Fumi Kitagawa holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Studies/Public Policy. Her recent work at Department for Higher Education Research, National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) has covered: financing of higher education; strengthening teaching and learning and enhancing student experiences at HEIs; regional innovation systems and university-industry links; Support and Coordination Project for University Cooperation in International Development(MEXT, Japan); and higher education and sustainable development. She participated in two international reviews for the OECD project “Supporting the Contribution of HEIs to Regional Development” (2005-6) and co-authored Peer Review Reports.

She has recently conducted a number of commissioned research on international dimensions of higher education policies and institutional management, and international mobility of academic researchers. Her recent research includes universities and city-region development, innovation and competitiveness. In 2005 she held the Jean Monnet Fellowship at the European Forum, “The Role of Universities in Innovation Systems”, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at European University Institute. She has a broad background in social sciences and has a very good social skills and institutional networking ability.