Visiting scholar travels from Tokyo to Trumpington Street
Wednesday 20 December 2023
St Catharine’s offers visiting scholarships to further our charitable objectives to advance education, religion, learning and research in the arts, social sciences and sciences. These are typically extended to scholars at a postdoctoral (or equivalent) level. Fellows are able to nominate scholars for the Governing Body to consider and vote upon.
Visiting scholarships are a widely established practice that involves an institution inviting a researcher to visit, in order that they can collaborate more easily with one or more colleagues already based at that institution and/or have access to resources unique to the institution, such as rare manuscripts or laboratory equipment.
The time spent at St Catharine’s by visiting scholars varies according to the time needed to support their scholarly activities: from a few weeks to multiple terms. During their time at St Catharine’s, visiting scholars are welcome to join in with College activities and enjoy many (but not all) of the benefits open to students, staff and Fellows.
Dr Kousuke Kaita, Associate Professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, has joined St Catharine’s as a visiting scholar for the 2023–24 academic year, after being nominated by Professor Richard Dance (1997). Dr Kaita is due to speak at St Catharine’s as part of the Postgraduates and Fellows’ Seminar Series organised by the Middle Combination Room (MCR) Committee – students, staff and Fellows are welcome to join the seminar at 7.00–8.15pm on 29 January in the Ramsden Room.
Ahead of the seminar, we caught up with Dr Kaita to find out how his visit is helping to advance his research, and his experience of joining the College community.
Dr Kousuke Kaita
What brings you to Cambridge?
“I have been based at Meiji University since 2018 and I am indebted to the University’s generous sabbatical leave programme, which enables academics like me to spend time embedded in other institutions to advance our research. I hope my time at Cambridge’s Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic will give me a unique opportunity to deepen my expertise in Old and Middle English – and I’m sure my first experience of scholarship in an English-speaking country will bring a fresh perspective to my studies!”
How did your visiting scholarship to St Catharine’s come about?
“I first met Richard Dance at an academic conference in Glasgow about ten years ago, and learnt about the research being conducted at his Department, where he is now Professor of Early English by the University of Cambridge. I am grateful that he agreed to host me at the Department and nominated me as a visiting scholar at St Catharine’s.”
How have your research activities been progressing during your visit?
“I am interested in deepening my knowledge of manuscript and linguistic studies comparing Old and Middle English with Germanic languages. It has been fascinating studying manuscripts to see how writers inspired people to righteous actions and how exhortation is deployed in Old English and Old High German. I was fortunate to speak about my research at a departmental meeting in November 2023, and I am now preparing to submit my findings to a journal for publication.”
How has your visiting scholarship at St Catharine’s supported you during your time in Cambridge?
“It has been a privilege to experience College life while I’m in Cambridge. I had very little idea what to expect and it has been a thoroughly positive experience – not least being here for St Catharine’s 550th anniversary celebrations. The Fellows have been incredibly welcoming and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet them at mealtimes and learn about their research. Many aspects of life in Cambridge are very different from the Japanese higher education system so it has also been interesting finding out from students who they also benefit from this set-up, including the close-knit community at St Catharine’s.”
What are you looking forward to when you return to Tokyo?
“I am really looking forward to sharing everything I have learned during my visit with Meiji University’s students, including what Cambridge and the collegiate system is like. I was born and raised in Tokyo, and I have to admit that I’m missing Japanese food! Luckily, Cambridge is only a short train ride from London so I’ve made a few trips to the capital for a taste of home.”
