YUSUKE SAKURAI

Last Updated :2025/04/07

Affiliations, Positions
Office of Admissions, Associate Professor
Web Site
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55293780400
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/49299628
http://ysakurai.info
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1150-3132
https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=201201075804341955
E-mail
sakuraihiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
My main subjects are teaching and learning in international settings and support for early career researchers. I have worked in several countries, including Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Egypt, Finland and Japan.

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2022/04/01, Hiroshima University, Center for Academic Practice and Resource, Associate Professor
  • 2019/04/01, 2022/03/31, Ochanomizu University, Faculty of Core Research, Lecturer
  • 2016/04/01, 2019/03/31, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Lecturer(Special Appointment)
  • 2015/05/16, 2016/03/31, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Assistant professor(Special Appointment)
  • 2013/09/01, 2015/04/30, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Arts, Part-time instructor
  • 2010/08, 2011/03, Waseda Bunkakan, Japan, Part-time staff/teacher
  • 2008/08, 2010/06, Cairo University, Faculty of Arts, Visiting Lecturer (Japan Foundation Japanese Language Specialist)
  • 2006/04, 2008/03, Universiti Industri Selangor, Lecturer／Takushoku University, Part-time Lecturer, Lecturer/Part-time Lecturer
  • 2005/08/01, 2005/12/31, La Trobe University, Sessional staff
  • 2005/02/01, 2005/10/31, Monash University, Sessional staff
  • 2004/08/01, 2004/12/31, La Trobe University, Sessional staff
  • 2000/05/01, 2001/03/31, Kanarajsadon Bumrung Yala School, Japanese Teacher

Educational Backgrounds

  • University of Helsinki, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Centre for Research and Development of Higher Education, 2011/08, 2015/02
  • Monash University, Faculty of Arts, Applied Japanese Linguistics (research & coursework)
  • Monash University, Faculty of Arts, Applied Japanese Linguistics (postgraduate diploma)
  • Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Foreign Studies, Japanese Studies

Academic Degrees

  • PhD, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • MA, Monash University, Australia
  • BA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
  • Graduate Diploma, Monash University, Australia

In Charge of Primary Major Programs

  • Educational Studies

Research Fields

  • Social sciences;Education;Sociology of education
  • Social sciences;Education;Education

Research Keywords

  • Doctoral education
  • Early career researcher
  • Graduate Degree
  • Global education
  • Education
  • globalization
  • International student education
  • Higher Education
  • learning
  • internationalisation

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Intensive, Basic Preparing Future Faculty Course
  2. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Intensive, Basic Preparing Future Faculty Course
  3. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Higher Education Foundation I (Theory)
  4. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Teaching in Higher Education
  5. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Higher Education in Japan
  6. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Special Study
  7. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Special Study
  8. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Special Study
  9. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Special Study
  10. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Research into Higher Education I

