM), National University of Laos (NUOL) (August, 2023- December, 2023)
- Guest Speaker, High School-University Cooperative Programs, Kobe University (August, 2023)
- Internship at Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR (July, 2023-August, 2023)
- Guest Speaker, Global Challenge Program (Lao PDR), The Global Education Center, Kobe University (June, 2023)
- Student coordinator for The 19th International Education Development Forum 2022 (July, 2022-October, 2022)
- Internship at Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR (August, 2022-September, 2023)
Training:
- “Economic and Social Development in the SDG Era”, Institute of Developing Economies Japan External Trade Organization, Continuous Specialty Courses, Third term (February, 2021)
- “International Cooperation Experts Discuss Challenges in Africa”, Japan International Cooperation Agency Kansai (November, 2021)
- “The Changing World and the United States”, Inter-University Seminar House, Global Academy Seminar (September, 2019)
Publications：
Master’s thesis
- Shibata, N. “An Analysis of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Development Outcomes in Lao PDR”, Master’s thesis, Kobe University, March 2024.
- Shibata, N. “Parental Involvement in Learning at Home in Lao Early Childhood Education”, Master’s thesis, Korea University, February 2024
Academic Associations：
- Japan Society for International Development (JASID)
- Japan Comparative Education Society (JCES)
- Japan Society for Africa Educational Research (JSAER)
Academic Conference Presentation：
- Shibata, N. “Effects of Parental Involvement on Cognitive and Non-cognitive Development Across Early Childhood in Lao PDR”, Paper presented at Japan Comparative Education Society, The 60 th Annual Conference, June 2024.
- Shibata, N. “An Analysis of Parental Perception on Children’s School Readiness in Lao PDR” Poster Presented at the 13th Biennial Conference of the Comparative Education Society of Asia (CESA), November 2023.
- Shibata, N. “Parental Involvement in Home Learning Activities across Early Childhood in Lao PDR” Poster presented at the 23rd International Conference on Education Research (ICER), October 2023.
- Shibata, N. “An Analysis of Household Characteristics and Home Learning Environment on Early Childhood Development Outcome in Lao PDR” Paper presented at the Japan Comparative Education Society, The 59th Annual Conference, June 2023.
- Shibata, N. “Analysis of Parental Involvement on Early Childhood Development in Lao PDR” Proposal presented at the International Development Forum (IEDF) 2022, online, October 2022.
Awards：
- Ryoso Award (Overseas Research Grant for Doctoral Course Students), Kobe University Rokkodai Foundation (June, 2024)
- Kobe University SPRING Scholarship Awardee, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING) Program” (April, 2024~March, 2027) (2,200,000 JPY/year Research support fund, and 200,000 JPY/year Research grant)
- Kobe University Tuition Payment Exemption for Outstanding Doctoral Students (full payment exemption) (April, 2024~ present)
- Gunma Akao Scholarship Foundation, Scholarship Student (June, 2020)
- Honorable Mention in Student Essay Contest, Takasaki City University of Economics, Economic Association (February, 2022)
Language/ Skills：
- Japanese (Native), English (Fluent)
- STATA, R, Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Message to Potential Candidates to Ogawa Seminar：
I am Natsumi Shibata, a first-year of doctoral student at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS). I entered GSICS in 2022 and completed my master’s program recently. The field experience in Lao PDR as part of a seminar, when I was a second-year undergraduate student, encouraged me to study education disparity in primary education, thereby entering GSICS in 2022 to specialize in education development. Moreover, I was attracted by the Ogawa seminar since many graduates are working in education development at an international organization.
There is an environment for students to be proactive, challenge new things, and be supported by colleagues in the Ogawa seminar. I can recognize that I have gained various experiences that I could not have imagined when I entered GSICS and made an achievement. Particularly, you can obtain irreplaceable practical experience at Ministries around the world and international organizations, which Ogawa seminar is especially stronger than other seminars and can receive support from graduates and friends. We warmly welcome you if you pursue to specialization in education development and education economics, and aspire to contribute to society by working at international organizations.
