Possibilities and Issues for Promoting ESD in Universities

- Based on Analysis of “International Environment Leaders Training Program” in Japan -

Abstract

  This paper discusses possibilities and issues for promoting education for sustainable development (ESD) in universities, based on a study of the “International Environment Leaders Training Program” in Japan. The program, implemented by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has financed seventeen universities throughout the country to establish an environmental leadership education system and curriculum for post-graduate ESD since 2008. The paper analyzes the reports of these universities to identify problems and achievements for their organization structures to promote the all-campus and continued efforts, and for their educational practices to satisfy the major characteristics required for ESD. As a result, four key points for promoting ESD in universities emerge. First, it is important to facilitate the collective understanding and vision-building for ESD among stakeholders such as faculty members through promoting their collaboration in actual practices. Second, the transformation of existing degree course curricula toward ESD is indispensable while the mere introduction of an add-on ESD program often leads to conflicts between the existing course and the new program. Third, it is important to highlight diversities and connections among different local realities to relate learning to each student’s reality. Finally, ESD in universities should promote mutual learning among people with diverse backgrounds such as disciplines, countries, and generations, which facilitate the development of values for sustainability in each learner.