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The Academic Consortium: A Platform for Addressing Global Issues
Associate Professor Takehiko Uemura, who has served as Coordinator of the Academic Consortium since its establishment, spoke about the Consortium and its key role in the internationalization of YCU.
iProfile of Associate Professor Uemuraj
The text of the interview can be found in whistle (YCU PR Magazine) vol.11.
Harnessing universitiesf knowledge to make global contributions: the formation of a network that reaps benefits for academia as well
The city of Yokohama acts as the chair of CITYNET, a network of cities in the Asia-Pacific region working together to address urban issues. At YCU, an Academic Consortium was launched to provide academic support for the resolution of urban issues through partnerships among universities in various cities, as well as international organizations, NGOs and city governments.
In addition to harnessing universitiesf knowledge to make global contributions, the Academic Consortium aims to be an educational network that imbues students with a global outlook and produces human resources capable of great accomplishments on the world stage.
Aiming for sustainable cities in collaboration with the World Bank and JICA
At the CITYNET Yokohama Congress in September 2009, the Academic Consortium was launched, and after an exchange of ideas about its future activities, it was decided that the Eco2 Program promoted by the World Bank would be placed at the top of the agenda. The Eco2 Program aims to help cities in developing countries achieve both ecological and economic sustainability, developing economically without devastating the environment. In October 2010, the World Bank and the Academic Consortium concluded an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), serving as a framework for future action. Currently, the Consortium is taking steps to address urban issues based on the concept gAiming for Sustainable Cities,h with three units working on three key areas: the environment, urban development and public health.
The Eco-Town Initiative, Urban Development Utilizing Historic Property, and the Healthy City Project
In the Environment unit, we are first of all pursuing research aimed at realizing a recycling-based society, with the goal of applying the knowledge accumulated during this research to other cities. We believe we can make an effective contribution by making a systematic study of the ways in which Yokohama and Kawasaki overcame pollution problems while expanding economically. The Urban Development unitfs activities include a presentation on the Future Design for Yokohama Inner Harbor Area 2059 urban development plan for Yokohama a half-century hence, at the World Bank workshop held in Sri Lanka in July. In March we will hold a symposium on the theme of a new model for Asian urban development utilizing historic properties. The Public Health unit is considering collaboration on the Shanghai Jiao Tong University gHealthy Cityh project promoting healthy urban development.
Students have made presentations at international conventions. Student participation in the Steering Committee has also been decided upon
A university is a center for research and education, and the Academic Consortium opens its doors wide to university students as well. The International Network of University Students (INUS) and BLUE Seminar student organizations have already made marvelous presentations at international conventions. Students are slated to participate in the Academic Consortium Steering Committee and in the meeting scheduled for next year in Malaysia as well. Considering that the YCU student body numbers 4,800, we hope more students will elect to take part in the future
INUS (International Network of University Students) is building a student network both in Japan and overseas aimed at addressing urban issues. At international conferences held in September 2009 and August 2010, members made presentations explaining their activities in English.
At the International Conference on Eco2 Cities held in October 2010, the group gave an English presentation proposing environmentally sound urban development efforts in the form of cooperation, along with the City of Yokohama, on the Kawasaki Eco-Town program.
Ms. Yuki Fushimi made a presentation as a representative of BLUE Seminar.
Making steady progress toward 5, 10 and 15-year goals, we aim to help produce human resources that make global contributions
We plan to increase the number of units to five, adding new units addressing gpovertyh and ggovernance,h and encouraging the participation of teaching staff as well. Farther in the future, our broad goal for five years down the road is to make interactions among students at various participating universities an everyday occurrence. 10 years in the future, we are aiming for full realization of education with a global perspective, and 15 years from now, for a greater number of YCU graduates going on to positions in international organizations like JICA and the UN, making YCU a university that substantially contributes to the world at large.
Associate Professor Takehiko UEMURA
Director, Internationalization Promotion Center
Profile
Master of Law, Osaka University Graduate School of Law and Politics, and Master of International Affairs, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. After serving in the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the CSR Institute, at Nara University, and as an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Chiba University, became Associate Professor of the International College of Arts and Sciences at YCU in April 2009. His area of specialization is Global Cooperation. His lecture has been broadcast on the NHK educational TV program Hakunetsu Kyoshitsu Japan.
