This course introduces various approaches to sustainable development. The first half of the course focuses on the history and current status of the concept of sustainable development including "Sustainable Development Goals." Integrated development models to deal with issues related to sustainable development are discussed and analyzed in group works. The second half looks at selected current development projects implemented by Tokyo Tech research groups. Students will conduct stakeholders analysis in groups to understand the integrated management approach to sustainable development.
The concept of sustainable development has been discussed since the 1980s, and its definition and understanding have evolved over time. Following the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were adopted in 2015 as the core concept and goal of international development. This course outlines the history of sustainable development, and further provides students with the opportunities to carefully consider sustainability and the importance of integrated management in international development projects through group activities and individual paper writing.
By the end of the course, students are expected to understand the concept and evolution of sustainable development in its historical context. Various group activities will take place to assist students in identifying and analyzing problems, and in discussing and presenting potential solutions.
development project, sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), stakeholders
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The course consists of a combination of lectures and group activities using a roundtable format. Lectures are given based on the reading assignments, and students are expected to be actively involved in the discussions. In the group activities, small groups are organized to analyze the projects and documents, and each group will present their results for further discussion.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
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Class 1 | Concept of sustainable development: From Brundtland Report to Sustainable Development Goals | |
Class 2 | Human development: Sustainability and equity | United Nations, "The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet", UN General Assembly, 2014 |
Class 3 | Group exercise: Sustainable development models | Selected reading from "Rio+20 Policy Briefs" website https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20131024191506/http://www.uncsd2012.org:80/rio20/index.php?menu=138 |
Class 4 | Stakeholder analysis | OECD-UNDP (2002), Sustainable Development Strategies: S Resource Book, Chapter 5, Earthscan Publications, Ltd. |
Class 5 | Case study: Development projects in Mongolia | |
Class 6 | Case study: Development projects in Lao PDR | |
Class 7 | Group exercise: Stakeholder analysis | Stakeholder analysis in Mongolian or Lao case |
Class 8 | Group presentation, wrap up |
United Nations Development Program, Human Development Report 1990-2015
United Nations, "The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet", UN General Assembly, 2014
Harris, Wise, Gallagher, and Goodwin, A Survey of Sustainable Development, Island Press, 2001
Participation in group exercises and presentations (30 points) are essential requirements for credit. End term report of stakeholder analysis is assigned, and evaluated based on problem identification and solution as well as logical thinking (70 points).
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