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Creating Educational Research as International Knowledge: Fostering early-career educational researchers through international networking, Educational Studies in Japan, 20230000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  2. Mixed methods study on foreign early career academics' sense of knowledge and intellectual development, Higher Education Quarterly, 78, 135-152, 20230627
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  3. University Administrators' Visions for the Recovery of International Student Exchange in a Post–COVID-19 World, Higher Learning Research Communications, 13(1), 50-69, 20230604
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  4. Work environment factors affecting foreign early-career researchers' intention to stay, sense of belonging, and stress, Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 20230404
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  5. Foreign early career academics' well‑being profiles at workplaces in Japan: a person‑oriented approach, Higher Education, 20221207
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOIRepository URL
  6. Competing meanings of international experiences for early-career researchers: a collaborative autoethnographic approach, Higher Education Research & Development, 20211221
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOIRepository URL
  7. Engagement in Continuing Subject Knowledge Development: A Year After Short-Term International Courses, Journal of Studies in International Education, 26(4), 493-510, 20210402
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOIRepository URL
  8. Disciplinary differences in doctoral student engagement in generic skills learning, Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, 12(2), 230-246, 20210517
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOIRepository URL
  9. A ResearchGate-way to an international academic community?, Scientometrics, 126(2), 1149-1171, 20210100
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  10. Students' perceptions of the impacts of short-term international courses, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 12(3), 250-267, 20191202
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  11. Understanding students' academic engagement in learning amid globalising universities, International Perspectives on Education and Society, 34, 31-38, 20180205
  12. More or less engaged in doctoral studies? Domestic and international students' satisfaction and motivation for doctoral studies in Finland, Research in Comparative and International Education, 12(2), 143-159, 20170618
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  13. Examining the Reliability and Validity of Statistical Results Reported in Japanese Language Education Research, Journal of Japanese Studies, 1-17, 20170300
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  14. Engagement in learning: a comparison between Asian and European international university students, Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 46(1), 24-47, 20160102
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  15. Mentoring: A review of early career researcher studies, Frontline Learning Research, 3(3), 64-76, 20151012
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  16. Are Chinese university students more likely to exhibit a Surface approach to learning than other international students in Finland?, Journal of Research in International Education, 13(2), 135-148, 20140714
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  17. Understanding factors contributing to the academic engagement of international university students, University of Helsinki, 20141202
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  18. Factors affecting international doctoral students' academic engagement, satisfaction with their studies, and dropping out, International Journal for Researcher Development, 3(2), 99-117, 20121109
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. Native and non-native "good teachers" for Egyptian learners of Japanese language, Journal of Japanese Studies, 2, 17-32, 20120000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  20. Learners' perceptions of "good" foreign language teachers: A quantitative analysis between native and non-native teachers, Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 9(1), 46-60, 20120000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  21. Study management processes by Malaysian students in Japanese science and engineering tertiary courses: case study from the perspective of the language management framework, Journal of international students education, 14(14), 73-81, 20091200
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  22. Academic experiences of Malaysian students in a cross-national tertiary program in Malaysia, International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 21(3), 239-247, 20090000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI

Publications such as books

  1. 2023/11/26, Mapping the Learning Opportunities of the Hidden Curriculum for International Doctoral Scholars in Japan, Developing Researcher Independence Through the Hidden Curriculum, Springer Nature, Scholarly Book, Joint work
  2. 2022/00/00, Academic Mobility and International Academics (Surviving and Thriving in Academia), Moving in and Coming Home: Insights from Two Early Career Researchers in Japan, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, 2022, 05, Scholarly Book, Joint work, Eng, Mason, S. and Sakurai, Y., 129-145
  3. 2020/12, Using text mining in a diary study unpacking students' engagement in a short-term international course, Using text mining in a diary study unpacking students' engagement in a short-term international course, Münster; Waxmann, Scholarly Book, Joint work, eng, Sakurai, Y; Ishimatsu, J; Ito, M, 3830940262, 13
  4. 2020, Practices and issues of short-term in-country international courses, Practices and issues of short-term in-country international courses, Sophia University Press, Gyosei, Scholarly Book, Joint editor, jpn, Yusuke SAKURAI; Kyungnam Moon,; Sato Ryoji,; Miki Sugimura, 9784324107324, 264
  5. 2018/10, International doctoral students' perceptions of factors contributing to their career visions, https://www.peterlang.com/view/9783034329675/chapter12.xhtml This paper examines international doctoral students' perceptions of factors affecting their career visions. It also examines whether their perceptions differ in relation to their genders. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 females and 10 males, our analysis resulted in five major themes concerning students' perceptions of factors affecting their career visions: personal attributes, job market prospects, professional development, familial relationships, and scholarly community. Students' interpretations of their experiences based on their "personal attributes" were most likely to empower their career visions, for example, students' enthusiasm for research, their own flexibility in pursuing different careers, and preference of future workplace were the key resources in envisioning positive career trajectories. Conversely, demanding employment conditions due to the competitiveness, scarcity, and instability of potential jobs decreased students' confidence in developing clear career visions. Moreover, some of the participants conceived that the job markets of their home countries may offer a potential safety net for their career endeavours. Many female participants also described their familial responsibilities as challenges in achieving their ideal careers, while most male students made no comments on the theme. The paper concludes with future challenges facing universities in Finland that wish to be pioneers of gender egalitarian countries., International doctoral students' perceptions of factors contributing to their career visions, Peter Lang, Scholarly Book, Joint work, eng, Yusuke Sakurai; Viivi Virtanen; Jenna Vekkaila; Kirsi Pyhältö, 3034327765, 314
  6. 2018/02, Understanding Students' Academic Engagement in Learning Amid Globalising Universities, https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S1479-367920180000034003 Academic engagement is considered to be a hallmark of an optimal studying experience and a key to academic success for all students, including those from abroad. Accordingly, creating an engaging learning environment for higher education students is among the most pressing issues currently facing universities. This essay first summarises authors' research perspectives focussing on international students' engagement in university studies. The authors especially have attempted to understand to what extent international students from different backgrounds engage in their studies and whether the impacts of factors in students' learning environment on their academic engagement vary between different international student cohorts. Second, we introduce three emerging perspectives: students' academic engagement in relation to their future self-visions, doctoral education and short-term study abroad programs, which are all closely tied with international education. Third, the essay proposes several gaps in the literature that the authors find important for future investigation to contribute to students' academic engagement in globalising higher educational institutions., Understanding Students' Academic Engagement in Learning Amid Globalising Universities, Emerald Publishing, Scholarly Book, Joint work, eng, Yusuke Sakurai; Kirsi Pyhältö, 9781787437661, 336, 31 - 38

