Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS)

ONUKI MotoharuProject Associate Professor

Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS)Division of Environmental Studies

Graduate School of Frontier SciencesThe University of Tokyo

International Conference on Sustainability Science in Asia 2009November 23-24, 2009, AITCC, Thailand

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What is GPSS?

• A new international graduate program in sustainability science established in Division of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences as an educational unit of IR3S

• In English language• Train internationally-minded professionals who can help

create a sustainable society• Diverse students

– Nationality (20 nationalities), cultural background (4/5 are international students)

– Academic background• Master’s program started in October 2007.

– “Master of Sustainability Science” degree• Ph.D. program will start in October 2009.

– “Ph.D. in Sustainability Science”

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What to learn in GPSS

• Knowledge related with Sustainability– A great variety of subjects related to sustainability in a

holistic manner (supported by Division of Environmental Studies and IR3S-TIGS)

• Practical Skills– for understanding problems holistically– for communication, facilitation and consensus building– for problem solving, envisioning future, leadership

• Mind-sets / Attitudes– Accepting / acknowledging diversity, de-tatchment,

transidiciplinarity, motivation / driving force for change / dynamics

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Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS)

Dept. of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies

Dept. of International Studies

Dept. of Natural Environmental Studies

Dept. of Environment Systems

Graduate Program in Sustainability Science

(GPSS) Dept. of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies

TIGS

IR3S

Kyoto U

RISSOsaka

U SGPHokkaido

U

ICASIbaraki U

The University of Tokyo

Graduate School of Frontier Sciences

KSI

Division of Environmental Studies

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What to learn in GPSS

• Knowledge related with Sustainability– A great variety of subjects related to sustainability in a

holistic manner (supported by Division of Environmental Studies and IR3S-TIGS)

• Practical Skills– for understanding problems holistically– for communication, facilitation and consensus building– for problem solving, envisioning future, leadership

• Mind-sets / Attitudes– Accepting / acknowledging diversity, de-tatchment,

transidiciplinarity, motivation / driving force for change / dynamics

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Field Exercise

• send student outside of the university to see a reality• Talk and communicate with local people• Propose something to the real society

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Even in the campus

• Practical Courses (Interactive courses) dealing with real problems or real cases and full of group works, group discussions and group presentations (team based approach) with diverse colleagues.

• Students Seminars– All students attend to introduce,

discuss and exchange their research progress, which is completely different from others.

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What to learn in GPSS

• Knowledge related with Sustainability– A great variety of subjects related to sustainability in a

holistic manner (supported by Division of Environmental Studies and IR3S-TIGS)

• Practical Skills– for understanding problems holistically– for communication, facilitation and consensus building– for problem solving, envisioning future, leadership

• Mind-sets / Attitudes– Accepting / acknowledging diversity, de-tatchment,

transidiciplinarity, motivation / driving force for change / dynamics

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In Asian Context

• Trying to solve problems in Asia and to propose a future vision for Asia– Asian sustainability contributes to global sustainability– Kashiwanoha Town, Sustainable Campus– Many field exercise units– Asia is a target

• Trying to learn from Asia– History of Asian environmental / social problems

• Specially Japanese experience on Industrial / Environmental Pollution problems

– Students diversity itself– Asia is learning material.

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Asian Contribution to the Global Sustainability• Mottainai• Influence of Buddhism (e.g. on sufficiency economy and

“kyousei 共生” harmonizing with nature)• Moderate, medium, ma-ma” まあまあ” , generosity to

allow vagueness• Generosity with religions? Harmonizing or even mixing

different religions• Way of thinking in desert area and way of thinking in

forests• Cooperativeness and Individualism • Chinese Medicine, Zen, Yoga• Common experiences of sudden westernization and

industrialization (and colonization)• Non native-English speaker

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Thank you very much for your attention!

onuki@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp

www.sustainability.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp

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