Academic writing project bridges Japan and Sweden
Conducting research across borders can be challenging – not least when it comes to communicating knowledge in a new academic culture. A new project at KTH Royal Institute of Technology aims to support Japanese researchers as they navigate Swedish academic conventions and strengthen their use of academic English.
Funded by Stockholm Trio–UTokyo seed funding for 2026, the project “Communicating knowledge in a new academic culture: The Japan–Sweden case” brings together teachers and researchers in Education, English for Academic Purposes and Intercultural Communication from Stockholm Trio and the University of Tokyo.
The initiative addresses a key challenge in international academia: how scholars adapt to differing disciplinary norms, expectations and communication practices. For researchers working in English as an additional language, these challenges are often compounded by the demands of English-medium instruction environments.
Through targeted training activities combined with research, the project will support Japanese scholars in developing linguistic awareness and strategies for effective academic communication. Participants will explore how meaning is shaped across contexts, including how argumentation and authorial stance are expressed in different academic traditions.
“Academic communication is not only about language proficiency, but about understanding how knowledge is constructed and valued in different contexts,” says Jane Bottomley at KTH’s Department of Learning. “By working closely with researchers moving between Japan and Sweden, we hope to build both practical skills and new insights into how academic cultures intersect.”
Beyond individual development, the project is expected to strengthen collaboration between Stockholm Trio and the University of Tokyo, while generating new knowledge about how academic practices evolve across linguistic and cultural boundaries. In the long term, this may help improve support for international researchers and contribute to more inclusive global research environments.