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. Mapping the Learning Opportunities of the Hidden Curriculum for International Doctoral Scholars in Japan, Yusuke Sakurai, Jiawen Han, and Xun Zhang, Academic Profession in the Knowledge Based Society, 2024/02/03, Without Invitation, English
  2. Mixed methods study on foreign early career academics' sense of knowledge and intellectual development, Yusuke SAKURAI, Shizuki SARUTA & Wenjuan CHENG, Higher Education Research Association, 2023/06/13, Without Invitation, English
  3. Foreign early career academics' well-being profiles at workplaces: A person-oriented approach, Yusuke Sakurai & Shannon Mason, The Biennial EARLI Conference, 2023/08/20, Without Invitation, English
  4. Factors affecting foreign early career academics' sense of knowledge and intellectual development: Mixed-methods study, Yusuke SAKURAI, Wenjuan CHENG, Shizuki SARUTA, Comparative Education Society of Asia, 2023/11/26, Without Invitation, English
  5. From lessons learned to discovering new international education initiatives, Yusuke Sakurai & Ryoko Nakano, Yusuke Sakurai & Ryoko Nakano, Asia Pacific Association for International Education, 2023/03/13, Without Invitation, English, Asia Pacific Association for International Education, Bangkok, published
    Related URL, Attached File's URL
  6. Inter-institutional Exchange Programs in the New Normal Era: Exploring from the Perspectives of Young Faculty and Staff Members, Yusuke Sakurai, Sachihiko Kondo, Yukiko Ishikura, Yu Sengoku, Ryoko Nakano, Summer Institute on International Education, 2022/09/04, Without Invitation, Japanese, Summer Institute on International Education, Osaka
  7. Competing meanings of international experiences for researchers Collaborative autoethnography, Yusuke Sakurai, The 81st Annual Conference of Japanese Educational Research Association, 2022/08, Without Invitation, Japanese, Japanese Educational Research Association, Hiroshima
  8. Preliminary Findings of Foreign Early Career Researchers' Opportunities and Challenges in Their Intellectual and Knowledge Development in Japanese Academia, Yusuke Sakurai, The 27th Annual Conference of Japan Association for International Student Education, 2022/08/20, Without Invitation, Japanese, Japan Association for International Student Education, Beppu
  9. Envisioning the recovery phase of international exchange amid COVID-19: Wicked problem in international higher education, Sakurai, Yusuke, APAIE 2022 Conference and Exhibition, 2022/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, Asia-Pacific Association for International Education, Online
  10. Double edged sword of international mobility experiences for early career researchers, Sakurai, Y, Shimauchi, S, Shimmi, Y, Amaki, Y, Hanada, S, Elliot, D, Biennial Comparative Education Society of Asia Conference, 2021/09/26, Without Invitation, English, Comparative Education Society of Asia, Online
  11. Competing meanings of international experiences for researchers: Collaborative autoethnography, Sakurai, Y,, Shimauchi, S, Shimmi, Y, Amaki, Y, Hanada, S, Dely Elliot, The 19th Biennial EARLI Conference, 2021/08, Without Invitation, English, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Online
  12. The meanings of international experiences for early-career researchers: A collaborative autoethnographic approach, Sakurai, Y; Shimauchi, S; Amaki, Y; Shimmi, Y; Hanada, S, Japan Association for International Student Education, 2020/09/19, Japan Association for International Student Education, Online
  13. Impact of short-term international experiences on university students' academic engagement: One year later, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The 18th Biennial EARLI Conference, 2019/08/12, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
  14. Preliminary findings on the meaning of international experience for the career development of early-career researchers: A collaborative autoethnographic approach, Sakurai, Y; Shimauchi, S; Hanada, S; Amaki, Y; Shimmi, Y; Equal contribution, World Education Research Association Focal Meeting, 2019/08/05, World Education Research Association, Tokyo, Japan
  15. Disciplinary differences in doctoral students’ perception of generic skills learning, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The EARLI SIG4 Conference, 2018/08/29, EARLI SIG4, Giessen, Germany
  16. Long-term impacts of short-term international courses on university students' academic engagement, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The EARLI SIG4 Conference, 2018/08/29, EARLI SIG4, Giessen, Germany
  17. Do doctoral students in particular faculties engage in generic skills learning more than others?, SAKURAI, Yusuke, World Education Research Association Focal Meeting, 2018/08/03, World Education Research Association, Cape Town, South Africa
  18. The long-term impacts of short-term international courses on students’ perceptions of their personal growth, SAKURAI, Yusuke, World Education Research Association Focal Meeting, 2018/08/03, World Education Research Association, Cape Town, South Africa
