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• Ministry of the Environment
• > Environmental Policy Bureau
• > Environmental Leadership Initiatives for Asian Sustainability (ELIAS)
• > Development of Higher Education Programs
• > Osaka Prefecture University

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Program Title

Development of Education Program to Foster Environmental Experts with International Cooperative Leadership - Practice-Based Consistent Education in Undergraduate and Graduate Schools -

Implementation Report

2010

Program Outline

The purpose of this project is to develop a practice-based consistent education program in undergraduate and graduate schools for fostering environmental experts who can lead sustainable society not only in Japan but also in developing countries.

The undergraduate school program opens as a minor "Program on Environmental Science", consisting three new lecture courses to learn fundamentals in a wider range of environmental science, one new fieldwork course to acquire skills in environmental activities, together with the environmental study courses already given by each faculty.

The graduate school program will be introduced as the "Program on International Environmental Activity", which contains two new lecture courses to develop high ethical standards, environmental managerial skills and intercultural communication expertise and one new fieldwork course to plan and carry out environmental conservation activities conducted in developing countries.

In AY 2010, three lecture courses in undergraduate school and two lecture courses in graduate school have been opened, and a course planning of two fieldwork courses to be launched in AY 2011 in both undergraduate and graduate schools started, for example screening of themes and lecturers.

• Program Image [PDF 49KB]

Result of Program Development

We have developed the following four new courses in undergraduate school and three new courses in graduate school, respectively.

"Program on Environmental Science (minor)"

• Environment, Life and Ethics (141)
• Invitation to Environmental Studies and Social Sciences (76)
• Conservation and Restoration of Natural Environment (48)

"Program on International Environmental Activity"

• Advanced Studies on International Environmental Issues
• Advanced Communication for Environmental Activities

Result of Program Trial

In AY 2010, three lecture courses in undergraduate school and two lecture courses in graduate school have been opened. Number of students in each course is shown below.

"Program on Environmental Science (minor)"

• Environment, Life and Ethics (lecture course)
• Invitation to Environmental Studies and Social Sciences (lecture course)
• Conservation and Restoration of Natural Environment (lecture course)

"Program on International Environmental Activity"

• Advanced Studies on International Environmental Issues (lecture course)
• Advanced Communication for Environmental Activities (lecture course)

Students from 7 faculties (all faculties in undergraduate school) attended to "Environment, Life and Ethics" and "Invitation to Environmental Studies and Social Sciences", and students from 5 faculties attended to "Conservation and Restoration of Natural Environment".

What is ELIAS?

Working to realize the goal of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), the Strategy for an Environmental Nation in the 21st Century (approved by the Japanese Cabinet in June 2007) addresses the need for environmental leadership training that will provide the foundation for building a sustainable society and outlines a plan for implementing environmental leadership initiatives in Asia.

What is Environmental Leadership Vision?

The Ministry of the Environment created the Vision for Environmental Leadership Initiatives for Asian Sustainability in Higher Education (Environmental Leadership Vision) in March 2008.

The Vision shows ideas for developing academic programs to train future environmental leaders who will build greener socioeconomic systems in every area of the society.