Global Environmental Leaders Education Program for Designing a Low-Carbon Society
To establish a center for training environmental leaders capable of identifying problems and designing strategic solutions at the national or local level from interdisciplinary and international perspectives
Program Overview
One of our aims is to establish a center for training environmental leaders, who are capable of identifying problems and formulating strategic solutions at the national or local level through interdisciplinary and international perspectives. The globally noteworthy issue of how to realize a low-carbon society is an example of such problems and solutions. Another aim is to provide a platform of the collaboration between industry, government and academia to promote cutting-edge environmental research, to create the well-organized practical knowledge for solving environmental issues on a global scale, not limited to developing countries, and to provide the value-added knowledge to the front lines of international cooperation.
Environmental Leaders
The 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) Program “Social Capacity Development for Environmental Management and International Cooperation”, at Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University, proposed a capability development framework. Research findings based on this framework suggest that environmental leaders are needed in all countries and regions, specializing in the following fields: urban system design to prevent global warming, wise use of biomass resources, environmental impact assessment and, policymaking and design of institutional system. For this reason, three new programs are being expanded, including the International Students Support Program, the International Environmental Education Program and the Postgraduate Education Program.
Driving Force -Urban system design to prevent global warming
Technological transfer and urban system design for sustainable society
Pressure -Wise use of biomass resources
Biomass technology and natural resource management
State & Impact -Environmental Impact Assessment
Earth simulation technology and water monitoring methodology
Response -Policymaking and design of institutional systems
Global policy and social system design to prevent global warming
Response -Development Environmental Education
Student Support
In addition to the International Student Support administered by Hiroshima University, we will take other measures closely related to the activities of this program. In particular, we will aim to strategically implement a continuous education of capable human resources in their home countries after completing the program. For this purpose, we will establish a functional and strategic system in overseas for recruiting excellent international students, in addition to upgrading public relations activities and enriching scholarships.
Education Program
Students will be selected based on a strategic vision, taking into consideration their areas of activities after graduation. Practical education and research activities will be conducted with a system of guidance by cross-disciplinary mentors. On the basis of the educational program under the COE program, some new educational programs will be developed to redesign introductory courses focusing on cutting-edge knowledge and practice provided by lecturers from aid communities and industries, and practical seminars for studying the planning, implementation, and management of interdisciplinary environmental projects.
Postgraduate Education Program
The alumni association with international graduates from IDEC will be expanded into a global human resources network covering various nations and specialized disciplines. This will function as a support system for sustainable human resource development, where knowledge and technology contributing to the construction of a low-carbon society can be integrated. Moreover, several sub-programs will be also developed with the help of, for example, proposal-type projects based on short-term research fellow programs, annual international workshops, and joint international research that directly addresses local needs.