  19. Learning outcomes of short-term study abroad courses and longitudinal impacts on students: Case study, SAKURAI, Yusuke, World Education Research Association Focal Meeting & the Hong Kong Educational Research Association International Conference 2017, 2017/11/30, World Education Research Association & Hong Kong Educational Research Association, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Hong Kong
  20. International doctoral students’ perceptions of factors contributing to their career visions, SAKURAI, Yusuke; Virtanen, V; Vekkaila, J; Pyhältö, K, 17th European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 2017/07/27, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Tampere, Finland
  21. (In Japanese) 短期海外研修授業の成果と履修者の学びへの長期的影響：再現性検証とケーススタディー, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The 76th Annual Conference of Japanese Educational Research Association, 2017/07/26, Japanese Educational Research Association, Tokyo
  22. Relationship between International doctoral students’ engagement in doctoral studies and their career visions, SAKURAI, Yusuke; Virtanen, V; Pyhältö, K; Sari Lindblom-Ylänne, The Higher Education Conference: The Scholarship of Learning, Teaching, and Organizing, 2016/07/13, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  23. (In Japanese) 博士課程留学生の学業エンゲージメントとキャリア志向の関わり―フィンランドの生物学分野に焦点を当てて―, SAKURAI, Yusuke; Virtanen, V; Pyhältö, K; Sari Lindblom, The 19 the Annual Meeting of Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, 2016/06/25, Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, Tokyo
  24. (in Japanese) ヘルシンキ大学の大学教育学プログラムおよびセンターの活動, SAKURAI, Yusuke, University pedagogy for high-quality learning process of students, 2015/10/12, Tohoku University, Tokyo
  25. Domestic and international students’ emotional engagement in, and motivation for, doctoral studies, Yusuke Sakurai; Jenni Vekkaila; Kirsi Pyhältö, 16th European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 2015/08/25, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol, Cyprus
  26. Mentoring: a review of early career researcher studies, Yusuke Sakurai; Irina Lokhtina Antoniou; Chaya Herman; Ellen Boeren; Lynn McAlpine, 16th European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 2015/08/25, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Limassol, Cyprus
  27. Doctoral students' motivation for starting their PhD and academic satisfaction -Comparison between domestic and international students in Finland by a person-oriented statistical approach-, SAKURAI, Yusuke, Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, 2015/06/27, Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, Waseda University
  28. The International students’ disengaging experiences from doctoral study in bioscience: Association with their professional future vision, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The EARLI SIG4 & SIG17 Conference, 2014/08/20, EARLI, Leuven, Belguim
  29. The association between international doctoral students' disengaging experiences and their future vision: A case of a bioscience field, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The 17 the Annual Meeting of Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, 2014/06/28, Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, Osaka
  30. International students’ approaches to learning, learning experiences and stress, SAKURAI, Yusuke, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 2013/08/27, Munich
  31. Are Chinese students likely to exhibit a surface approach to learning as compared with other international students in Finland?, SAKURAI, Yusuke; Anna Parpala; Kirsi Pyhältö; Sari Lindblom-Ylänne, Chinese Students, Teachers and Scholars Abroad: Myths and Realities, 2013/05/23, The Confucius Institute (University of Helsinki) & The Education for Diversities Research Group (E4D, Department of Teacher Education, University of Helsinki, Finland), University of Helsinki, Finland
  32. International Students’ Evaluations of their Study-Abroad Experiences: A Survey of Bachelor’s and Master’s Students, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The EARLI SIG 4 Higher Education Conference, 2012/08, Tallinn, Estonia
  33. Becoming a researcher through study abroad experience - Autoethnography and internationalisation of higher education, SAKURAI, Yusuke, The 71st Annual Conference of Japanese Educational Research Association, 2012/08, Japanese Educational Research Association, Nagoya, Japan
  34. The EARLI SIG 4 Higher Education Conference, Factors Affecting International Doctoral Students’ Academic Progress, Satisfaction, and Dropping out, Tallinn, Estonia, August., SAKURAI, Yusuke, The EARLI SIG 4 Higher Education Conference, 2012/08, Tallinn, Estonia
  35. カイロ大学－エジプト 派遣終了に向けた活動の報告, SAKURAI, Yusuke, 国際交流基金国際交流基金日本語専門家 活動報告会, 2011/07
  36. Academic Experiences of Malaysian Students in a Cross-national Tertiary Program in Malaysia: Language Immersion amid the Sciences, SAKURAI, Yusuke, International Conference of Education, 2008/05
  37. Writing in Japanese as a second language: Handwritten text and Computer written text, SAKURAI, Yusuke, Applied Linguistics Association of Australia, 2005/09, Melbourne, Australia
  38. 日本語ワープロが作文に与える影響に関する研究, SAKURAI, Yusuke, Japanese Studies Association of Australia, 2005/07, Adelaide, Australia

