Education and Research Results
Event Record
【Event】Pre-FD Workshop “Course Design Basics” and Early-Career Researcher Networking Event Held
On August 6, 2026, Sophia University’s Faculty Development (FD) Committee and the Center for Research Promotion and Support jointly hosted the Pre-FD Workshop “Course Design Basics” and Early-Career Researcher Networking Event.
This program was designed for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and SPRING students, with the aim of enhancing teaching competencies and fostering networking opportunities among early-career researchers.
Session 1
During the Pre-FD workshop, participants learned the fundamentals of university teaching under the theme “Course Design Basics.” Topics covered included setting course objectives, designing syllabi, and developing methods for assessing learning outcomes.
For early-career researchers who are expected to play active roles in both education and research in the future, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of course design and educational practice.
Session 2
The second session featured the “Research Cross-Talk Lounge,” an interactive networking event in which participants were divided into groups of four to five to promote interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange among researchers from different academic fields.
Rather than serving as a conventional research presentation session, the program emphasized cross-disciplinary interaction through a staged dialogue process of “discovering, deepening, and connecting research.” Through discussions in small groups, participants explored not only the content of their research but also its appeal, societal significance, and possibilities for future collaboration.
Participants shared positive feedback regarding the Pre-FD workshop, including:
“It was very informative to not only listen to the lecture but also to actually apply what we learned by working on a syllabus.”
“To be honest, I had thought course design was still something far removed from my current position. Therefore, this event introduced me to many new concepts and provided a highly valuable learning opportunity.”
Regarding the networking session, participants also commented:
“I was able to learn in depth about fields that I would not normally have opportunities to engage with.”
“Learning about other disciplines and explaining the interesting aspects of my own research to people without the same background knowledge was excellent practice.”
“I received suggestions that may be useful for my own research, which made the experience especially rewarding.”
Participants from a wide range of academic backgrounds enjoyed exchanging ideas, broadening their perspectives, and networking.
We will continue to promote initiatives that support the professional development of doctoral students and other early-career researchers, foster the formation of interdisciplinary communities, and encourage their growth as researchers.