Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
50589:Sustainable Urban Policy Ⅲ (P) 2025 Spring Wed2 College　Of　Policy　Science MIZUNO KEI 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

C371

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The course, although its title reads "urban policy", mainly sets focus on rural communities and their sustainable development approaches. Case studies in southeast Asia, Africa, and Japan from the lecturer's reseach and management experience in the past and ongoing projects are introduced and discussed from various pespecitives, through which students are expected to learn the core idea of participatory development approach and its application to actual project design for specific rural or urban communities.
Keywords: Community development, sustainable development, urban/rural community, southeast Asia, Africa, fair trade, project design

Student Attainment Objectives

Studetns will learn the basics of community development approaches through case studies, and attain knowledge and understanding for policy formulation for particular situations in the real world including current issues in their own countries.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

 Course guidance

【+R-Jugyo】Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on manaba+R.

2-5

Case studies on community development in Asia

(1) Vietnam
A case of integrated community development project focusing on the enhancement of disaster resilience in central Vietnam is introduced and discussed in terms of development approach and the role of international cooperation.
(2) Indonesia
Peat fires have been a truly hot issue in Indonesia over the last few decades. Its causal mechanism, impacts on people and environment, and possible solutions are discussed through studying a mitigation project in Sumatra.

6-9

Case studies on community development in Africa

(3) Tanzania
Let's get rid of our "poor eyes" on Africa and discover their richness. Physical, temporal, and social dynamics of indigenous farming systems in northwestern Tanzania are examined from the perspective of sustainability in food production and income generation, and the significance of fair trade in community development is discussed.
(4) Guinea
Fonio - an indigenous grain and one of the "lost crops" in West Africa will be introduced by unveilling it's unique properties as a superfood in terms of health benefit, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic impacts. Be the first ambassador of this promised crop to your country!

10-11

Sustainability of shrinking societies

The demographic figure by the mid 21st century in Japan is disastrous. How and why is this happening? What would it affect the people and society? Are there any solutions? And don't forget it's already or will be happening in your country.

12-14

Excersize on project design

Group works are conducted to design a community-based project focusing on actual social, cultural, or environmental issues in students' own countries, employing the approaches and methods learned through case studies.

Class Format

14 classes on Face to Face basis, may include a few classes on Media basis (live-streamed interactive class).

Recommendations for Private Study

On most weeks students are requested to review the lecture contents after the class and write a short essay on their understanding or finding. Students are also occasinally given individual/group project topics that require off-class studies including research, discussion, and writing.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Class attendance and understanding of contents/discussions evaluated by weekly essays (50%)
Reports and presentations on individual/group projects, participation in discussions (50%)

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

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URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/