Awards

  1. 2022/09/01, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning - Literati Award Winners 2022, Publishing Director Emerald Publishing
  2. 2014, Good teaching award, Student union, East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)), University Education and International Collaboration in the era of New Normal; Redefining joint, exchange and short-tem programs, 2020/10, 2024/03
  2. 2020/04/01, 2023/03/31
    Permalink
  3. 2017/04/01, 2020/03/31
    Permalink

Social Activities

History as Committee Members

  1. External evaluation committee member involved in self-assessment activities, 2023/04, 2024/03, DAITO BUNKA UNIVERSITY DAI-ICHI HIGH SCHOOL
  2. Associate Editor, 2022/09, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning
  3. External Reviewer Committee Member, 2020/10, 2023/03, Daito Bunka University Dai-ichi High School
  4. The 25th Japan Association for International Student Education Conference, 2020/08, 2020/08, Japan Association for International Student Education
  5. Board Assistant Member, 2019/04, 2021/03, Japan Association for International Student Education
  6. External evaluation committee member involved in self-assessment activities, 2024/04, 2025/03, DAITO BUNKA UNIVERSITY DAI-ICHI HIGH SCHOOL
  7. Associate Editor, 2023/09, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning
  8. Associate Editor, 2024/09, Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning

History as Peer Reviews of Academic Papers

  1. 2023, Studies in Higher Education, Others, Reviewer, 1
  2. 2023, SN Social Sciences, Others, Reviewer, 2
  3. 2023, Professional Development in Education, Others, Reviewer, 1