Bridging global goals and local contexts

Advancing equity and human rights in university classrooms

Authors

  • Robert Sheridan Kindai University
  • Kathryn Tanaka University of Hyogo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/28zzev43

Keywords:

human rights, language education, social justice, student-led learning, international curricula

Abstract

This paper examines ways to integrate social justice and human rights education into international university courses taught through English as a foreign language (EFL) and content and language integrated learning (CLIL) in Japanese universities. Grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study connects these goals to human rights issues to create culturally relevant, student-centered lessons that develop intercultural and linguistic competence while raising awareness of diversity, equity, and social justice. Drawing on classroom observations, material trials, and surveys, this paper proposes a framework for designing curricula that link global social justice themes, such as gender equality and climate justice, with local contexts and student experiences. 

Author Biography

  • Robert Sheridan , Kindai University

    Robert Sheridan (M.S.Ed. in TESOL) is an associate professor at Kindai University. His research interests include vocabulary acquisition, the SDGs in language education, CLIL, student-centered learning, and culture in education. His recent publications include “Version 1.1 of the SDGs Service List: Vocabulary for Society and Sustainability” (Osaka JALT Journal) and “Global Issues in Local Contexts: Japanese University EFL Learners' Reactions to SDGs Materials” (TESL-EJ). He co-authored the EFL textbook Japanese Popular Culture in English: Discussions and Critical Thinking (Nan’un-Do).

References

Auh, Y., & Kim, C. (2024). Global citizenship education: Toward a critical moral pedagogy. Social Education Research, 5(2), 450-471. https://doi.org/10.37256/ser.5220244897 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37256/ser.5220244897

Al-husban, N., & Al’Abri, K. M. (2024). Cultivating global citizenship education in higher education: Learning from EFL university students’ voices. Citizenship Teaching & Learning, 19(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.1386/ctl_00147_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/ctl_00147_1

Beri, N., Thakur, K. & Kumar, N. (2025). Cross-cultural examination of social support, academic support, and well-being: A comparative study of Indian and international students. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 169-182. https://doi.org/10.32674/devfax39 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/devfax39

Brandon, M. (2019). Social justice in ESL/EFL curricula: A case study in Korea. Humanizing Language Teaching, 21(6). https://www.hltmag.co.uk/dec2019/social-justice-in-esl

Chen, F. (2024). Equity matters: A decade-long systematic review of strategies for equity and justice in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classrooms. SAGE Open, 14(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241295820 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241295820

Freire, P. (2017). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Penguin Classics.

Gultekin, O. (2025). Navigating the intersection of international politics and international education. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 25-48. https://doi.org/10.32674/4vqsg045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/4vqsg045

Hastowohadi & Ma’rifatulloh, S. (2025). Equality of Indonesian higher education for International students: A narrative inquiry. Journal of International Students 15(1), 87-106. https://doi.org/10.32674/h4tmp642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/h4tmp642

Hollenback, M. (2019a). The expected and unexpected failures of the global 30 program. Journal of Research Institute, 79-98.

Hollenback, M. (2019b). The necessity of global citizenship education in the EFL classroom. Kobe Gaidai Ronsō, 71(1), 73-82.

Lee, J. S. (2017). Challenges of international students in a Japanese university language program. Journal of International Students, 7(1), 73-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i1.246

Japan Student Services Organization. (2025, April). Result of international student survey in Japan, 2024. Study in Japan. https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/statistics/enrollment/data/2504301000.html

Jennings, T. E. (1996). The developmental dialectic of international human-rights advocacy. Political Psychology 17(1), 77-95. https://doi.org/10.2307/3791944 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3791944

Onishi, A. (2017). Developing a culturally competent campus community for diverse student populations: Findings on support for international students and the future direction of student services in Japanese higher education. The Annual Report of Educational Psychology in Japan, 56, 165-185. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5926/arepj.56.165

Rose, H., & McKinley, J. (2018). Japan’s English-medium instruction initiatives and the globalization of higher education. Higher Education, 75(1), 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0125-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0125-1

Salem, S. (2021). Exploring global citizenship education in the English language classroom: The case of Omani EFL teachers. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Leeds). https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/30540/1/Salem-204031992-Thesis.pdf

Sheridan, R. & Tanaka, K. (2024). Global issues in local contexts: Japanese university EFL learners’ reactions to the development of relevant and engaging SDGs materials. TESL-EJ, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.55593/ej.28109a4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55593/ej.28109a4

Sheridan, R., Tanaka, K., & Hogg, N. (2019). Foreign language, local culture: How familiar contexts impact learning and engagement. TESL-EJ, 23(1). http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume23/ej89/ej89a6/

Sheridan, R., Tanaka, K., & Tang, D. (2019). The benefits and use of culturally familiar materials in Japanese university EFL classrooms. Osaka JALT Journal, 6, 5-33. http://www.osakajalt.org/journal

Senbayrak, M. & Hart, D. O. (2024). Exploring social justice dialogs in EFL conversation clubs: Discursive moves and affordances. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 37(3), 327-342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2024.2339316

Staley, K. (2018). Social Justice Education in the ESL/EFL Classroom: Unifying Language Learning and Empathy. Flatirons Forum.

Takamatsu, M. (2023). Human rights education in Japanese universities:

challenges and suggestions. Human rights education in Asia-Pacific, 13, 159-188.

United Nations. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

United Nations. (2025). What is social justice and how is the UN helping make it a reality? https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160301

UNESCO. (2025). What you need to know about global citizenship education. Global Citizenship and Peace Education. https://www.unesco.org/en/global-citizenship-peace-education/need-know

Yeh, E., Sharma, R., Jaiswal-Oliver, M., & Wan, G. (2021). Culturally responsive social emotional learning for international students. Journal of International Students, 12(1), 19-41. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i1.2976 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i1.2976

Downloads

Published

2026-02-05

How to Cite

Sheridan , R. ., & Tanaka, K. (2026). Bridging global goals and local contexts: Advancing equity and human rights in university classrooms. Journal of International Students, 16(2), 199-226. https://doi.org/10.32674/28zzev43