Using the Collaboration Pattern card deck, participants uncover connections that are usually hard to see and reflect on their research activities.
Overview
Research is often seen as a solitary endeavor—digging into your own interests, facing data, and going through trial and error. While this process may seem introspective and even lonely, in reality, many others are involved along the way: the insights of researchers encountered through prior studies, supervisors and peers who support your experiments, or even a casual conversation that sparks a new idea. These often-invisible forms of collaboration quietly underpin your research.
In this workshop, we highlight the collaborative aspects of research activities. Using a set of “Collaboration Pattern” cards—a tool for articulating different types of collaboration—we will reflect on how we engage with others and how these relationships have influenced our research. Through this process, participants will gain insights into the unique ways they relate to others and discover perspectives that can enrich their future work.
The workshop is designed by members of Copilot Inc., a team with 20 years of experience supporting diverse project collaborations. Their expertise in dialogue and relational dynamics has been adapted for research settings, and this program has been further refined based on participant feedback from previous offerings.
Take this opportunity to step back from your daily research and gain new insight into how you work—and grow—with others!
| 📂 Category | Initiative |
| 📌 Keywords | Collaboration, communication, reflection, pattern language |
| 🎯 Objectives | – To reflect on how your research involves others using the “Collaboration Pattern” cards – To deepen your self-understanding by discovering the patterns you use when collaborating – To view your often-solitary research activities through the lens of collaboration and expand your perspective |
| 🌐 Language | Graduate students & undergraduate students involved in research or projects |
| 👥 Target Participants | Graduate & Undergraduate Students |
| 🗓 Format | Three in-person sessions; single-session participation is welcome |
| ✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions | #1: Monday, December 8, 2025, 18:00–20:00 #2: Monday, December 15, 2025, 18:00–20:00 #3: Monday, December 22, 2025, 18:00–20:00 *Past related sessions: AY2024 Fall Semester: “Project Reflection” Workshop AY2025 Spring Semester: “Leadership for Collaborative Research Environments”* |
| 📍 Venue | S6-309A, Ookayama Campus |
| 🌟 Recommended for | Those who: – Want to reflect on and deepen their understanding of how they work – Are seeking new insights to improve collaboration among researchers – Are interested in improving lab or team culture |
| 📊 Points | 2 points per session (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.) |
| 🎟️ Capacity | 10 participants |
Main Content
This workshop allows single-session participation.
Using 10 cards from the “Collaboration Pattern” set, participants will explore their personal style of collaboration through dialogue and reflection. The first half includes a short lecture on invisible collaboration in research, followed by small-group sharing about each person’s research or project experience.
In the second half, participants work in groups of three to exchange perspectives using the cards: “This one feels familiar,” “I think I use this,” or “I’ve never used this but it’s interesting.”
Through this dialogue, they reflect on the qualities they bring into interactions with others and receive feedback from peers to deepen their self-understanding.
At the end, everyone shares the relational perspectives they want to carry forward into their future research or collaborations. This workshop offers a new perspective that invites you to engage with both the individual and relational dimensions of your research.
Session Themes
- Session 1: Loose Connections
- Session 2: “Myself” Within Connections
- Session 3: Forward-Looking Connections
Workshop Design & Facilitation: Copilot Inc.
Copilot Inc. is a team of professionals specializing in project management. Since its founding in 2005, the company has acted as a “co-pilot” in cross-disciplinary projects—from digital innovation to new business development—supporting diverse teams in achieving their goals and building strong collaborative structures.
Facilitator
HASEBE Kana
This workshop teaches that research outcomes don’t stem from individual effort alone—and the same is true in the workplace. Almost no job is done entirely alone. You’ll always need to work with others, drawing on each other’s expertise. What you learn here through real practice is a lifelong skill—something that will serve you well wherever you go. I encourage you to try it, and learn from your own research journey.
YAGI Shotaro
The idea that practice shapes people and society may seem irrelevant in solitary research—but it’s precisely within relationships that practices take root. Relationships may seem minor, but they matter greatly. This workshop is a unique relational space—a chance to encounter new dialogue, new insights, and new practices that can only happen here.
Contact Faculty
Yuri Matsuzaki, Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Academy for Leadership
📩 matsuzaki.y.77a9 [at] m.isct.ac.jp