Fostering Learner Agency in Creativity and Critical Thinking in Higher Education: Policy, Practice, and Context of Liberal Arts Education in Japan

This book presents an in-depth discussion on how to foster creativity and critical thinking (CCT) in the liberal arts higher education context in Japan, where socio-cultural contexts often contradict the perceived values of liberal learning with a highly competitive education system with standardized testing. By presenting four-year long case studies conducted in two leading private universities in Japan, this book discusses pedagogy, the process of learning, and their impact on students' creativity and critical thinking in a more nuanced and thought-provoking manner. It presents discussions on cultural epistemological differences, advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and research ethics and integrity policies that affect practices to foster creativity and critical thinking practices in contemporary higher education institutions. This book concludes with recommendations for future higher education to foster CCT in a socio-culturally viable manner, paying special attention to the agency development of learners and teachers, and institutional development as an enabling learning community.