Keio University & Swem Library: A Research Partnership

Why are high school commencement ceremonies in Japan different from ceremonies in the United States?  How does teaching a second language differ in elementary schools in Japan as compared to the U. S.?

These are just two of the topics researched this summer by 40 Keio University students visiting William & Mary.

The students’ visit was part of a cross-cultural collaboration, begun in 1990, between W&M and Keio University, located in Tokyo, Japan. The program began under the auspices of American Studies, and is now administered by W&M’s Reves Center for International Studies.  During their visit, the Keio students worked with W&M undergraduates to learn about and experience American culture.  In addition to lectures, classes and field trips, Keio students worked in groups on research projects focusing on differences and similarities between Japan and the U.S.

W&M research librarian Mary Molineux initiated the partnership between Swem Library and the Keio program four years ago, and serves as the group’s research coordinator. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the library to help these students with their research. It’s also a great way for us to learn more about Japanese culture and – throughout the year – to add new sources to our collections that will support each year’s Keio topics,” said Molineux.

From education to advertising and media to supermarkets and obesity, the students’ research projects covered a wide range of topics. With the students’ topics in hand, Swem librarians identified books, articles, government documents and other sources that would be helpful to the students.  Many of these sources were gathered and prepared for the Keio students to access on-site; others were listed on a library research guide.  

The Keio students visited Swem Library for several sessions, using these sources and others that they discovered, and the librarians checked in with the groups to offer additional help.  Before returning to Japan, the students presented their research to the entire Keio group.

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