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2026.01.19 New Research Article
KARUNASENA THARINDU YASHINTHA HERATH (College of Asia Pacific Studies, Spring 2026, Sri Lanka), has had his research paper entitled: "Understanding Terrorism: A New Perspective through Group Cohesion", published in the international academic journal Central European Journal of International and Security Studies (indexed in Scopus).
This article is based on Mr. KARUNASENA’s undergraduate thesis, which he completed under the supervision of Associate Professor HEO Seunghoon Emilia and Professor CHEN Ching-Chang.
In his research, Mr. Karunasena attempts to answer a fundamental question: why terrorist organizations continue to exist despite rarely achieving their stated objectives. He approaches this question through the analytical lens of group cohesion, offering a fresh perspective on the internal dynamics that sustain such organizations.
The publication of an undergraduate student’s research in an international peerreviewed academic journal highlights both the exceptional research capabilities of the student and the high quality of education and academic supervision provided at APU.
Comment from Mr. KARUNASENA THARINDU YASHINTHA HERATH
Terrorism and Security is an ever-growing field. The threat it poses to international stability and civilians is immense. This article addresses a central paradox in terrorism: why it continues to persist despite frequently failing to achieve its objectives. Moving beyond traditional explanations, I develop the Group Cohesion Model to analyse how individual motivations and organizational structures interact in shaping participation in terrorism. Through a comparative study of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab, the paper highlights the complex internal dynamics that sustain these groups. I feel both honored and encouraged to see this work published, as it marks an important step in my academic journey and ongoing interest in terrorism studies.
![Introducing Faculty Research [APU Outreach and Research Office Newsletter] November/December Issue](/home/research/content13/Research_Office_Newsletter_202511_12.png)
2026.01.06 New Research Article
This month’s newsletter introduces two new faculty members that joined APU this Fall and also features an overview of AP Conference. Now in its 23rd year, AP Conference welcomed over 300 participants from 43 countries! Check out the Research website to view the newsletter.
Please click here to read the newsletter.
2025.10.30 New Research Article
This month’s newsletter features the APU Research Seeds collection. The Japanese-language version of the Research Seeds website was launched in July, and the English-language version has now been released.
The APU Research Seeds website introduces the issues our researchers are addressing and the kinds of research activities they are engaged in. We invite you to explore how APU’s research can contribute to solving challenges faced by local communities, society, businesses, and government.
Please click here to read the newsletter.
Please click here to visit the Research Seeds website
2025.10.21 New Research Article
Associate Professor Noboru Miyoshi from APU’s Education Development and Learning Support Center (EDLSC) had a new book published by the Hiroshima University Press on September 26. 2025. The book focusses on effective recruitment strategies for international student admission at Japanese universities, as well as mechanisms for how international students can seek employment and settlement in Japan post-graduation. At the same time, the book argues that having international students settle and work in Japan has the potential for ameliorating the labor shortage issue due to population decline. This research has utility in informing how universities approach recruitment and employment support for international students moving forward.
Find the new book on Amazon here: https://amzn.asia/d/iY9adYy
Reference: November 10, 2023 publication from Prof. Miyoshi: “University Education and Students’ Learning Behaviors and Habits: Including experiences during the Coronovirus
Pandemic” can also be found here: https://amzn.asia/d/1V9RdeL
Prof. Miyoshi’s Faculty Page: https://researcher.apu.ac.jp/apuhp/KgApp?resId=S001714&Language=2
2025.09.26 New Research Article
With graduation and opening ceremony behind us, the fall semester begins! The summer research period for professors has also ended, and preparations for this semester’s classes are well underway.
This month’s newsletter concludes our faculty members’ introductions for those that joined us this past spring.
Please click here to read the newsletter.
2025.09.08 New Research Article
A current undergraduate student, Do Nguyễn Thanh Nhan (APS, 4th year), has written and published a paper in the Journal of Poetry Therapy, a Scopus-indexed Journal.
The paper, titled, “Reimagining justice and trauma in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodian poetry,” was written and revised under the guidance of Dr. Emilia Seunghoon Heo, but was otherwise self-directed. Through the work of two poets, U Sam Oeur and Monica Sok, Ms. Nhan examines poetry as a vehicle to express direct and indirect trauma and justice in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Her findings indicate that expression, via art, is essential to post-conflict recovery and better addresses the full definition of justice, outside of the courtroom.
We are delighted to share this tremendous achievement by Ms. Nhan!
If you are interested in reading this paper, it can be accessed here:
https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2025.2551051
2025.08.06 New Research Article
Classes and exams have finished, and the university welcomes summer break! Professors, who are very busy every day with teaching, student support, and other administrative activities, will now be turning to domestic and international travel for research trips during this period. We hope this will be a fruitful period of research!
Now, in August’s newsletter, we would like to introduce three of the new professors.
Please click here to read the newsletter.
2025.07.23 New Research Article
In Kyushu, the semiconductor industry is booming, triggered by the expansion of Taiwan's TSMC into Kumamoto. However, Kyushu's innovation ecosystem (startup ecosystem) is still small in scale compared to overseas ecosystems such as Silicon Valley and the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan. In this workshop (symposium), experts will provide topics and discuss the challenges and success factors of startup ecosystems in Silicon Valley, the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Kyushu from various perspectives, including political systems and social culture. In addition, by bridging and combining these regions through the overseas networks of universities such as APU, we aim to achieve the global implementation of regional industries such as Kyushu and create value on a global scale.
【Date Time】13:00-17:00 July 29th (Tue), 2025
【Venue】APU Green Commons J101
【Language】Available in Japanese only
2025.07.18 New Research Article
Now that its July, Grants-in-Aid application has begun. For the Outreach & Research Office, summer is Grants-in-Aid season! This month’s newsletter is a special Grants-in-Aid issue.
Please click here to read the newsletter.
2025.07.02 New Research Article
Professor Yoichiro SATO (College of Asia Pacific Studies) was quoted in an article following an interview with the South China Morning Post, in This Week in Asia's "'Tactical move': why Japan pulled plug on US security talks amid defense spending row" (Published June 25, 2025)
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315653/tactical-move-why-japan-pulled-plug-us-security-talks-amid-defence-spending-row *In English
Additionally, he commented on a Vietnamese news broadcast as an expert on the impact of the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
https://vtvgo.vn/ts/Wzer61DpE9-20250624-13393027 (From 3:20) *Vietnamese
He was also quoted in a Vietnamese newspaper, the Thanh Niên, in the article "Signs of a Crack in the U.S.-Japan Alliance?" (Published June 26, 2025)
https://thanhnien.vn/lien-minh-my-nhat-dung-truoc-ran-nut-185250625221016708.htm *Vietnamese
On the Research Homepage, we would like to introduce the results of APU faculty members' research and information on the media coverage thereof. Please take a look!
2025.06.17 New Research Article
Now that it’s the rainy season, the summer Grants-in-Aid season is approaching. The Research Officeis planning on hosting various events for professors who are curious or interested in Grants-in-Aid.
In the June edition of the newsletter, we'll introduce three professors from APS (College of Asia Pacific Studies) who are researching International Relations.
Assistant Professor WATANABE Tsukasa
Professor IKKATAI Katsuya
Professor CHEN Ching-Chang
Please click here to read the newsletter.
2025.05.22 New Research Article
With Golden Week behind us, early summer has arrived! At the Outreach and Research Office, we are continuing various activities, such as organizing events hosted by research centers and managing on-campus research support programs.
In the May edition of our newsletter, following the previous issue, we are pleased to introduce the research activities of faculty members who joined us last fall. We hope you enjoy reading it!
2025.05.14 New Research Article
An APU's research center, the Center for Inclusive Leadership (CIL), will be hosting a research symposium at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 on June 1, 2025. The event will be held both in-person at the Expo as well as online (live streaming) so we encourage you to sign up and attend!
Please check the CIL homepage below for details.
https://en.apu.ac.jp/cil/news/article/?story_id=95
2025.05.07 New Research Article
We are restarting the APU Research Newsletter in AY2025!
Previously, from AY2019 - 2021, we published APU's Research Office Newsletter. In it, we introduced various professor's research, papers, etc. Faculty and staff have said it was useful as a medium on campus to understand the research of other professors and we have received several requests from them to bring it back. And so, we are restarting the APU Outreach & Research Office Newsletter!
Click here
In this issue, we introduce the research of teachers who were appointed in the fall of last year. We will continue to issue this newsletter on a regular basis, so please keep an eye out!
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